Today's Readings -- 30 August 2010

and so the work week begins again. Be safe out there.


This morning, Psalms 142-144. Some of this, Psalm 144 in particularly, is rarely taught, at least in the churches of my childhood.

Psalm 142

1	I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2	I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3	When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4	I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5	I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6	Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7	Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

1	Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2	And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3	For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4	Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5	I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6	I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7	Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8	Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9	Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10	Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11	Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12	And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 144

1	Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2	My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3	LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4	Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5	Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6	Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7	Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8	Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9	I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10	It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11	Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12	That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13	That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14	That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15	Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

This evening, verses 14-33 of 1st Corinthians 10.

I Corinthians 10:14-33

14	Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15	I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16	The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17	For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18	Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19	What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20	But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21	Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22	Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23	All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24	Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25	Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26	For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27	If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28	But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29	Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30	For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31	Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32	Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33	Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Today's Readings -- 29 August 2010

today the last Sunday in August. Be in September before we know it. NOT my favorite time of the year, but that's what we get. Part of the cycle and all that.

We're still hanging in there. Big-time money troubles, unfortunately. In the last few months, we've had to replace a ruptured water heater, had TWO cars die on us (one because it got sideswiped on the freeway and we got zippo from his insurance company (and, with nearly 200,000 miles on it, we were carrying liability only)) leaving us down to the one we will be paying on after trading in the one with over 200,000 miles, and the heat pump that provides both heat and cooling to our little dwelling has died. And I just do not have the money. Just don't, and I don't know what we are going to do. God is good, all the time, but the circumstances frequently aren't. This is such a time.


The day's Old Testament reading is Psalms 139-141. We expect to be finishing up on this year's pass through the Psalms on Wednesday. Psalm 139 is a personal favorite of mine, dating back to my youth. This is a prayer, and one of those 'lay it all out for the Lord" prayers, there's nothing easy or light here.

Psalm 139

1	O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2	Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3	Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4	For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5	Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6	Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7	Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8	If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9	If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10	Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11	If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12	Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13	For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14	I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15	My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16	Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17	How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18	If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19	Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20	For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21	Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22	I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23	Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24	And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 140

1	Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2	Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3	They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
4	Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5	The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
6	I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7	O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8	Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9	As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10	Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11	Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12	I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13	Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

1	Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2	Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3	Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4	Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5	Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6	When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7	Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8	But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9	Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10	Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

The New Testament reading is verses 1-13 of 1st Corinthians 10. Pay particular attention to verse 13 at the end. Chew on that one for a while, you won't regret it.

I Corinthians 10:1-13

1	Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2	And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3	And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4	And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5	But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6	Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7	Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8	Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9	Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10	Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11	Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12	Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13	There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.