Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 24 March 2016
a decent looking day, so far. 62 degrees as I type this, and a predicted high of 71. But tomorrow's "high" is predicted to be 44 degrees, with tomorrow night's low of 27. Welcome to NE Ohio in Spring. And, no, I do not like it, do not enjoy it, have NEVER liked it, and did not miss it. But it's what we have, and where, we think, we were sent. So we shall get through it. Somehow.
I have to focus daily, to make a regular practice, of getting into the Word every morning and preferably to do so before seeing all the day's news. A perusal of what's going on in the World can entrap me into despair or worse. One of the lessons of Holy Week, of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, is that the Lord is at work even when all seems to be hopeless, and that He has conquered all of that, including Death. And that this world is not all there is, nor is this life. He brings hope. Nothing, NOTHING else, can do that.
======================-------------------------==============
-----------------------------------=================--------
The Old Testament reading is chapters 11, 12, and 13 of the book of Joshua.
This is war, some pretty grisly war. Not only permitted, but commanded and assisted by the Lord. Hard reading, particularly when you meditate on what the words mean. Not pretty.
I grew up in the Mennonite Church, have family members in that group as well as others in the related groups like the Amish. These are "Peace Church" people, people who believe that violence and war is ALWAYS wrong, that 'passive non-resistance' is what the Lord requires. Now, at least. They are, to say the least, very uncomfortable with passages such as this. I don't recall that these passages were ever taught, ever preached, ever acknowledged. Nor were the so-called "imprecatory Psalms". Ever. Some of them, those I still maintain contact with, are very unhappy with me for being less certain of the rightness of their stances, though I respect them (mostly) and understand the reasoning behind the stances. These are not easy things to consider, and probably shouldn't be easy. But they are there, and we do no honor to the Lord to imagine that we are somehow superior or more moral than Him.
1
|
And
it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that
he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the
king of Achshaph,
|
2
|
And
to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains
south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on
the west,
|
3
|
And
to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and
the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and
to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
|
4
|
And
they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as
the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and
chariots very many.
|
5
|
And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
|
6
|
And
the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow
about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou
shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
|
7
|
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
|
8
|
And
the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and
chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the
valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them
none remaining.
|
9
|
And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
|
10
|
And
Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king
thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those
kingdoms.
|
11
|
And
they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword,
utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt
Hazor with fire.
|
12
|
And
all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua
take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly
destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
|
13
|
But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
|
14
|
And
all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel
took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge
of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to
breathe.
|
15
|
As
the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and
so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded
Moses.
|
16
|
So
Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and
all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain
of Israel, and the valley of the same;
|
17
|
Even
from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the
valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and
smote them, and slew them.
|
18
|
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
|
19
|
There
was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the
Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
|
20
|
For
it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come
against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that
they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD
commanded Moses.
|
21
|
And
at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains,
from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah,
and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly
with their cities.
|
22
|
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
|
23
|
So
Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto
Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to
their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
|
1
|
Now
these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote,
and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of
the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on
the east:
|
2
|
Sihon
king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which
is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river,
and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of
the children of Ammon;
|
3
|
And
from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea
of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth;
and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
|
4
|
And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
|
5
|
And
reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the
border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the
border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
|
6
|
Them
did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and
Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the
Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
|
7
|
And
these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of
Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley
of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which
Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to
their divisions;
|
8
|
In
the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the
springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites,
the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites:
|
9
|
The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
|
10
|
The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
|
11
|
The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
|
12
|
The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
|
13
|
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
|
14
|
The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
|
15
|
The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
|
16
|
The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
|
17
|
The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
|
18
|
The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
|
19
|
The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
|
20
|
The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
|
21
|
The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
|
22
|
The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
|
23
|
The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
|
24
|
The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
|
1
|
Now
Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou
art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to
be possessed.
|
2
|
This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
|
3
|
From
Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the
Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the
Ekronites; also the Avites:
|
4
|
From
the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside
the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
|
5
|
And
the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from
Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
|
6
|
All
the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim,
and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of
Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an
inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
|
7
|
Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
|
8
|
With
whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance,
which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant
of the LORD gave them;
|
9
|
From
Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is
in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;
|
10
|
And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
|
11
|
And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
|
12
|
All
the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei,
who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite,
and cast them out.
|
13
|
Nevertheless
the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the
Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the
Israelites until this day.
|
14
|
Only
unto the tribes of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the
LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto
them.
|
15
|
And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
|
16
|
And
their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and
the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by
Medeba;
|
17
|
Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
|
18
|
And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
|
19
|
And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
|
20
|
And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
|
21
|
And
all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the
Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of
Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of
Sihon, dwelling in the country.
|
22
|
Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
|
23
|
And
the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border
thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their
families, the cities and the villages thereof.
|
24
|
And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.
|
25
|
And
their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land
of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;
|
26
|
And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
|
27
|
And
in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the
rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border,
even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan
eastward.
|
28
|
This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
|
29
|
And
Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was
the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their
families.
|
30
|
And
their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king
of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore
cities:
|
31
|
And
half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in
Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh,
even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
|
32
|
These
are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the
plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
|
33
|
But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
|
-----------------------========================---------------------===
==============-----------------------=========
The New Testament passage is verses 1-32 of Luke chapter 4.
1
|
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
|
2
|
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
|
3
|
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
|
4
|
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
|
5
|
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
|
6
|
And
the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory
of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give
it.
|
7
|
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
|
8
|
And
Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.
|
9
|
And
he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,
and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from
hence:
|
10
|
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
|
11
|
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
|
12
|
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
|
13
|
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
|
14
|
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
|
15
|
And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
|
16
|
And
he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom
was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to
read.
|
17
|
And
there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when
he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
|
18
|
The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach
the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
|
19
|
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
|
20
|
And
he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on
him.
|
21
|
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
|
22
|
And
all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which
proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
|
23
|
And
he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician,
heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here
in thy country.
|
24
|
And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
|
25
|
But
I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias,
when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great
famine was throughout all the land;
|
26
|
But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
|
27
|
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
|
28
|
And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
|
29
|
And
rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of
the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down
headlong.
|
30
|
But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
|
31
|
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
|
32
|
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
|
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.