Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 04 December 2014
Dear Wife is, again, flat on her back. Apparently, my focus for the next few days at least, will be as a full-time caregiver. It's chilly and windy and damp outside, and this part of the USA is well known for having the most overcast skies in the nation. A designation well earned. Trying to be positive. Not easy, believe me.
=========================
The Old Testament reading today is chapters 3 and 4 of Daniel. The story of the three Jewish boys in the fiery furnace. But it doesn't stop there.
1
|
Nebuchadnezzar
the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and
the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in
the province of Babylon.
|
2
|
Then
Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the
governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the
counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come
to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
|
3
|
Then
the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers,
the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were
gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar
the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.
|
4
|
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
|
5
|
That
at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship
the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
|
6
|
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
|
7
|
Therefore
at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute,
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the
nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
|
8
|
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
|
9
|
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
|
10
|
Thou,
O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of
the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds
of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
|
11
|
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
|
12
|
There
are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not
regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up.
|
13
|
Then
Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
|
14
|
Nebuchadnezzar
spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I
have set up?
|
15
|
Now
if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick,
ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye
worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning
fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my
hands?
|
16
|
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
|
17
|
If
it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
|
18
|
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
|
19
|
Then
was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and
commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it
was wont to be heated.
|
20
|
And
he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery
furnace.
|
21
|
Then
these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and
their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery
furnace.
|
22
|
Therefore
because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding
hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.
|
23
|
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
|
24
|
Then
Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake,
and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the
midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
|
25
|
He
answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the
Son of God.
|
26
|
Then
Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and
spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the
most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
|
27
|
And
the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being
gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no
power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats
changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
|
28
|
Then
Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his
servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and
yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god,
except their own God.
|
29
|
Therefore
I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak
any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill:
because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
|
30
|
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
|
1
|
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
|
2
|
I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
|
3
|
How
great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
|
4
|
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
|
5
|
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
|
6
|
Therefore
made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that
they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
|
7
|
Then
came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make
known unto me the interpretation thereof.
|
8
|
But
at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar,
according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy
gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
|
9
|
O
Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit
of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the
visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
|
10
|
Thus
were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in
the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
|
11
|
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
|
12
|
The
leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was
meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls
of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
|
13
|
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
|
14
|
He
cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his
branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts
get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
|
15
|
Nevertheless
leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew
of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the
earth:
|
16
|
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
|
17
|
This
matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of
the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High
ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and
setteth up over it the basest of men.
|
18
|
This
dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar,
declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my
kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou
art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
|
19
|
Then
Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his
thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not
the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar
answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the
interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
|
20
|
The
tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached
unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
|
21
|
Whose
leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for
all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches
the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
|
22
|
It
is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is
grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the
earth.
|
23
|
And
whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven,
and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of
the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in
the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times
pass over him;
|
24
|
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
|
25
|
That
they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the
beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and
they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass
over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
|
26
|
And
whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy
kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that
the heavens do rule.
|
27
|
Wherefore,
O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins
by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if
it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
|
28
|
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
|
29
|
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
|
30
|
The
king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for
the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of
my majesty?
|
31
|
While
the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,
saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is
departed from thee.
|
32
|
And
they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the
beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and
seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High
ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
|
33
|
The
same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was
driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and
his nails like birds' claws.
|
34
|
And
at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto
heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most
High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation
to generation:
|
35
|
And
all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants
of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest
thou?
|
36
|
At
the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my
kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors
and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and
excellent majesty was added unto me.
|
37
|
Now
I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all
whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in
pride he is able to abase.
|
======================
The New Testament reading is chapter 3 in John's first epistle.
1
|
Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it
knew him not.
|
2
|
Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.
|
3
|
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
|
4
|
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
|
5
|
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
|
6
|
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
|
7
|
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
|
8
|
He
that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
|
9
|
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
|
10
|
In
this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth
not his brother.
|
11
|
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
|
12
|
Not
as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And
wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his
brother's righteous.
|
13
|
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
|
14
|
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
|
15
|
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
|
16
|
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
|
17
|
But
whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him?
|
18
|
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
|
19
|
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
|
20
|
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
|
21
|
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
|
22
|
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
|
23
|
And
this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son
Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
|
24
|
And
he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given
us.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
You are free to comment.
I am free to moderate, and I do. Profane, lewd, and unlawful comments will be sent to the Great Beyond, never to be seen again. I reserve all rights to do so for any and all reasons and whims.