Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 05 December 2020

 Well, no snow today.  That's good, really.  Not May-type weather, unfortunately, but not sub-zero nor under half a foot -- or more - of that evil white powder.  We'll take it, lacking an option.

Heading toward the end of the year.  None of us really have any idea what the next phase will bring to us.  Tempting, very, to be discouraged and drear.  I hope we realize that the Lord is still in charge, and that He loves us, a miracle in itself.  But the road before us may be bumpy.  Was for Moses and David and Paul and many others.  They thought it was worth it.  We should as well.

Today's reading has us still in the book of Hosea.  The world around him, and the events that were unfolding in his life, were rough as well.  The Lord passed warnings through him, ones that were largely ignored or scorned.  And that came to pass.  It can happen again.

HOSEA 9

Punishment for Israel

1Do not rejoice, Israel;

do not be jubilant like the other nations.

For you have been unfaithful to your God;

you love the wages of a prostitute

at every threshing floor.

2Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people;

the new wine will fail them.

3They will not remain in the Lord’s land;

Ephraim will return to Egypt

and eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They will not pour out wine offerings to the Lord,

nor will their sacrifices please him.

Such sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners;

all who eat them will be unclean.

This food will be for themselves;

it will not come into the temple of the Lord.

5What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals,

on the feast days of the Lord?

6Even if they escape from destruction,

Egypt will gather them,

and Memphis will bury them.

Their treasures of silver will be taken over by briers,

and thorns will overrun their tents.

7The days of punishment are coming,

the days of reckoning are at hand.

Let Israel know this.

Because your sins are so many

and your hostility so great,

the prophet is considered a fool,

the inspired person a maniac.

8The prophet, along with my God,

is the watchman over Ephraim,

yet snares await him on all his paths,

and hostility in the house of his God.

9They have sunk deep into corruption,

as in the days of Gibeah.

God will remember their wickedness

and punish them for their sins.

10“When I found Israel,

it was like finding grapes in the desert;

when I saw your ancestors,

it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.

But when they came to Baal Peor,

they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol

and became as vile as the thing they loved.

11Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird—

no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.

12Even if they rear children,

I will bereave them of every one.

Woe to them

when I turn away from them!

13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,

planted in a pleasant place.

But Ephraim will bring out

their children to the slayer.”

14Give them, Lord—

what will you give them?

Give them wombs that miscarry

and breasts that are dry.

15“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal,

I hated them there.

Because of their sinful deeds,

I will drive them out of my house.

I will no longer love them;

all their leaders are rebellious.

16Ephraim is blighted,

their root is withered,

they yield no fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will slay their cherished offspring.”

17My God will reject them

because they have not obeyed him;

they will be wanderers among the nations.

HOSEA 10

1Israel was a spreading vine;

he brought forth fruit for himself.

As his fruit increased,

he built more altars;

as his land prospered,

he adorned his sacred stones.

2Their heart is deceitful,

and now they must bear their guilt.

The Lordwill demolish their altars

and destroy their sacred stones.

3Then they will say, “We have no king

because we did not revere the Lord.

But even if we had a king,

what could he do for us?”

4They make many promises,

take false oaths

and make agreements;

therefore lawsuits spring up

like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

5The people who live in Samaria fear

for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.

Its people will mourn over it,

and so will its idolatrous priests,

those who had rejoiced over its splendor,

because it is taken from them into exile.

6It will be carried to Assyria

as tribute for the great king.

Ephraim will be disgraced;

Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.

7Samaria’s king will be destroyed,

swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

8The high places of wickedness will be destroyed—

it is the sin of Israel.

Thorns and thistles will grow up

and cover their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9“Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel,

and there you have remained.

Will not war again overtake

the evildoers in Gibeah?

10When I please, I will punish them;

nations will be gathered against them

to put them in bonds for their double sin.

11Ephraim is a trained heifer

that loves to thresh;

so I will put a yoke

on her fair neck.

I will drive Ephraim,

Judah must plow,

and Jacob must break up the ground.

12Sow righteousness for yourselves,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes

and showers his righteousness on you.

13But you have planted wickedness,

you have reaped evil,

you have eaten the fruit of deception.

Because you have depended on your own strength

and on your many warriors,

14the roar of battle will rise against your people,

so that all your fortresses will be devastated—

as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,

when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

15So will it happen to you, Bethel,

because your wickedness is great.

When that day dawns,

the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 04 December 2020 revised

Well, I hope everyone is having a decent day and week.  We've been having some "fun".  But, Monday, we heard from the contact that Wife's application for Patient Assistance for a high-end "biologic" to deal with some of her severe rheumatoid arthritis, had been approved.  Thank You Lord!  So it was supposed to have shipped out Wednesday evening via Federal Express for delivery noon yesterday.  Yeah, right.  Not even close.  But it did arrive, around 6:30 last evening.  Wonderful!  But, in the meantime, she's been miserable for nearly two weeks with yet another ear/throat/sinus infection.  So, finally, she called the doctor office.  With all the turmoil from the "Chinese flu" a/k/a. Covid, no way to get in: he's booked solid for the next two weeks.  But, finally, an "e-visit" was okayed, to occur at 4:15 p.m.  Well, finally got the "call" at 4:42 p.m.  And, so, a prescription was created for antibiotics. And it was sent to the pharmacy.  So, last night at 6 p.m., I "got" to run Across The Line to our pharmacy to pick it up. Second trip that day into the commonwealth of Pennsyltucky, dodging ice, drunk drivers, and some of the most poorly arranged traffic signals this side of New Jersey.  Came home and she started the meds.  But, now, that high-end biologic (the co-pay that was forgiven is $4000 per month!!) needs to wait until the round of antibiotics is completed.  More "fun",right?

Our world has been in quite a turmoil for the pretty much the entire year.  I am not hopeful that a simple change of calendar pages will remedy all of that.  It would be nice, I guess, but it's not looking very likely.  Indeed, things can and may get even worse than they are now.  And, yes, it can happen.  Sadly, all too many of those around us have zero -- or less -- knowledge of human history or of Biblical warnings.  "Hate speech" or "racism" or the ever-popular "thats not 'relevant' "may be heard.  Yes, it can happen.  I have lived through some "stuff", some of it pretty nasty, and I know how far and how hard a collapse can hit, and how suddenly too.  The last hundred years or so should prove that, but again those realities are unknown and ignored by too many,

Where is our confidence based?  Not on our own health, as too many know.  Not on our own financial status, or the financial status of the culture.  As some of us know too well.  Not on the surety of the culture and good will of those around or in the world at large.  None of these.  So where?  Or is all lost and hopeless and doomed to darkness and sorrow and death?  Too many think so.  A couple songs have been in mind this week.  

Jesus spoke of it in a parable (Matthew 7:24 - 29)   Remember "The Wise Man Built His House On The Rock". ?  Some of us learned this song as kids, and too many of us have forgotten it.  And, yet, it is true and we forget it too often.

Or, "Jesus Is All The World To Me".  Yes, that needs to be our foundation, our hope, our trust, our security, our assurance that the Lord still loves us and is not blind.

Jesus Is All The World To Me Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without Him I would fall. When I am sad to Him I go, No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad He make me glad, He's my Friend. Jesus is all the world to me, And true to Him I'll be; O how could I this Friend deny, When He's so true me? Following Him I know I'm right, He watches o'er me Day and night; Following Him by day and night, He's my Friend. Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better friend; I trust Him now, I'll trust when Life's fleeting days shall end. Beautiful life with such a Friend; Beautiful life that has no end; Eternal life, eternal joy, He's my Friend.

can I get an AMEN! for that?

revision / addition:

Inexplicably, the original post left off one of the best songs and messages for uncertain times:

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus  which is, of course, appropriate ALL the time.  Aplogies.

oh, and In Christ Alone

A few days ago, our portion was in the book of Daniel.  Daniel spent much of his life, and certainly the focus of that book, in some pretty tough circumstances,  When faced with trouble, then "Daniel Prayed".  So must we.  Even if/when the Powers That Be forbid it.  And, yes, it certainly can happen.

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HOSEA 7

1“When I would have healed Israel,

Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered,

And the wickedness of Samaria.

For they have committed fraud;

A thief comes in;

A band of robbers takes spoil outside.

2They do not consider in their hearts

That I remember all their wickedness;

Now their own deeds have surrounded them;

They are before My face.

3They make a king glad with their wickedness,

And princes with their lies.

4“They are all adulterers.

Like an oven heated by a baker—

He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough,

Until it is leavened.

5In the day of our king

Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine;

He stretched out his hand with scoffers.

6They prepare their heart like an oven,

While they lie in wait;

Their baker sleeps all night;

In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7They are all hot, like an oven,

And have devoured their judges;

All their kings have fallen.

None among them calls upon Me.

8“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples;

Ephraim is a cake unturned.

9Aliens have devoured his strength,

But he does not know it;

Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him,

Yet he does not know it.

10And the pride of Israel testifies to his face,

But they do not return to the Lord their God,

Nor seek Him for all this.

Futile Reliance on the Nations

11“Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—

They call to Egypt,

They go to Assyria.

12Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them;

I will bring them down like birds of the air;

I will chastise them

According to what their congregation has heard.

13“Woe to them, for they have fled from Me!

Destruction to them,

Because they have transgressed against Me!

Though I redeemed them,

Yet they have spoken lies against Me.

14They did not cry out to Me with their heart

When they wailed upon their beds.

“They assemble together for grain and new wine,

They rebel against Me;

15Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms,

Yet they devise evil against Me;

16They return, but not to the Most High;

They are like a treacherous bow.

Their princes shall fall by the sword

For the cursings of their tongue.

This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

HOSEA 8

The Apostasy of Israel

1“Set the trumpet to your mouth!

He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord,

Because they have transgressed My covenant

And rebelled against My law.

2Israel will cry to Me,

‘My God, we know You!’

3Israel has rejected the good;

The enemy will pursue him.

4“They set up kings, but not by Me;

They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.

From their silver and gold

They made idols for themselves—

That they might be cut off.

5Your calf is rejected, O Samaria!

My anger is aroused against them—

How long until they attain to innocence?

6For from Israel is even this:

A workman made it, and it is not God;

But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

7“They sow the wind,

And reap the whirlwind.

The stalk has no bud;

It shall never produce meal.

If it should produce,

Aliens would swallow it up.

8Israel is swallowed up;

Now they are among the Gentiles

Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.

9For they have gone up to Assyria,

Like a wild donkey alone by itself;

Ephraim has hired lovers.

10Yes, though they have hired among the nations,

Now I will gather them;

And they shall sorrow a little,

Because of the burden of the king of princes.

11“Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin,

They have become for him altars for sinning.

12I have written for him the great things of My law,

But they were considered a strange thing.

13For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it,

But the Lord does not accept them.

Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.

They shall return to Egypt.

14“For Israel has forgotten his Maker,

And has built temples;

Judah also has multiplied fortified cities;

But I will send fire upon his cities,

And it shall devour his palaces.”

========================

REVELATION 5

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

6And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10And have made us kings and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

14Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.