Today's Readings -- 04 August 2010

Welcome to the middle of the week. Just got home, Dear Wife still asleep and all is quiet with the exception of several cats who are sure they will just DIE if not fed immediately. Or sooner. I'm not convinced that this would be A Bad Thing, but Dear Wife would have a strong opinion on the matter. So we'll feed them. Eventually.

This morning, Psalms 73 and 74. Tell me you've never had this line of thought, go ahead.

Psalm 73

1	Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2	But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3	For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4	For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5	They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6	Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7	Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8	They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9	They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10	Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11	And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12	Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13	Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14	For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15	If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16	When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17	Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18	Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19	How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20	As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21	Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22	So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23	Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24	Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25	Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26	My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27	For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28	But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalm 74

1	O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2	Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3	Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4	Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5	A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6	But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7	They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8	They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9	We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10	O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11	Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12	For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13	Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14	Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15	Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16	The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17	Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18	Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19	O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20	Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21	O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22	Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23	Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

This evening, Romans chapter 5. You could spend a month on just this.

Romans 5

1	Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2	By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3	And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4	And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5	And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6	For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7	For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8	But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9	Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10	For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11	And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12	Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13	(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14	Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15	But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16	And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17	For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18	Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19	For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20	Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21	That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today's Readings -- 03 August 2010

this is a back-dated post

for the morning, Psalms 70, 71, 72

Psalm 70

1	MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD.
2	Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
3	Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
4	Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
5	But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Psalm 71

1	In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2	Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3	Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4	Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5	For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
6	By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
7	I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8	Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9	Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10	For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11	Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12	O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13	Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14	But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15	My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16	I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17	O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18	Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19	Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20	Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21	Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22	I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23	My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24	My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

Psalm 72

1	Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2	He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3	The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4	He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5	They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6	He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7	In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8	He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9	They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10	The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11	Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12	For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13	He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14	He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15	And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16	There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17	His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18	Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19	And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20	The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

This evening, Romans 4

Romans 4

1	What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2	For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3	For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4	Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5	But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6	Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7	Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8	Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9	Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10	How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11	And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12	And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13	For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14	For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15	Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16	Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17	(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18	Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19	And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20	He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21	And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22	And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23	Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24	But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25	Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Today's Readings -- 02 August 2010

Back to the regular week. And back as well to the months with long names. Never have liked them. I'm an April-May-June sort of person, not a November-December-January one. August reminds us of what is ahead of us. Then again, it was near 100 F here today. Again. Not a great time to have had your central air die on you, or any of the other things that have crashed down upon us. So a wee break in the weather would be OK. But I am not ready for December. At all.
The work week may be, Lord willing, a bit easier. I have for months now been working 10-hour (nominal) shifts, generally six days a week. Work until dawn, go home, sleep, get up, go to work. Rinse, repeat. Oh, and the OT is totally unpaid. You like the idea of working all Saturday night for free? Me neither. But low pay beats no pay, and being a melanin-deprived male on the "wrong" side of 47 is not a good launching pad for a job search, believe me. I guess the Lord knows what He's doing.

This morning, Psalms 68 and 69.

Psalm 68

1	Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2	As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3	But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4	Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5	A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6	God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7	O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8	The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9	Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10	Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11	The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12	Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13	Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14	When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15	The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16	Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
17	The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18	Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19	Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20	He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
21	But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22	The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23	That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24	They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25	The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26	Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27	There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28	Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29	Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30	Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31	Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32	Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33	To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34	Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35	O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

Psalm 69

1	Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2	I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3	I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4	They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
5	O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6	Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7	Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8	I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9	For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10	When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11	I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12	They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13	But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14	Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15	Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16	Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17	And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18	Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19	Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20	Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21	They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22	Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23	Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24	Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25	Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26	For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27	Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28	Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29	But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30	I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31	This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32	The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33	For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34	Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35	For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36	The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

This evening, Romans 3. Some memorable parts here.

Romans 3

1	What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2	Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3	For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4	God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5	But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6	God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
7	For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8	And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
9	What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10	As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11	There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12	They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13	Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14	Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15	Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16	Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17	And the way of peace have they not known:
18	There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19	Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20	Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21	But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22	Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23	For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24	Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25	Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26	To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27	Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28	Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29	Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30	Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31	Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Today's Readings -- 01 August 2010

Good Sunday to all

This morning, Psalms 65, 66, 67

Psalm 65

1	Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2	O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3	Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4	Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5	By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6	Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7	Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8	They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9	Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10	Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11	Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12	They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13	The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Psalm 66

1	Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2	Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
3	Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4	All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
5	Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6	He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7	He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8	O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9	Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10	For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11	Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12	Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
13	I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14	Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
15	I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
16	Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17	I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18	If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19	But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20	Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Psalm 67

1	God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2	That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3	Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4	O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5	Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6	Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7	God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

This evening, Romans 2

Romans 2

1	Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2	But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3	And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4	Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5	But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6	Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7	To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8	But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9	Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10	But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11	For there is no respect of persons with God.
12	For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13	(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14	For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15	Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16	In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
17	Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18	And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19	And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20	An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21	Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22	Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23	Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24	For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25	For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26	Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27	And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28	For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29	But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.