Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 25 April 2018

First thing:  the Song of the Day.
I truly do not know why this came into my mind early this morning, and is there still.  I associate it with the "good bye" moments that  have been an all too frequent part of my life.  But, God Be With You Till We Meet Again" is it.  Some background to it is to be found here and also here.  The lyrics here.  

God be with you till we meet again 
By His counsels guide, uphold you 
With His sheep securely fold you 
God be with you till we meet again 

Till we meet, till we meet 
Till we meet at Jesus' feet 
Till we meet, till we meet 
God be with you till we meet again 

God be with you till we meet again 

Neath His wings securely hide you 
Daily manna still provide you 
God be with you till we meet again 

God be with you till we meet again 
When life's perils thick confound you 
Put His loving arms around you 
God be with you till we meet again 

God be with you till we meet again 
Keep love's banner floating o'er you 
Strike death's threatening wave before you 
God be with you till we meet again

 
Yes, "...  till we meet at Jesus' feet".   has some real meaning for those of us who have seen loved ones go on ahead.  As my visitor told me, moments after the call that told me of my own mother's passing, "You'll see her again."  Do you believe that?  I do.

Another version here.


Yes, my mind goes into some odd places sometimes.

But.
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus is a thing to never be said lightly.  Yes, He paid for our salvation.  But there are those who, from the beginning, have paid a very high price for their faith and their open proclamation of that faith and sharing that faith.  I get a daily message on  "social media" daily, sometimes more often, from a site called Anabaptist Martyrs Guide.  For example, there were two such posts today.

• in 1534 (April 25th), Claes Claesz of Westzaan was burned at the stake in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for his faith.
• in 1528 (April 25th), Hans Leupold (aka Hans Schneider) was executed by beheading in Augsburg, Germany.  Again, for his faith.

And those executions were ordered and carried out by supposedly Christian authorities and citizens.   Some were Roman Catholic.  Others doing these deeds were Lutheran or Calvinists, we call them Presbyterians now.  Those were not done by heathens, unless you think of Lutherans as heathens, an argument I choose to defer for the moment.
But others are being slaughtered throughout the world, today.  Generally by heathens.  I DO count Moslems as heathens, as I do Hindu followers, as well as the animist cults in Africa, South and Central America (including Mexico, by the way) and southeast Asia. 
Yet supposed Christians here, some of whom I know personally, are willing and eager to demonstrate their "tolerance" in making common cause with some of these heathens, notably Moslems, right here not 30 miles from where I sit.  Which brings to mind another song.  I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.  Read and hear the story.  Never take the faith lightly.  It cost our Lord His life.  It costs His followers daily.

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

Judges 17

1  And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

2  And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son.

3  And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

4  Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

5  And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

6  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

7  And there was a young man out of Beth–lehem–judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

8  And the man departed out of the city from Beth–lehem–judah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

9  And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth–lehem–judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

10  And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

11  And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

12  And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

13  Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Judges 18

1  In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

2  And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

3  When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

4  And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

5  And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

6  And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go.

7  Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.

8  And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

9  And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.

10  When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.

11  And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.

12  And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath–jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh–dan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjath–jearim.

13  And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

14  Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

15  And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

16  And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.

17  And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.

18  And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?

19  And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

20  And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

21  So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

22  And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

23  And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

24  And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?

25  And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

26  And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

27  And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

28  And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth–rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

29  And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31  And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

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

Psalm 83

A Song or Psalm of Asaph.

 

1  Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2  For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3  They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4  They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

6  The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarites;

7  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8  Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9  Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kishon:

10  Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

12  Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

13  O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15  So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

17  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18  That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

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

John 15

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 04 July 2014 celebrated in America as Independence Day

the fireworks, the official ones, are about to begin.  We aren't going off to see them.  We may, perhaps, be able to view some of the higher-flying ones from  our yard.  But we have been "enjoying" the free-enterprise ones all day, and some of our neighbors are quite involved in providing a show.  We fondly hope that no one gets injured.  And we also hope that no one gets hurt in the Drunk Driving Olympics Tournament.  This being one of those 3-day weekends, some people have been preparing for that for days, and some may be just a bit over-trained. 
We went off this afternoon, Dear Wife and I, to visit some of her friends long missed.    Then got back in car and went off to another such gathering.  Friends of hers from back in her school days.  One is in bad shape, advanced bladder cancer with a poor prognosis.  She enjoyed it.  We left when they started the preparations for a night of heavy alcohol abuse.  That sort of thing is very much a part of the culture of this area.  It may account for some of the area's problems, but it is nonetheless a fiercely defended part of the area's cultural heritage.  If you can call it that.  So we spoke of other duties and took off.
For my friends around the country who are involved in the automotive industry, this whole week is traditionally a period with no production going.  That doesn't mean everyone is off, it means that the maintenance and Plant Engineering people work around the clock, largely, taking advantage of the down time to do major projects and also to do some preps for the start of production for the new model year which will be taking place in about a month or so.  The 2015 models will start production, normally, in late August or so. 
And this is also a time to reflect upon the state of our nation and of our world.  Wars and rumors of war.  Famine, pestilence, and death.  Trouble on all sides and it appears to be getting worse, and that quickly.  But I have read the back of the Book, and I know Who is over it all.

------------------------------------==========================

The Old Testament reading is chapters 29 and 30 of the book of Job.  Job is still trying to understand what has happened to him.  The matter defies simplistic analysis, and his friends have been little help.  At best.

Job 29

1	Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2	Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3	When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4	As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5	When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6	When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7	When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8	The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9	The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10	The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11	When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12	Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13	The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14	I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15	I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16	I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17	And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18	Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19	My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20	My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21	Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22	After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23	And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24	If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25	I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Job 30

1	But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2	Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
3	For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4	Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
5	They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
6	To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7	Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
8	They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
9	And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
10	They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
11	Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
12	Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13	They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
14	They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15	Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16	And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17	My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
18	By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19	He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20	I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
21	Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
22	Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.
23	For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24	Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
25	Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26	When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27	My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
28	I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29	I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30	My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31	My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

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

The New Testament reading is chapter 12 of the book of the Acts.
Herod is trying to "manage" the situation, the challenge that the very existence of these believers, is posing for him.  More martyrs.  Doesn't turn out well for him personally, and the faith grows.  The accusation that the believers are turning the world upside down is in fact quite correct.  We're still supposed to be doing that, I think, but I see little sign of that in our world. 

Acts 12

1	Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2	And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3	And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4	And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5	Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6	And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7	And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8	And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9	And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10	When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11	And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12	And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13	And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14	And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15	And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16	But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17	But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18	Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19	And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20	And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.
21	And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22	And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23	And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24	But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25	And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 27 June 2014

Getting late in the week  Time passes but I have no sense of accomplishment.
Went off to pharmacy, got the meds for me that I should have had yesterday.  Came home and began the regimen.  Supposedly (by the enclosed literature) may not show an effect for as much as 4 weeks.  Meanwhile, the phones are ringing from the various doctor offices.  I am to go in Tuesday for more blood work.  And BP check.  And she has an appointment in two weeks with gastroenterologist.  I have one the following day.  I suspect, I fear, that they are wanting to do a colonoscopy.  Supposedly, there is a guideline somewhere that says men should get one at age 50 and every few years after.  I am pushing 64 and never had one, which upset the doc.  Oh, well.  Not sure how I can do the logistics on this issue.  We shall see.  And Dear Wife has a visit set with the eye doctor next week and one with the endocrinologist two weeks thereafter.  I guess this is as good as it gets.
She's still hobbling around with the sprained foot and in pain, so I am her feet and hands as well.

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

The Old Testament reading is chapters 10, 11, and 12 of the book of Job.

Job 10

1	My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2	I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
3	Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4	Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5	Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
6	That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
7	Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
8	Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9	Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10	Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11	Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
12	Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
13	And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.
14	If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
15	If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
16	For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
17	Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
18	Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19	I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20	Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21	Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22	A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Job 11

1	Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2	Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3	Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4	For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5	But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6	And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
7	Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8	It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9	The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10	If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
11	For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12	For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
13	If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14	If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15	For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16	Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
17	And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18	And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19	Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20	But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Job 12

1	And Job answered and said,
2	No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3	But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4	I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5	He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6	The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
7	But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8	Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9	Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10	In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11	Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12	With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13	With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14	Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15	Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16	With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17	He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18	He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19	He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20	He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21	He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22	He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23	He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24	He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25	They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

------------------

The New Testament reading is verses 1-25 in chapter 8 of the Acts.
There's a lot here.  First, we have mention of a man named Saul.  We'll be seeing quite a lot of him later.  Second, we see persecution against the Church ratchet up, big time.  Not the last of that either, we see it today.  We also see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and signs and wonders as a result.  And we see mention of a "new" sin, we call it "simony" now, and we see why.  And that is also something we see even today.  Certain TV preachers come to mind:  Dear Wife had a grandmother who tried to "buy her way into Heaven" via some charlatans named Rex and Clem Humbard.  Don't think it worked, but I think she died with a conscience clearer than theirs. 

Acts 8:1-25

1	And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2	And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3	As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4	Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5	Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6	And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7	For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8	And there was great joy in that city.
9	But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10	To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11	And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12	But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13	Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14	Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15	Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16	(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17	Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18	And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19	Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20	But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21	Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22	Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23	For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24	Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25	And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.