Today's Readings and Stuff --- Tuesday, 05 June 2018

Happy Tuesday.


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Ray Vanderlaan did a good commentary on this section some years ago.  The issue before them was "who is really God"?  Is the king "God"?  Is Ba'al God?  Asherah?  Dagon?  Pharaoh?  Moloch?  Who is really God??  The question has never really left us.  The Aztecs, Incas, Toltecs, Olmecs, and such in the Americas.  Odin and Wotan and Zeus, and many others all across the world.  Who is really God?  And, now, we have the Moslems who loudly proclaim that "Allah" is God and that there is no other.
Our answer will have much to do with our conduct, and with the type of culture and civilization created.  As well as our own, personal, eternal destiny.  It's an important question.
The Israelites, located in the midst of hostile cultures, each with their own "gods", had been strictly warned about intermixing with those heathen (dare I use that term?) nations, and adopting their ways and their "gods".  Warnings and commands that were quickly cast aside, with the foreseen results.  And, as is so often the case, the rot began right at the top, with the leaders of the nation being prominent in their disobedience. 
That also has not changed:  I receive, weekly or more often, missives from people I know (or used to know, anyway) who have become "tolerant" and "sophisticated" and who call upon us "deplorables" to accept the Official Party Line that the Lord and Allah are pretty much the same, just different nicknames and titles. 
I reject that.  If that makes me unfit for being around, so be it.  But I draw attention to the part about the Lord being a jealous God.  That is, somehow, deemed un-trendy these days.  But it's still true.
In this passage, the Lord used Elijah to address the issue in a pretty unmistakable way, with bad consequences for the priests of Ba'al.  It can happen again.

1st Kings 17

1  And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

2  And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3  Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4  And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5  So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6  And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

7  And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8  And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9  Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11  And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12  And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13  And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14  For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

15  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

17  And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

18  And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

19  And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

20  And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

21  And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

22  And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

23  And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

24  And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.

1st Kings 18

1  And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2  And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

3  And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:

4  For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5  And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

6  So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7  And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8  And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9  And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10  As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

11  And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12  And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.

13  Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14  And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

15  And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

16  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17  And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18  And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

19  Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

20  So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21  And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

22  Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23  Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

25  And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

28  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30  And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

31  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

32  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33  And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34  And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35  And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37  Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38  Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

40  And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

41  And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42  So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

45  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46  And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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Psalm 112

1  Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

2  His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3  Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4  Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5  A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.discretion: Heb. judgment

6  Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7  He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

8  His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9  He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10  The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

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This passage is a bit tough for me in several ways (and go back and look at the passage from 1st Kings above).
For much of my life, I've been pretty hard on the Jewish leadership in examples like this.  With some reason, surely.  But .....
Look at their situation and history.  The observant Jews, then and today as well, could look back on their history and see too many places where the clear and unambiguous commands of the Lord, some quite minute and detailed, had been ignored or honored in name only, and the awful results of that.  Look back, for example, at Aaron's sons, who offered unauthorized fire.  And were struck down and died.  Look at the poor fellow who tried to catch the Ark of the Covenant lest it fall of the cart.  And died.  Many other examples.  Look at their situation at the time of this account.  The nation had become apostate, and judgment had fallen.  They were captives in their own land, several times, most lately by the Roman Empire.  The Romans had complete control and could do as they wished:  look at the "slaughter of the Innocents" in Matthew 2:13-23.  Herod the Great, appointed as quasi-king by the Romans, had ALL the little boys of a certain age in that area put to death.  (Happens when you don't have limited government and that unlimited government has arms control, but that's a subject for another day).  The Lord wasn't executing judgement on those babies, but He allowed it.    All a result of national and cultural disobedience going back centuries.  Think it can't happen again, by the way?  I fear that it can, and might.
So I'm tending to be a bit less harsh on these religious leaders who, seeing all around them the results of treating the Lord's commands lightly, as being rigorous in upholding their interpretations of those commands and of the implications of that determination.  Were they right in all respects?  Of course not, or Jesus would not have been opposed by them.  Or Paul or James or, well, the Church. 
I've seen, personally and up close, efforts, many of them well-intentioned I am certain, to uphold church teachings and traditions and beliefs.  Many with good foundations but long-term results that aren't, yet which occupy more attention than Scripture.  Examples are really not hard to find.  Yet, like the Jews, I've heard too often the phrase "it's not that bad" as the effort is made to relax a particular standard.  Sometimes that relaxation is sensible and wise.  Sometimes it's not.  The Jews here were trying to hold the line, but that "line" was, often, less what was in the Law of Moses, and more often from the teachings and commentaries of the rabbis ever since (and even today:  I occasionally read through some).  That cultural baggage sometimes helps.  Sometimes it interferes, and becomes a "god" in itself.
So Paul's outreach to the Gentiles must have been a dreadful affront to those who fervently believed that the father-to-son and beyond heritage was the most important thing.

Acts 23

1  And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3  Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4  And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

5  Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7  And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9  And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10  And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12  And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13  And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14  And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15  Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16  And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17  Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18  So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19  Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

20  And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21  But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22  So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23  And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24  And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25  And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26  Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27  This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28  And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29  Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30  And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31  Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32  On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33  Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34  And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35  I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Today's Readings and Stuff --- Monday, 04 June 2018

Good day to all.


The "song of the day" came into mind during the night, as frequently happens.  Possibly a sign of what's been on my heart?  Don't know.  But it does seem to fit.  Be Thou My Vision is it.  Fits for just about every day, doesn't it?  Shouldn't it be our constant prayer?
We want Him to be our vision, to see things the very same way that He does.  To adopt His ways, to love as He loves.  Not easy to do, impossible in fact.  Without the Presence of the Spirit, that is.
That means we must avidly, hungrily seek His presence and leading, all the time.  Every moment.  Not every so often.  I don't do that well, and that failure has been weighing on me.
There are some wonderful, moving renditions of this.  Irish/ Celtic.   It is, after all, an 8th century Irish song.  Works well with plain flutes and Irish bagpipes in the background, too.  I think Patrick would have approved.


Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart 
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art 
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night 
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light 


 Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word 
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord 
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son 
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one 

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise 
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always 
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art 

High King of Heaven, my victory won 
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun 
Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall 
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all


I see that sense and morals have won -- narrowly -- a court case before the "Supremes".  They've ruled that that bakery in Colorado did NOT have to make a special cake to "celebrate" the so-called "marriage" of two homosexuals.  Should have been pretty obvious to anyone with half a brain, but evidently that leaves out most LIE-berals and the Dumbocrap Party apparatus in Colorado.  But, having seen a few things in my life, I expect we've not seen the last of it.  Usually, failures in courts or the legislative bodies or whatever are considered to be temporary only, and further efforts are made.  BUT, then if they can gain, somehow, a victory for the perversion du jour, that decision must thereafter be regarded as inviolate, never to be overturned nor questioned, always bowing the false goddess of "precedent".  Do we really need examples??

Noisy outside the window.  Two doors down, a house burned.  FOUR YEARS AGO!, Memorial Day of 2014!  The whole mess has been tied up in the courts and tax agencies and lawyers, the usual gaggle of rabid parasites.  Neighbors on either side are buying the property from the "land bank", those neighbors being Wife's niece and husband, and his parents.  They'd been solemnly promised that the structure would be Gone by the first of the year, that being 01 January 2018.  (which was by no means the first or only broken promise, by far).  Didn't happen, but this morning trucks and crew and heavy equipment appeared, and they've been at it since around 08:00   Glad I don't work the night shift, right?

The Great-Niece began her school experience this morning.  They have some sort of a pre-Kindergarten program called "Success By Six", and she's enrolled.  Has to ride the bus and all that stuff.  So, since the bus was due at 07:43, everyone was out at the  corner at 07:30.  Bus showed up, 10 minutes late.  Figures.  So mom and dad are choking back some emotions now.  Supposedly will be dropping her off in about an hour, so I'll head up to the corner just in case mom didn't get off work in time.  Doesn't hurt for the bus driver to be getting used to my (ugly) face, I may be doing this duty more often than not.  Whatever.

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1st Kings 15

1  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

2  Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

3  And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father.

4  Nevertheless for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:

5  Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

6  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

7  Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8  And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

9  And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

10  And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.mother's: that is, grandmother's

11  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.

12  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

13  And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

14  But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.

15  And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the Lord, silver, and gold, and vessels.

16  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17  And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

18  Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben–hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

19  There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

20  So Ben–hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel–beth–maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21  And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

22  Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

23  The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

24  And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

25  And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.

26  And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

27  And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

28  Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

29  And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:

30  Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.

31  Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

32  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

33  In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

34  And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1st Kings 16

1  Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

2  Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

3  Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

4  Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

5  Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

6  So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.

7  And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the Lord against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

8  In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.

9  And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

10  And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.

11  And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

12  Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

13  For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

14  Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

15  In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

16  And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17  And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

18  And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

19  For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

20  Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

21  Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.

22  But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.

23  In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

24  And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.

25  But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.

26  For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

27  Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

28  So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

29  And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.

30  And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.

31  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

32  And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

33  And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

34  In his days did Hiel the Beth–elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

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Today, Psalm 111.   Verse 10 is a good "life verse".
 

Psalm 111

1  Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2  The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3  His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4  He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5  He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.meat: Heb. prey

6  He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7  The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8  They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9  He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

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Today, chapter 22 in the Acts of the  Apostles.
I am struck as I read through this, and, really, all the NT after the Gospels, at the difference I see between the conduct of the Apostles and the converts that they made and that they made, in contrast with what happened in Israel after the deaths of Moses and Caleb. 

Acts 22

1  Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

2  (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5  As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

6  And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

10  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

11  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

17  And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

18  And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19  And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

20  And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

21  And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

22  And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

23  And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

24  The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

25  And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26  When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

27  Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28  And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

29  Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30  On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 03 June 2018

Late again.  Neither one of us feeling all that great, but we're getting through
Tomorrow will be interesting.  Wife's namesake great-niece next door begins some sort of a pre-kindergarten thing tomorrow, so she'll be riding the bus.  I've been asked to go with her and her mom to the corner for the first-day bus pickup:  it will let the driver see my face and so will be familiar with me for those days, likely to be quite a few, where I will be the one there in the morning and the afternoon.  Even more interesting, I've been "volunteered" to provide transport for the great-nephew for two days a week while his mother is at work but he's at "summer school".  Might get to be a bit "interesting" on the days I have to do both.  Especially since nephew does not live next door, so I am expected to make the drive both times, going and coming.  Fun, fun.

Two songs of the day:

His Eye Is On The Sparrow which was in the mind much of the night. 

Redeemed How I Love To Proclaim It.  Yes, it gives a song in the night.  The darkest of nights very much included.

And a verse of the morning:  1st Corinthians 2:16, "..but we have the mind of Christ".  Wow!!

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Today's reading, chapters 13 and 14 in 1st Kings.
The downhill slide is a pretty steep one.

 1st Kings 13

1  And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth–el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

2  And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

3  And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

4  And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth–el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

5  The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

6  And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.the Lord,

7  And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

8  And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

9  For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.

10  So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth–el.

11  Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth–el; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth–el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

12  And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

13  And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,

14  And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.

15  Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

16  And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

17  For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

18  He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

19  So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

20  And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:

21  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,

22  But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

23  And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

24  And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

25  And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.

26  And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.

27  And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.

28  And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.

29  And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.

30  And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!

31  And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:

32  For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Beth–el, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.

33  After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

34  And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

1st Kings 14

1  At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.

2  And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people.

3  And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.

4  And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

5  And the Lord said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.

6  And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings

7  Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,

8  And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

9  But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

10  Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

11  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the Lord hath spoken it.

12  Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.

13  And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

14  Moreover the Lord shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.

15  For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger.

16  And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

17  And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;

18  And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

19  And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

20  And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

21  And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

22  And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.

23  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

25  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

26  And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

27  And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.

28  And it was so, when the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.

29  Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

30  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

31  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.