Today's Readings -- 17 July 2010

A good semi-Saturday to all. "semi" in this case because, while the calendar clearly shows that this is Saturday, it is not a day off. I just got home from another unpaid all-night tour, and will do the same this evening. Dear Wife is beside me fast asleep with help of a hatful of various medicines to deal with several severe and dangerous ailments she is fighting at this moment. So it's not a particularly restful time.

This morning, Psalms 22, 23, 24. Most readers are likely to be very familiar with the 23rd Psalm.
A perennial favorite, and mine as well. But do not overlook the other two. You may recognize the first verse of Psalm 22 -- Jesus on the cross said it. And, at a MUCH younger time of life, I was "encouraged" to commit Psalm 24 to memory. Now I am glad of it.

Psalm 22

1	My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2	O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3	But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4	Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5	They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6	But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7	All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8	He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9	But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10	I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11	Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12	Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13	They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14	I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15	My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16	For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17	I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18	They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19	But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20	Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21	Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22	I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23	Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24	For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25	My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26	The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27	All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28	For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29	All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30	A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31	They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 23

1	The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2	He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3	He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4	Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5	Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 24

1	The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2	For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3	Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4	He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5	He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6	This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7	Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8	Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9	Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10	Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

This evening, verses 1-16 of Acts 20.

Acts 20:1-16

1	And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2	And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3	And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
4	And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5	These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6	And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
7	And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8	And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9	And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10	And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11	When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12	And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13	And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
14	And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15	And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16	For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Today's Readings -- 16 July 2010

We've had a bit of a break in the continuity here for the last few days. Things have been difficult here, and I've run low on time and about everything else. Dear Wife, my one true love in this world, has been dangerously ill all week long, passed out at work Monday and ended up in the Emergency Room of a local hospital, has big-time kidney infection complicated by the lupus and related autoimmune diseases, and it has not been good. Oh, and in the middle of a Lower Alabama heat wave, our air conditioning went out, which brought the high temperatures inside, and that ain't good for a sick wife. We hornswoggled some funds somehow, and picked up a window unit and put it by her bed and it seems to be helping, some. Add to that the 10-hour (nominal 10, actually 12 plus travel time) work schedule I'm on, six days this week (work 60, get paid for 40) and something had to give. Sorry.
We will back-date some posts when I get a chance.

This morning, Psalms 19, 20, and 21. Psalm 19 is a personal favorite, and a favorite of many. What wonderful language to praise and to give glory the Lord of the Universe!

Psalm 19

1	The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2	Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3	There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4	Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5	Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6	His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7	The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8	The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9	The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10	More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11	Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12	Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13	Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14	Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 20

1	The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2	Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3	Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4	Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5	We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6	Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7	Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8	They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9	Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 21

1	The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2	Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3	For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4	He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5	His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6	For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7	For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8	Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9	Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10	Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11	For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12	Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13	Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

This evening, verses 21-41 of Acts 19.

Acts 19:21-41

21	After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22	So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23	And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24	For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25	Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26	Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27	So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28	And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29	And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30	And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31	And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32	Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33	And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34	But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35	And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36	Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37	For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38	Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39	But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40	For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41	And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Today's Readings -- 13 July 2010

It is Tuesday. Somewhere, surely, this is a holiday, a day of rejoicing and mirth. It ain't here, it ain't us. But surely someone, somewhere, is having a good time. The scoundrels!

This morning's reading is Psalms 10, 11, 12. Most of us understand verse 1 at a cellular level. The book of Job is about it, so were many of David's cries as he was pursued by his enemies, including his own father-in-law.

Psalm 10

1	Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2	The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3	For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4	The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5	His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6	He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7	His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8	He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9	He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10	He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11	He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12	Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13	Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14	Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15	Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16	The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17	LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18	To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Psalm 11

1	In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2	For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3	If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4	The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5	The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6	Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7	For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 12

1	Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2	They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3	The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4	Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5	For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6	The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7	Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8	The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

This evening, verses 16-34 of Acts 17. Remember as you read, this is how the church, and what we once called Christendom got going. Wasn't easy. Still isn't.

Acts 17:16-34

16	Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17	Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18	Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19	And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20	For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21	(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22	Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23	For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24	God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25	Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26	And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27	That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28	For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29	Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30	And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31	Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32	And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33	So Paul departed from among them.
34	Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Today's Readings -- 12 July 2010

Monday, and back at it. A good/bad sort of thing.

This morning's reading is Psalms 7,8, and 9. Psalm 8 is a personal favorite, a pretty good song was brought to us, based upon this text. Look it up on YouTube.com under "Thou Oh Lord". A lot of fun to sing, because it is true. As I said, a personal favorite.

Psalm 7

1	O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
2	Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
3	O LORD my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
4	If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
5	Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
6	Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
7	So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
8	The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
9	Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
10	My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
11	God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12	If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13	He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
14	Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15	He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
16	His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
17	I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalm 8

1	O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2	Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3	When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4	What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5	For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6	Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7	All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8	The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9	O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Psalm 9

1	I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
2	I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
3	When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4	For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
5	Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6	O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
7	But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8	And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9	The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10	And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11	Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12	When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
13	Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14	That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15	The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16	The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17	The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
18	For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19	Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20	Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

This evening's reading is verses 1-15 of Acts 17.

Acts 17:1-15

1	Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2	And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3	Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4	And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5	But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6	And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7	Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8	And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9	And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10	And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11	These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12	Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
13	But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14	And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15	And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Today's Readings -- 11 July 2010

A worthy Sunday morning to any and all who stop by these humble precincts.

This morning's reading is Psalms 4, 5, and 6. Prayers to the Lord.

Psalm 4

1	Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2	O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3	But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4	Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5	Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
6	There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7	Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8	I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

1	Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2	Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3	My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4	For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5	The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6	Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7	But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8	Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9	For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10	Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11	But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12	For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 6

1	O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2	Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3	My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
4	Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5	For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
6	I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
7	Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
8	Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9	The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
10	Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

This evening, verses 16-40 of Acts 16. Some themes, some questions, have not changed from that day to this.

Acts 16:16-40

16	And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17	The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18	And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19	And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20	And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21	And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22	And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23	And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24	Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25	And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26	And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27	And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28	But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29	Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30	And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31	And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32	And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33	And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34	And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35	And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36	And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37	But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38	And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39	And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40	And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.