Paul gives both a warning and hope when it comes to the idea of sowing and reaping. The warning is you can’t do sin and not expect consequences for it. You also should not be discouraged if you are living right and not seeing any reward, you will in the right time.
Paul teaches we are to do good and to do it especially to those who are in the church. There are two extremes serve only the church, serve only the world. Both are wrong. Do good should be the default setting in the Christian life and especially to those who share our faith. They are our family and God requires we take care of family.
Paul’s comment about not being weary in doing good is a reminder it is sometimes easy to. There is actually studies out now which examine how people can become wore out from trying to help others. Paul understood this and warned to guard against it. The danger is our expectations are higher than the reality we see currently. When those expectations are repeatedly knocked down we feel defeated. Paul is trying to reframe our expectations. 

Isaiah 48

Isaiah 48  

SATURDAY  Reflections

"For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off" (verse 9, KJV). These verses hearken back to the very beginning of Israel as a nation (Exodus 32). Israel had just heard the commands of God on Sinai. The elders sat with God and ate, and then after 40 days built a golden calf. God offered to wipe them out and restart with Moses, but Moses' intercession reflects these same words.

Ultimately God will be glorified and His will done even when the people disobey. This is true even in the church today. Yes, there are many who have not lived up to the standards God has called them to but He will judge and He will ultimately be glorified.

Isa 48:1-22
(1)  Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
(2)  For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.
(3)  I have declared the former things from the beginning, and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
(4)  Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
(5)  I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
(6)  Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
(7)  They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
(8)  Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
(9)  For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
(10)  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
(11)  For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
(12)  Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
(13)  Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
(14)  All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
(15)  I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
(16)  Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
(17)  Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
(18)  O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
(19)  Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
(20)  Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
(21)  And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
(22)  There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Galatians 6

Help those who have fallen.

Galatians 6

FRIDAY  Reflection

We need to keep an eye on our own lives but what happens if someone else is struggling with sin? Though many people claim we are not supposed to “judge” (being defined as saying anything is wrong), Paul doesn't say that, we don't ignore sin. Paul calls us to help those who are struggling with love and humility.

The problem is there are a great many people who believe they are special and have been chosen to be everyone else's corrector. These people deceive themselves and are in trouble spiritually.

We need to be willing to help others as God calls, but our primary goal is to make sure we are living as God wants us to, in love. 

Gal 6:1-18
(1)  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
(2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
(3)  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
(4)  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
(5)  For every man shall bear his own burden.
(6)  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
(7)  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(8)  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(9)  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(10)  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
(11)  Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
(12)  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
(13)  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
(14)  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
(15)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
(16)  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(17)  From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
(18)  Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. To the Galatians written from Rome.

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Galatians 5

What are we walking in?

Galatians 5

THURSDAY  Reflections

We are free from the law! YES! This means we can live however we want? NO! In this chapter, Paul makes sure to remind the Galatian's freedom from the law doesn't mean freedom to sin or as Paul calls it in verse 13, "an occasion to the flesh"(KJV). Paul emphasizes that we have the ability to live above these urges if we walk in the Spirit (surrender to God's Holy Spirit). Paul is so set on telling the Galatians that they are not supposed to live lives of sin that he clearly says if you keep on living in sin you won't make it to heaven (you aren’t really saved). Yes, we have forgiveness if we sin, but we are supposed to be growing in the fruit of the Spirit. Times of failure will happen it should be less and though we may fall we definitely won't continue to live in the flesh.

Gal 5:1-26
(1)  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
(2)  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
(3)  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
(4)  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
(5)  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
(6)  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
(7)  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
(8)  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
(9)  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
(10)  I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
(11)  And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
(12)  I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
(13)  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
(14)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(15)  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
(16)  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
(18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(26)  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Photo by Liu Jiao on Unsplash

Psalm 38

Psalm 38  

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Where do we go when we have done wrong? When guilt overwhelms us? When our actions have brought disease and suffering into our lives?

The Psalmist makes it clear that he looks to God. It is God who is near those who seek him. The psalmist indicates that his sin deserves God's wrath, but he pleads for God to forgive.

There is no conclusion where the psalmist says that he has been saved and all has been made right. However, those who know God know he will forgive. Many times after a prayer for forgiveness there isn't a huge sense of relief. Sometimes our prayers end like this psalm, with a plea and a hope, but no solid answer.

Yet we know God does forgive, and that can bring hope even if we don't feel it.

Psa 38:1-22

(1)  A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

(2)  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

(3)  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

(4)  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

(5)  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

(6)  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

(7)  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

(8)  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

(9)  Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

(10)  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

(11)  My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

(12)  They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

(13)  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

(14)  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

(15)  For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

(16)  For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

(17)  For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

(18)  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

(19)  But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

(20)  They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

(21)  Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

(22)  Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Photo by Thomas Le on Unsplash

Leviticus 8

Leviticus  8

TUESDAY  Reflections

And Moses...

 

In the King James Version, these words are repeated over and over at the beginning of the verses. When these words are not used it often says, and he, which meant Moses. God had lifted up Moses in the sight of the people and he now stood as God's representative. Now it was this representative who dedicated the priest who was going to serve the people and God.

 

This is important because it wasn't that Aaron and his sons just started doing the job, but they had to be set apart (sanctified) by God. This is true even today. We, as priests unto God, have been set apart by the new Moses, Jesus. When people enter the ministry, the question is asked, Has God called you, which said differently means has God sanctified you for this work. If He hasn't then you shouldn't. If Jesus hasn't set you apart, then you don't have the authority to do it yourself. However, when God does then you can minister as a believer (or as a pastor) with confidence. 

Lev 8:1-36
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
(3)  And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(4)  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(5)  And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.
(6)  And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
(7)  And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
(8)  And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
(9)  And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(10)  And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
(11)  And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.
(12)  And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
(13)  And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(14)  And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.
(15)  And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.
(16)  And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar.
(17)  But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(18)  And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
(19)  And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
(20)  And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.
(21)  And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(22)  And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
(23)  And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
(24)  And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
(25)  And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:
(26)  And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
(27)  And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.
(28)  And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
(29)  And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(30)  And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
(31)  And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.
(32)  And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
(33)  And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.
(34)  As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.
(35)  Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.
(36)  So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Leviticus 7

Leviticus 7

MONDAY  Reflections

The soul that eats the meat on the third day shall bear his iniquity. Why is God so concerned about when they eat the meat? When we realize they lived in a world without refrigeration and few methods of preservation it becomes clearer. God doesn't want them to become sick. This would especially be true when it came to sacrifices made to God. Worship, you could say, was never designed to make us sick.

 

I realize some may want to grasp that idea and say that type of worship (contemporary, traditional, etc.) makes me sick so I am leaving the church. However, this is not the point. Worship should not make us spiritually sick. If the word of God is being taught faithfully and leadership is trying to please God then the worship will not make you sick. However, when the leadership is not living according to scripture (this doesn't mean they did something you disagree with, like putting in a television or a coffee bar) and scripture is not being taught, then worship can make you sick and then it may be time to leave. 

Lev 7:1-38
(1)  Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.
(2)  In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
(3)  And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
(4)  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:
(5)  And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering.
(6)  Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.
(7)  As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.
(8)  And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
(9)  And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offereth it.
(10)  And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
(11)  And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.
(12)  If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
(13)  Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
(14)  And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
(15)  And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
(16)  But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
(17)  But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.
(18)  And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
(19)  And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
(20)  But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
(21)  Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
(22)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(23)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
(24)  And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
(25)  For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
(26)  Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
(27)  Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
(28)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(29)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
(30)  His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.
(31)  And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
(32)  And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
(33)  He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
(34)  For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
(35)  This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;
(36)  Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
(37)  This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
(38)  Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

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2 Samuel 4

WEEK  22                                       2 Samuel 4

MONDAY  Reflections

Here in this chapter there again is someone actually two brothers who think they can get a reward by murder. Though Ishbosheth was a rival king, David didn't think of him as an enemy. David remembered his vow to Saul and regarded the murderer as they deserved. Here David once again is ruling as God would have him. David was trusting God to deal with his rival for the king of Israel. These men offered David a shortcut, which he again refused to take.  


2Sa 4:1-12
(1)  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
(2)  And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
(3)  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
(4)  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
(5)  And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
(6)  And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
(7)  For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
(8)  And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
(9)  And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
(10)  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
(11)  How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
(12)  And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

Isaiah 47

Justice, never revenge.

Isaiah 47

SATURDAY  Reflections

God used Babylon to punish His people and take them into captivity. However, rather than recognizing this, Babylon abused the people of God and acted as if they had done it in their own strength. God is now calling to judgment those who were once the instruments of judgment.

This to me is a reminder that though others have done wrong we are not justified to do it to them. It is why I believe cruelty to prisoners is wrong and abusing the abuser is not right. Yes, punishment does need to be meted out to those who have done wrong, but that does not mean we are free to do more than what is right. God’s law called for an eye for an eye, equal justice not retribution and never revenge.

 

Isa 47:1-15
(1)  Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
(2)  Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
(3)  Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.
(4)  As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
(5)  Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
(6)  I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
(7)  And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
(8)  Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
(9)  But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
(10)  For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
(11)  Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
(12)  Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
(13)  Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
(14)  Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
(15)  Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.

Job 42

Job 42  

 FRIDAY  Reflections

This is it, the final chapter of Job. In this chapter, Job humbles himself before God, without learning why things happened.

Job’s three friends are also humbled and have to ask the very person they accused of sinning to pray for them (Like Jesus says later in Luke 6:28).

Finally, we see God restoring Job’s wealth and position. Why does God restore? We aren’t given that answer either, we just know God does it.

At the end of this book, we are no closer to understanding the question of “WHY” than when we started. However, perhaps we can learn we need to be a little more humble when facing life. Perhaps we can learn to trust when we don’t see an answer. Perhaps this book can bring comfort to those who face what appears to be the unfairness of life and humility to those who see it happen to others. 

Job 42:1-17

(1)  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

(2)  I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

(3)  Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

(4)  Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

(5)  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

(6)  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

(7)  And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

(8)  Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

(9)  So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

(10)  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

(11)  Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

(12)  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

(13)  He had also seven sons and three daughters.

(14)  And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.

(15)  And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

(16)  After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

(17)  So Job died, being old and full of days.

Galatians 4

Galatians 4

THURSDAY  Reflections

Ironically, Paul compares those trying to keep the Jewish law as children who were not of the promise. The Jews of the time prided themselves in being God's chosen, the Children of Promise. Paul says the law of which they brag was just a servant until Jesus came. Paul says if we try to use the law to save us we are missing the freedom in Christ.

 

Again, Paul isn't saying we can live however we want, we see that later, but he is saying obedience to the Jewish ceremonial law is, at its best, slavery. 

Gal 4:1-31
(1)  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
(2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
(3)  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
(4)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
(5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
(6)  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
(7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(8)  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
(9)  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
(10)  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
(11)  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
(12)  Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
(13)  Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
(14)  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
(15)  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
(16)  Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
(17)  They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
(18)  But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
(19)  My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
(20)  I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
(21)  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
(22)  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
(23)  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
(24)  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
(25)  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
(26)  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
(27)  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
(28)  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
(29)  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
(30)  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
(31)  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Psalm 37

Don't be jealous.

Psalm 37

WEDNESDAY Reflections

According to Aristotle, we have a special emotion implanted in our nature - νέμεσις - which causes us to "fret" when we witness undeserved prosperity ('Rhet.,' 2:9, § 1).  This Psalm reminds us that this undeserved prosperity has its price, but somehow we forget that. This Psalm along with a great many others remind us that this emotion (worry, jealousy, anger, etc.) is wrong.

The people who get undeserved prosperity are actually to be pitied. They are heading toward destruction. We would be just as smart to be jealous of the person in hospice care. They may be treated nice in hospice but they are also going to die. Yet, how often do people get upset or jealous? Too often. This scripture puts things into the right perspective. Those that follow God are always better off. 

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(Rawlinson, et al.)The Pulpit Commentary. pg.283.

Psa 37:1-40
(1)  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
(2)  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
(3)  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(4)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(5)  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(6)  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(7)  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
(8)  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
(9)  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
(10)  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
(11)  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(12)  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
(13)  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
(14)  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
(15)  Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
(16)  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
(17)  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
(18)  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
(19)  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
(20)  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
(21)  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
(22)  For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
(23)  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
(24)  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(25)  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(26)  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
(27)  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
(28)  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
(29)  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
(30)  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
(31)  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(32)  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
(33)  The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
(34)  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
(35)  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
(36)  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
(37)  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
(38)  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
(39)  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(40)  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Photo by Meik Schneider on Unsplash

Leviticus 6

Keep the fire burning.

Leviticus 6

TUESDAY  Reflections

Albert Barnes said of verse 13: "The fire shall ever be burning - This was a symbol of the never-ceasing worship which Yahweh required of His people" (Barnes, 2019).  This may be and yet there was something special about this fire. This fire as we will see in Leviticus 9 was sent from God. The fire which consumed the sacrifices was not of man's origin it was from God. By keeping the fire going it was as if the same fire was always there taking care of every generation’s sin. Yes, man had a role to play, keeping the fire going, but the fire began with God.  

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Barnes, A. (2019). Retrieved from Biblehub: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/

Lev 6:1-30
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
(3)  Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
(4)  Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
(5)  Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
(6)  And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
(7)  And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
(8)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(9)  Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
(10)  And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
(11)  And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
(12)  And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
(13)  The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
(14)  And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
(15)  And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
(16)  And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
(17)  It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
(18)  All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
(19)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(20)  This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
(21)  In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(22)  And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.
(23)  For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
(24)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(25)  Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
(26)  The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(27)  Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
(28)  But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
(29)  All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
(30)  And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.