Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 20 April 2019

Today is the day before Easter.  We remember what must have been the darkest day in the history of the world, and certainly in the lives of those disciples, including the Twelve but many others as well.  We know what happened next, but they did not.  Some of us have been in despair, but I think that whatever we have gone through can't compare.
And, just a moment ago, a song came to mind.  It's not precisely on point, but I have to believe that even the angels watching these events must have wept.  You may not be familiar with it, but give a listen to And The Angels Cried.  You may as well.  Yes, Christmas laid the groundwork for the Crucifixion.  And the Crucifixion led to the Resurrection.  And our salvation.



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Judges 7

1Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

2And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

4And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lordsaid unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

6And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

8So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

9And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

10But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

11And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

12And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

13And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

14And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

15And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

16And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

17And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

18When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

19So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

20And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

21And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

22And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth–shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel–meholah, unto Tabbath.

23And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

24And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan.

25And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Judges 8

1And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

2And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer?

3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

7And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

11And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.

15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

18Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

20And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

22Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.

24And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

26And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

27And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

28Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

32And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.

33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal–berith their god.

34And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday the 13th, October 2017

Yes, it is Friday the 13th.  All day long.  I've never been one of those who attach particular overtones of doom to it, but there are those who do, and are certain that they are right in that.

I woke with the strains of "How Beautiful" in mind.  Odd, I know.  But it happens.
It is appropriate, of course, to the Old Testament reading (chapter 52).  But it is a lovely song, one that means much to me.  The video accompanying it is appropriate as well.  What is somewhat arresting is the phrase in it, "how beautiful is the body of Christ".  Until i reflected that the Body of Christ is the Church.  We have, sometimes (less frequently these days") referred to the Body of Believers.  Sadly, while the Body should be beautiful, it's made up of flawed beings, in the process of transformation surely, and not always beautiful.  But such is our calling and duty.  To be in truth the Body of Christ, the representation of the Lord in a lost and dying world, and all of us witnesses to His transforming power.  And, yes, that is beautiful to see.

And, along with that, "Our God Reigns".  In the midst of sorrow, total loss, loss of health and hope and love, in the midst of war and famine and trial, the Lord reigns.  No matter what.
This is a better version

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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 50, 51, and 52 in the book of Isaiah.
Please note along the way, verse 7 of chapter 52.  It inspired our "song of the day".

Isaiah 50

1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. 2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. 4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Isaiah 51

1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. 3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. 17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. 19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God. 21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: 22 Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Isaiah 52

1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. 4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. 12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. 13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

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The New Testament reading today is chapter 1 of the 1st epistle to the Thessalonians.
The city of Thessaloniki still exists, a coastal city, not far off the ancient "Silk Road", that commercial corridor that transported high-value goods between China (silk, remember), India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, Macedonia, etc.  So, like many of the places where the  Gospel was going, was one that could have an effect on regions far away.  And did.
More background here, and here, and here.

I Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 05 June 2017

Day after a holiday is always a weird one, particularly when it is dead center in the normal work week.  Based on far too many years' experience, I doubt that the rest of the week will be one of the more productive ones in quite a few workplaces, including several that I could name.  Several.  Back in my days at various levels of manufacturing engineering and quality engineering, particularly in the automotive sector, this entire week, and often either the one before or the one after, or sometimes (depending on requirements and schedules), all three. we often "down" for the whole operation.  Except, of course, for me and my people.  In automotive, this is frequently the time when the major changes needed to effect the "Model Change" work was done.  Not all of it, because there was generally a few weeks yet in the Old Model vehicles and components, but absolutely as much as could be accomplished.  For those unfamiliar, production on the New Models generally (in my time anyway) would occur around the 2nd or 3rd week of August, or thereabouts. I doubt that it's changed much in the last 3 years or so. 

We got to sleep late (for us) last night.  We have some Moslem neighbors on this street, the house is a big-time gathering place, and they've had quite a crowd, with just about all the males of any age bearing the name of Muhammad.  True.  And it's been Fireworks Central since last Saturday.  Not just little sparklers and such, but some BIG and VERY LOUD ones.  Monday night, they really didn't even get started until around midnight, Sunday night was a bit earlier and Saturday night a bit before that.  Last night, they were going and going and going until well past midnight.  I had occasion yesterday to drive (ride, actually: still having major car trouble) past the big local fireworks distributor.  They had a "buy one, get two free" sale going, and the place was packed.  I can remember when even those little sparklers were banned statewide, and mere possession could get you arrested or at least cited into court.  Now, it's like being on a mortar range.  "Common courtesy" seems to have fallen by the wayside at the same time.

Wife is next door.  With niece.  And my sister-in-law.  They've decided to have a reprise of the "yard sale" that they'd attempted a few weeks ago which led to nasty family squabble.  So they were "setting up" yesterday and today, with the Big Event starting tomorrow morning. All kinds of toys, shoes, clothing from Newborn to "mature" and everything in between, glassware and china, tools, car parts, etc. etc.  I was "volunteered into service to fetch & carry duty.  They're having female-type conversations on the back porch now, and males are not welcome, so I escaped.

Meaning that I'm home, and washing dishes and doing laundry.  Just put the third load in the washer.  Must be some of that "toxic masculinity", "male privilege", or "overarching patriarchy" that the feminazi's regularly inveigh against.  Or something like that.

I see on the news that a body has been found in a local motel, the body evidently in an advanced state of decomposition, such that the investigators had to wear oxygen masks because of the stench.  I have found a body in such a state, and during this time of the year.  The odor is something I don't wish to describe, and wish that I could have forgotten.  I believe that it was only about two weeks ago, perhaps less, that another body (or two) was found in the same low-end motel.  That previous case was attributed to overdose of heavy drugs.
I see on the same news site, a report that a woman overdosed at a local "4th of July" festival not terribly far from here.  She is in the hospital now, having been revived through use of Narcan, but these are just two cases from the last few days.  There are more, and will be more.
When I sometimes refer to the bad behaviors that a loss of hope and no knowledge of the Lord can bring, I have some strong reasons for saying that.  I've seen it, at closer range than I like, and have seen the dead eyes on those still walking around.  Yes, we need revival in our land, and soon too.  All of those who have passed like this, and those on the verge of it, have family, friends (probably) and a past.  Their descent into the grave will affect many others, and for those struggling with hopelessness already, will only add to that.

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Our reading in the Old Testament today is chapters 31 and 32 of Job.
Not to anger the "King James only" crowd, but I want to post this from the Holman Standard Bible version.  I think it's actually better, and certainly is accurate. And, yes, your mileage may vary.

Job 31

1 I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?

2 For what portion [would I have] from God above, or [what] inheritance from the Almighty on high?

3 Doesn't disaster come to the wicked and misfortune to evildoers?

4 Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?

5 If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

6 let God weigh me with an accurate balance, and He will recognize my integrity.

7 If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands,

8 let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted.

9 If my heart has been seduced by [my neighbor's] wife or I have lurked at his door,

10 let my own wife grind [grain] for another man, and let other men sleep with her.

11 For that would be a disgrace; it would be a crime deserving punishment.

12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon; it would destroy my entire harvest.

13 If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants when they made a complaint against me,

14 what could I do when God stands up [to judge]? How should I answer Him when He calls [me] to account?

15 Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same God form us both in the womb?

16 If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow's eyes go blind,

17 if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it-

18 for from my youth, I raised him as [his] father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow-

19 if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing or a needy person without a cloak,

20 if he did not bless me while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,

21 if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child when I saw that I had support in the [city] gate,

22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket.

23 For disaster from God terrifies me, and because of His majesty I could not do [these things].

24 If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust,

25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great or because my own hand has acquired [so] much,

26 if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining or at the moon moving in splendor,

27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and I threw them a kiss,

28 this would also be a crime deserving punishment, for I would have denied God above.

29 Have I rejoiced over my enemy's distress, or become excited when trouble came his way?

30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

31 Haven't the members of my household said, "Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job's table?"

32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler.

33 Have I covered my transgressions as others do by hiding my guilt in my heart,

34 because I greatly feared the crowds, and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside?

35 If only I had someone to hear my [case]! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose [His] indictment.

36 I would surely carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.

37 I would give Him an account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.

38 If my land cries out against me and its furrows join in weeping,

39 if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants,

40 then let thorns grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are concluded.

Job 32

(Elihu's Angry Response)

1 So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God.

3 He was also angry at Job's three friends because they had failed to refute [him], and yet had condemned him.

4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were [all] older than he.

5 But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.

6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

7 I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.

8 But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that give him understanding.

9 It is not [only] the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge.

10 Therefore I say, "Listen to me. I too will declare what I know."

11 Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words.

12 I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments.

13 So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man."

14 But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

15 Job's friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them.

16 Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand [there] and no longer answer?

17 I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know.

18 For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me [to speak].

19 My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.

20 I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.

21 I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an [undeserved] title.

22 For I do not know how to give [such] titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

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Our New Testament reading is verses 1-23 in chapter 13 of the Acts of the Apostles.
(yes, this is from the KJV)

Acts 13:1-23

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: