Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 14 June 2015

we've been on a bit of a hiatus here.  Some stuff going on that is of no interest, mostly, other than to us.  For us, of course, some of these matters are of GREAT importance, hence the hiatus.  Apologies to all who may have wondered.
It's Sunday evening as I sit at the keyboard.  Raining and storming most of the day, doing so quite vigorously right now.  Winds gusting, some pretty strong (at least one semi-truck was pushed over, earlier today) and some very nearby lightening.  Gets serious.
Briefly, I've been down sick the last few days, missed church services this morning which is uncommon for me.  Feeling a tad bit better now, we'll see if that continues through the night.
Dear Wife will be crashing soon, she is set to "watch" the Beloved Great-Niece tomorrow morning, so the alarm goes off at 06:00 and, while she's been napping on and off several times today, she needs some extended period of REM stage sleep.  I could use it myself.

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The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Ezra.  This is both a discouraging and greatly encouraging period. Looking back over the readings of the last few months, the Lord brought His Chosen People out of bondage in Egypt, through all manner of challenges and adventures, into the Promised Land.  A piece of ground not chosen at random, but at the very crossroads of the ancient world (and also today, in many ways) and established them there.  Fast forward a bit and they demanded a king, just like the nations around them.  Got one.  Got several, in fact.  Got all manner of problems too, not least of which was an increasing apostasy and wickedness among the nation from the throne room to the meanest hovel.  They rejected the Lord, so He removed His hand of protection.  And the neighboring nations, then as now,  lusted to take over.  And did.  With lots of grief and loss and pain.  Carried off as captives/slaved in fact.  For 70 years.  Then, when that period was up, and the people started to understand what they'd done and what --- and Who -- they'd lost, then the plan long in abeyance , took over, and Ezra was ordered by the Persian (today, we'd say Iranian) king ordered the rebuilding of the temple, and the re-institution of the worship of the true God in that place.  That's where we are here.  There are names and genealogies here.  They don't mean much to us, probably.  But they were known to the Lord, every one, and every one had a part to play.  Just like now.  Don't think your efforts don't matter and the Lord overlooks you.  He doesn't.

Ezra 6

1	Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2	And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3	In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4	With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5	And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6	Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
7	Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
8	Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
9	And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
10	That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11	Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12	And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
13	Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
14	And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15	And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16	And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17	And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18	And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
19	And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
20	For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21	And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
22	And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7

1	Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2	The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3	The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4	The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5	The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6	This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
7	And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8	And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9	For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10	For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11	Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
12	Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13	I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14	Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
15	And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16	And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
17	That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18	And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19	The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20	And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
21	And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22	Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23	Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24	Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25	And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
26	And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27	Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
28	And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezra 8

1	These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
2	Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
3	Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
4	Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5	Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6	Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7	And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8	And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9	Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10	And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
11	And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12	And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
13	And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14	Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15	And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16	Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17	And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18	And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19	And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20	Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
21	Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22	For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23	So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
24	Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25	And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26	I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27	Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28	And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29	Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
30	So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
31	Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32	And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33	Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
34	By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35	Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
36	And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

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The New Testament passage is chapter 21 of the Gospel of John.  This completes the Gospels.

John 21

1	After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2	There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3	Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4	But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5	Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6	And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7	Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8	And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9	As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10	Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11	Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12	Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13	Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14	This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15	So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16	He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17	He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18	Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19	This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20	Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21	Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22	Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23	Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24	This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25	And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.