Acts 17

Acts 17  

THURSDAY  Reflections

Monday (Exodus 35), we looked at God reinforcing the Sabbath command during the time of building the Tabernacle. I mentioned that God never wants us to use bad behavior to get what we think is right. Yet here in Acts we see the Jews who refused to accept Paul’s teachings of the scriptures doing exactly that.

These Jews gathered a group of disreputable people to start a riot. From the way these people are explained, it can be assumed these are people they normally would not associate with. These are people whom they under other circumstances avoid so they would not become ceremonially unclean. Yet, their need to destroy Paul was greater than even their own religious beliefs.   

We are also introduced to the Bereans, who were commended because they didn’t just accept Paul’s teaching of Scripture but studied for themselves. This is a great reminder, we too need to study the word of God for ourselves and not just take someone else’s word. 

Act 17:1-34
(1)  Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
(2)  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
(3)  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
(4)  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
(5)  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
(6)  And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
(7)  Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
(8)  And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
(9)  And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
(10)  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
(11)  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(12)  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
(13)  But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
(14)  And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
(15)  And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
(16)  Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
(17)  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
(18)  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
(19)  And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
(20)  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
(21)  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
(22)  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
(23)  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
(24)  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
(25)  Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
(26)  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
(27)  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
(28)  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
(29)  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
(30)  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
(32)  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
(33)  So Paul departed from among them.
(34)  Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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Psalm 33

Where have all the tyrants gone?

Psalm 33  

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

In this wonderful psalm of praise, there is a verse which at times seems not to be true. "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples" Psalm 33:10.

 

There are times which this doesn't seem to be true but look at history. Have any of the tyrants of old remain? What of those who have tried to rule the world, or control great swaths of people? They have all failed. Their time passed. Some have been overthrown, others have died, but all are gone.

 

Yes, we could give credit to time and the change of people, but those that look to God praise Him for all. No, He might not have shot the gun which brought down a dictator, nor forced people to rise up against a government, but He gives us all the life to do what we do. We also know that He ultimately will weave the dark threads of mankind into His own tapestry to create something beyond belief. 

Psa 33:1-22

(1)  Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

(2)  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

(3)  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

(4)  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

(5)  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

(6)  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

(7)  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

(8)  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

(9)  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

(10)  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

(11)  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

(12)  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

(13)  The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

(14)  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

(15)  He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

(16)  There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

(17)  An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

(18)  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

(19)  To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

(20)  Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

(21)  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

(22)  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

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Exodus 36

Pass on what you have learned.

Exodus  36  

TUESDAY  Reflections

 In Exodus 31, God told Moses about Bezalel and Oholiab. Now these two, along with all those who were skilled and willing, came to start building the tabernacle. God (as we saw in the last part of chapter 35) not only gave Bezalel and Oholiab the ability to do this work but also the ability to teach others.

 

The ability and the responsibility to share knowledge is key to the work God called them to do. It is also what he calls us to do. Paul told Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV). Most of Jesus own ministry was to the apostles who would carry on the work after he was gone. We miss out on something great when we do not pass on the things we have learned. Perhaps, we are also living in disobedience when we don’t. 

Exo 36:1-38
(1)  Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
(2)  And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
(3)  And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
(4)  And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
(5)  And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
(6)  And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
(7)  For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
(8)  And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
(9)  The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.
(10)  And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.
(11)  And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
(12)  Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.
(13)  And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.
(14)  And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
(15)  The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
(16)  And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
(17)  And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
(18)  And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
(19)  And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that.
(20)  And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
(21)  The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
(22)  One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
(23)  And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
(24)  And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
(25)  And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
(26)  And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
(27)  And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
(28)  And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
(29)  And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
(30)  And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.
(31)  And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
(32)  And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.
(33)  And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
(34)  And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
(35)  And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
(36)  And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
(37)  And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
(38)  And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

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Exodus 35

Build a fire and die!? What could this mean?

Exodus 35  

MONDAY  Reflection

Kindle fire on the Sabbath and die!? Nowhere else in scripture is there a command like this. In other places, the Sabbath’s commands are said to be kept “throughout your generations,” but not here. The answer to this isn’t a mistake, but a temporary command. It was given specifically to cover the time the tabernacle was being built.

The making of the tabernacle was unlike any other time in Israel. Special people were given the task to build it. A special free-will offering was taken to build it. Looking at this command, it seems a special punishment was being laid down for those who might break the Sabbath.

My own thoughts are, this command was made because of mankind’s ability to justify bad behavior for a supposed good cause. What cause could be more right than building the tabernacle for God? What cause is more important today than reaching people with the gospel? It seems clear to me God did not think a good cause justified bad behavior. 

Exo 35:1-35
(1)  And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.
(2)  Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
(3)  Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
(4)  And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
(5)  Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
(6)  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
(7)  And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
(8)  And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
(9)  And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
(10)  And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
(11)  The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
(12)  The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,
(13)  The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,
(14)  The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
(15)  And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
(16)  The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
(17)  The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,
(18)  The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
(19)  The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
(20)  And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
(21)  And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
(22)  And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
(23)  And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.
(24)  Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.
(25)  And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
(26)  And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.
(27)  And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
(28)  And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
(29)  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
(30)  And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
(31)  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
(32)  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
(33)  And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
(34)  And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
(35)  Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Isaiah 41

It can't help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 41  

SATURDAY  Reflections

The idols men make are worthless. In times of troubles, they cannot help. They are not like God. God fulfills his word. Idols can’t even stand on their own without help.

 

This last comment is what has hit me as I write this. How hard do people work to try to hold up their idols? If they are people then they excuse actions they would condemn in others. If it’s a philosophy then they defend it even when experience shows it fails. Evidence of design in creation is dismissed vehemently by the atheist. All kinds of people bend over backward to hold up the idols they want to believe in.

 

There are those who say Christians do the same thing with faith, but as we study history and the Bible we see different. God may not present Himself in a way which some want to accept, but He has done what He said. Jesus’ actions in themselves are proof enough. if one is willing to see it. 

Isa 41:1-29

(1)  Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

(2)  Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.

(3)  He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

(4)  Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

(5)  The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

(6)  They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

(7)  So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

(8)  But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

(9)  Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

(10)  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

(11)  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

(12)  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

(13)  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

(14)  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

(15)  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

(16)  Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

(17)  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

(18)  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

(19)  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

(20)  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

(21)  Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

(22)  Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

(23)  Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

(24)  Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

(25)  I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

(26)  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

(27)  The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

(28)  For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

(29)  Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

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