Romans 15

WEEK    25                                      Romans 15

THURSDAY  Reflections

Paul's first verse here says a lot; "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" (NIV). To say it another way we need to put up with other's ideas and not try to make them like us. Yes, there is a place to discuss differences but they need to be handled maturely and in love. The goal should be to help each other grow not to make everyone see it our way.

Paul ties these disagreements into God saving both Jews and Gentiles. There are differences, but salvation is found in Jesus. Jews may still celebrate the days and feasts of their heritage by faith and the Gentiles didn't celebrate them but it is faith, not works that save us all.

Rom 15:1-33
(1)  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
(2)  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
(3)  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
(4)  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
(5)  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
(6)  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(7)  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
(8)  Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
(9)  And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
(10)  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
(11)  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
(12)  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
(13)  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
(14)  And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
(15)  Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
(16)  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(17)  I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
(18)  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
(19)  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
(20)  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
(21)  But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
(22)  For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
(23)  But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
(24)  Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
(25)  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
(26)  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
(27)  It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
(28)  When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
(29)  And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
(30)  Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
(31)  That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
(32)  That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
(33)  Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

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Psalm 86

WEEK   25                                           Psalm 86

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

We don't know when Psalms 86 was written, I lean toward sometime after David has been forgiven. This psalm isn't a psalm of forgiveness but it is a prayer. It acknowledges what the author is doing right but recognizes the goodness of God and his willingness, even it seems, eagerness to forgive those who ask.

This may be a prayer of David, but it should be ours as well. Perhaps you should read pray it again.

Psa 86:1-17

(1)  A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

(2)  Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

(3)  Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

(4)  Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

(5)  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

(6)  Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

(7)  In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

(8)  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

(9)  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

(10)  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

(11)  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

(12)  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

(13)  For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

(14)  O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

(15)  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

(16)  O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

(17)  Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

2 Samuel 14

WEEK   25                                        2 Samuel 14

TUESDAY  Reflections

There are many questions surrounding why David refused to see Absalom in 2 Samuel 14. For many, the idea that if David had gone to see him rather than leave him in exile then perhaps the rebellion that Absalom cooked up would never have taken place. The truth is it is all conjecture. We can only guess. Some see David’s heart toward Absalom as anger others interpret it as love. It is possible that the ruse Joab set up was to give David a legal reason to allow Absalom back.

 

Whatever the reason David's decision to do nothing for two years after allowing Absalom’s return probably added to the resentment Absalom felt. David being unresponsive to his household laid the groundwork for Absalom’s rebellion. Looking at this chapter, I am reminded again that ignoring an issue only adds to the problem.

 

A final note, when talking about Absalom the scriptures here indicate that he was a handsome man. There seems to be a pride that Absalom has in his own beauty, which may have been the ultimate factor in his decision to try and take over the kingdom. Pride, scripture teaches, comes before a fall, and it does seem Absalom had his fair share of it.

2Sa 14:1-33
(1)  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
(2)  And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
(3)  And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
(4)  And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
(5)  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
(6)  And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
(7)  And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
(8)  And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
(9)  And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
(10)  And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
(11)  Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
(12)  Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
(13)  And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
(14)  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
(15)  Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
(16)  For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
(17)  Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
(18)  Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
(19)  And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
(20)  To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
(21)  And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
(22)  And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
(23)  So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
(24)  And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
(25)  But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
(26)  And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
(27)  And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
(28)  So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
(29)  Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
(30)  Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
(31)  Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
(32)  And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
(33)  So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

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1. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary. Accessed on 3/19/18. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/2_samuel/14.htm

2 Samuel 13

WEEK   25                                      2 Samuel 13

MONDAY  Reflections

So many times have I heard of families hiding their family secrets. Abuse, rape, incest, and the like have been looked over and ignored thinking if nothing is said or done everything will be okay. It never is. David never dealt with what happened to Tamar. I believe if he had then all that transpired later would never have happened. Maybe David didn't want to be forced to punish his son with the death sentence the Mosaic law called for. Maybe David justified that after his sin, he had no right to judge Amnon.  Whatever the reason, Amnon died anyway and David's world would fall apart.

Why? The prophet said that David’s sin would bring conflict and it absolutely did.

2Sa 13:1-39
(1)  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
(2)  And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
(3)  But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
(4)  And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
(5)  And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
(6)  So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
(7)  Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
(8)  So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
(9)  And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
(10)  And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
(11)  And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
(12)  And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
(13)  And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
(14)  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
(15)  Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
(16)  And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
(17)  Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
(18)  And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
(19)  And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
(20)  And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
(21)  But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
(22)  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
(23)  And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
(24)  And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
(25)  And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
(26)  Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
(27)  But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
(28)  Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
(29)  And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
(30)  And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
(31)  Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
(32)  And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
(33)  Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
(34)  But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
(35)  And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
(36)  And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
(37)  But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
(38)  So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
(39)  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

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Jeremiah 36

WEEK   24                                        Jeremiah 36

SATURDAY  Reflections

In ancient days, written scrolls represented days and days of work. First to produce the scrolls, then the material to produce the ink, and finally writing down all the words. The King of Judah took all of this work and threw it into the fire.

It is impossible to know what the king was thinking, but the word of God isn't stopped by the burning of a manuscript. We can see today that throughout the ages, the Bible has been burned, discarded and discredited but it still endures because God endures. All the king managed to do is set himself up against God and the results were going to be unpleasant.

Jer 36:1-32
(1)  And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
(2)  Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
(3)  It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
(4)  Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
(5)  And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:
(6)  Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
(7)  It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.
(8)  And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house.
(9)  And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.
(10)  Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.
(11)  When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
(12)  Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
(13)  Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
(14)  Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
(15)  And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
(16)  Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
(17)  And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
(18)  Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
(19)  Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
(20)  And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
(21)  So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
(22)  Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
(23)  And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
(24)  Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
(25)  Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.
(26)  But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.
(27)  Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
(28)  Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
(29)  And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?
(30)  Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
(31)  And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
(32)  Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

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