QUESTION FOR TODAY:
Hw will I live as Jesus lives today?
DEFINITION:
Respect is (r-spkt)
tr.v. re·spect·ed, re·spect·ing, re·spects
1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
2. To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
3. To relate or refer to; concern.
n. 1. A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem. See Synonyms at regard.
2. The state of being regarded with honor or esteem.
3. Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
4. respects Polite expressions of consideration or deference: pay one’s respects.
5. A particular aspect, feature, or detail: In many respects this is an important decision.
6. Usage Problem Relation; reference. See Usage Note at regard.
DAILY OFFICE FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
Psalm 45
For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.
45:1 My heart overflows with a noble theme.
I recite my verses for the king.
My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
45:2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men.
Grace has anointed your lips,
therefore God has blessed you forever.
45:3 Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one:
your splendor and your majesty.
45:4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness.
Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
45:5 Your arrows are sharp.
The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
45:6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever.
A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
45:7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
45:8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
45:9 Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women.
At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
45:10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.
Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
45:11 So the king will desire your beauty,
honor him, for he is your lord.
45:12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.
The rich among the people entreat your favor.
45:13 The princess inside is all glorious.
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
45:14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.
The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
45:15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.
They shall enter into the king’s palace.
45:16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers.
You shall make them princes in all the earth.
45:17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations.
Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.–World English Bible
Psalm 47
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
47:1 Oh clap your hands, all you nations.
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
47:2 For Yahweh Most High is awesome.
He is a great King over all the earth.
47:3 He subdues nations under us,
and peoples under our feet.
47:4 He chooses our inheritance for us,
the glory of Jacob whom he loved.
Selah.
47:5 God has gone up with a shout,
Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet.
47:6 Sing praise to God, sing praises.
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
47:7 For God is the King of all the earth.
Sing praises with understanding.
47:8 God reigns over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
47:9 The princes of the peoples are gathered together,
the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God.
He is greatly exalted!–World English Bible
Psalm 48
A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
48:1 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised,
in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
48:2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
is Mount Zion, on the north sides,
the city of the great King.
48:3 God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
48:4 For, behold, the kings assembled themselves,
they passed by together.
48:5 They saw it, then they were amazed.
They were dismayed.
They hurried away.
48:6 Trembling took hold of them there,
pain, as of a woman in travail.
48:7 With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
48:8 As we have heard, so we have seen,
in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God.
God will establish it forever.
Selah.
48:9 We have thought about your loving kindness, God,
in the midst of your temple.
48:10 As is your name, God,
so is your praise to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
48:11 Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice,
Because of your judgments.
48:12 Walk about Zion, and go around her.
Number its towers.
48:13 Mark well her bulwarks.
Consider her palaces,
that you may tell it to the next generation.
48:14 For this God is our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide even to death.–World English Bible
Job 29:1-20
29:1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
29:2 “Oh that I were as in the months of old,
as in the days when God watched over me;
29:3 when his lamp shone on my head,
and by his light I walked through darkness,
29:4 as I was in the ripeness of my days,
when the friendship of God was in my tent,
29:5 when the Almighty was yet with me,
and my children were around me,
29:6 when my steps were washed with butter,
and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
29:7 when I went forth to the city gate,
when I prepared my seat in the street.
29:8 The young men saw me and hid themselves.
The aged rose up and stood.
29:9 The princes refrained from talking,
and laid their hand on their mouth.
29:10 The voice of the nobles was hushed,
and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
29:11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me;
and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
29:12 Because I delivered the poor who cried,
and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
29:13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me,
and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me.
My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
29:15 I was eyes to the blind,
and feet to the lame.
29:16 I was a father to the needy.
The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
29:17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous,
and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
29:18 Then I said, ‘I shall die in my own house,
I shall number my days as the sand.
29:19 My root is spread out to the waters.
The dew lies all night on my branch.
29:20 My glory is fresh in me.
My bow is renewed in my hand.’–World English Bible
Acts 14:1-18
14:1 It happened in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 14:2 But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 14:5 When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, 14:6 they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. 14:7 There they preached the Good News.
14:8 At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 14:9 He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 14:10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. 14:11 When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 14:12 They called Barnabas “Jupiter,” and Paul “Mercury,” because he was the chief speaker. 14:13 The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. 14:14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out, 14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; 14:16 who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 14:17 Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
14:18 Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.–World English Bible
John 10:31-42
10:31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 10:32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
10:33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
10:34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’* 10:35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 10:36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 10:37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 10:38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
10:39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 10:40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. 10:41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.” 10:42 Many believed in him there.–World English Bible
[Elie Naud]
Psalm 30
A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.
30:1 I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up,
and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
30:2 Yahweh my God, I cried to you,
and you have healed me.
30:3 Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol.
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
30:4 Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his.
Give thanks to his holy name.
30:5 For his anger is but for a moment.
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
30:7 You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong;
but when you hid your face, I was troubled.
30:8 I cried to you, Yahweh.
To Yahweh I made supplication:
30:9 “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust praise you?
Shall it declare your truth?
30:10 Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me.
Yahweh, be my helper.”
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
30:12 To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent.
Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!–World English Bible
Daniel 6:10b-16,19-23
6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 6:11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: Haven’t you signed an decree, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter. 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. 6:15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.
6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 6:20 When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions? 6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. 6:22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt. 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.–World English Bible
James 1:2-4,12a
1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.–World English Bible
Matthew 15:21-28
15:21 Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 15:22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!”
15:23 But he answered her not a word.
His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”
15:24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
15:25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
15:26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
15:27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.–World English Bible
Tuesday, 07 September 2010
Tuesday of the Twenty-third week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Cloud, Priest (522-c.560)
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 6:2 Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 6:3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 6:4 If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 6:5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers? 6:6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 6:7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 6:8 No, but you yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that against your brothers. 6:9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. 6:11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.–World English Bible
Psalm 147:1-5
147:1 Praise Yah,
for it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem.
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
147:3 He heals the broken in heart,
and binds up their wounds.
147:4 He counts the number of the stars.
He calls them all by their names.
147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power.
His understanding is infinite.–World English Bible
Psalm 148:1-6,9
148:1 Praise Yah!
Praise Yahweh from the heavens!
Praise him in the heights!
148:2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all his army!
148:3 Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you shining stars!
148:4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens,
You waters that are above the heavens.
148:5 Let them praise the name of Yahweh,
For he commanded, and they were created.
148:6 He has also established them forever and ever.
He has made a decree which will not pass away.
148:9 mountains and all hills;
fruit trees and all cedars;–World English Bible
Psalm 149:1-6,9
149:1 Praise Yahweh!
Sing to Yahweh a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the saints.
149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance!
Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
149:4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people.
He crowns the humble with salvation.
149:5 Let the saints rejoice in honor.
Let them sing for joy on their beds.
149:6 May the high praises of God be in their mouths,
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
149:9 to execute on them the written judgment.
All his saints have this honor.
Praise Yah!–World English Bible
Luke 6:12-19
6:12 It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 6:13 When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 6:14 Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 6:15 Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 6:16 Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 6:17 He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 6:18 as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 6:19 All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.–World English Bible
Commentary of the day:
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
No Greater Love
“Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God”
Contemplatives and ascetics of every age and every religion have always sought God in the silence and solitude of deserts, forests and mountains. Jesus himself lived for forty days in complete solitude, spending long hours in intimate converse with the Father in the silence of the night.
We, too, are called to withdraw into a deeper silence from time to time, alone with God. Being alone with him – not with our books, our thoughts, our memories, but in complete nakedness; remaining in his presence – silent, empty, motionless, waiting.
We cannot find God in noise and restlessness. Look at nature: the trees, flowers, grasses all grow in silence; the stars, the moon, the sun all move in silence. The important thing is not what we are able say but what God says to us and what he speaks to others through us. In silence he listens to us; in silence he speaks to our souls; in silence we are granted the privilege of hearing his voice:
Silence of the eyes;
Silence of the ears;
Silence of our mouths;
Silence of our minds.
In the silence of the heart
God will speak.
THE MALE JOURNEY: Shadow Boxing by Father Richard Rohr
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
It takes so much energy and effort to suppress what we find unacceptable in ourselves that we can have very little energy left for anything else. This is why some people exist in a stew of aimless anxiety, nameless dread, free-floating fear, generalized anger, and irritated exhaustion. These are all indications that we’ve placed a great portion of our unacceptable self in exile. We have no patience, no forgiveness, no mercy, but only harsh judgments. No gospel.
We then project our own sick symptoms onto the screen of our outer world and call it reality. We don’t see the world as it is; we see the world through the prism of our anxiety, fear, and other rejected emotions. This is what creates the worlds of conspiracy theories, militia movements, and the hateful rantings of radio and TV personalities. People are largely fighting their own fears and denied shadow selves. If there is no real shadow boxing with the self, the boxing ring of life becomes scary indeed. This is much of our world, brothers.
What shadows am I fighting right now?
FROM FR. RICHARD’S NEW BOOK:
On The Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men
9.7.10 – “Christ will shine on you”
Daily Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-20
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions:
Verse 14 of this passage quotes what seems to be a snippet of an early Christian hymn. Verse 19 encouraged the Ephesian Christians to continually draw their joy and energy from “psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit.” Those joyous musical expressions of worship were one way they kept Christ’s light shining into, and out of, their hearts.
Verse 8 does not say, as we might expect, “You belong to the light.” It uses a stronger phrase: “Now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” But we are light only because, as the hymn fragment in verse 14 says, Christ shines on us. In what ways have you become aware of Christ’s light shining through you to others?
Paul contrasted being “drunk on wine” (which some Greek cults saw as a spiritual state) with being filled with the Spirit. Science now tells us alcohol is a depressant that limits the brain’s ability to judge wisely. What hurtful actions or habits has the Spirit displaced in your life? Are there others you want to ask the Spirit to move you past?
9.7.10 Tuesday Insights from Pastor Molly Simpson
I’m a night owl, and I’m often the last one in my household to go to bed. I dread that walk from the computer desk in our study to my bed once I’ve turned out the light. There are plenty of times that I trip over the laundry basket, kick the bedpost, or step on the dog (sorry Duke!). I thought about this perilous trek in the dark when I read today’s passage from Ephesians 5.
It’s interesting to notice that Paul isn’t just pointing out that light is good and darkness is bad–but the difference between things being exposed or hidden. In the light of Christ, we can see the way, and we know which steps are “good and right and true” rather than stumbling along in the dark. We can, in fact, discover what is pleasing to the Lord because we can see! Likewise, if we live in the light of Christ, we know that a bit of that light must shine onto the path of those around us.
Spend some time reflecting on the question from the GPS, “In what ways have you become aware of Christ’s light shining through you to others?” Do you know of someone who might be tripping over obstacles in the darkness that Jesus might be nudging you to share Christ’s light with?
I’m thankful that people like my middle school math teacher, my long-time friend Jeni, several Young Life leaders, my youth pastor Dan, my college roommates, my husband Ben, and my pastor friends have been “‘light bearers” in exposing me to the light of Christ and even turning up the lumens along the way. Spend a few moments in prayer giving God thanks for the people who have been light bearers to you.
Weekly Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are God, yet you came into this world in human form, bringing us light to replace our darkness. As a human, you knew human emotions (anger, sadness, grief, fear, joy and love), yet you never let go your obedient connection to God. You made me—and you work with me to remake me into the person you want me to be. I sing your praises with gratitude. Amen.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.
TUESDAY, September 7
SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 3:9-16
3:9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
3:10 The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
3:11 God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
3:12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
3:13 Yahweh God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
3:14 Yahweh God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
you are cursed above all livestock,
and above every animal of the field.
On your belly you shall go,
and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will bruise your head,
and you will bruise his heel.”
3:16 To the woman he said,
“I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth.
In pain you will bear children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”–World English Bible
KEY VERSE: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9).
Daddy, I’m Here
Six-year-old Kumie wanted to cook kaukau (sweet potatoes). He placed firewood in the metal drum and lit the twigs necessary to start the fire. Suddenly, a strong wind blew over the coals and sparks of fire blew onto the grass wall. As the kitchen caught on fire, Kumie ran and hid in the nearby bushes. When Kumie’s father returned home and saw the damaged hut, he immediately called for his son. Afraid of the consequences if he answered his father, Kumie remained hidden in the bushes. His father continued to lovingly call for him. Kumie finally realized he wanted his father’s comfort and forgiveness, so he answered, “Daddy, I’m here.”
Our Heavenly Father desires that we become as a child in our relationship with Him. When things go wrong and we break that trusting relationship, God keeps calling our names. When we get lost in commitments to other activities instead of worship, God asks, “Where are you?” He wants to heal the broken relationship. He wants to comfort us. He wants us to recognize we are not where we should be. He calls to us, “Where are you?” We need only to answer, “Heavenly Father, I’m here.”–Joyce Kapak
SING TO THE LORD
1. Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
3. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.
4. Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul” by Charles Wesley
REACH OUT IN PRAYER
Extension education for Christians in Guatemala.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
This was a merciful question asked by a compassionate God who sought reconciliation and nothing else (Jim Edlin).
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Chronicles 23-25
2 Chronicles 23
1 In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada decided to make his move and worked out a strategy with certain influential officers in the army. He picked Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri as his associates.2 They dispersed throughout Judah and called in the Levites from all the towns in Judah along with the heads of families. They met in Jerusalem.
3 The gathering met in The Temple of God. They made a covenant there in The Temple.
The priest Jehoiada showed them the young prince and addressed them: “Here he is—the son of the king. He is going to rule just as God promised regarding the sons of David.4 Now this is what you must do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath are to be posted as security guards at the gates;5 another third will guard the palace; and the other third will guard the foundation gate. All the people will gather in the courtyards of The Temple of God.6 No one may enter The Temple of God except the priests and designated Levites—they are permitted in because they’ve been consecrated, but all the people must do the work assigned them.7 The Levites are to form a ring around the young king, weapons at the ready. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Your job is to stay with the king at all times and places, coming and going.”
8 All the Levites and officers obeyed the orders of Jehoiada the priest. Each took charge of his men, both those who came on duty on the Sabbath and those who went off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest hadn’t exempted any of them from duty.9 Then the priest armed the officers with spears and the large and small shields originally belonging to King David that were stored in The Temple of God.10 Well-armed, the guards took up their assigned positions for protecting the king, from one end of The Temple to the other, surrounding both Altar and Temple.11 Then the priest brought the prince into view, crowned him, handed him the scroll of God’s covenant, and made him king. As Jehoiada and his sons anointed him they shouted, “Long live the king!”12 Athaliah, hearing all the commotion, the people running around and praising the king, came to The Temple to see what was going on.13 Astonished, she saw the young king standing at the entrance flanked by the captains and heralds, with everybody beside themselves with joy, trumpets blaring, the choir and orchestra leading the praise. Athaliah ripped her robes in dismay and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”14 Jehoiada the priest ordered the military officers, “Drag her outside—and kill anyone who tries to follow her!” (The priest had said, “Don’t kill her inside The Temple of God.”)15 So they dragged her out to the palace’s horse corral and there they killed her.16 Jehoiada now made a covenant between himself and the king and the people: they were to be God’s special people.17 The people poured into the temple of Baal and tore it down, smashing altar and images to smithereens. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altar.18 Jehoiada turned the care of God’s Temple over to the priests and Levites, the way David had directed originally. They were to offer the Whole-Burnt-Offerings of God as set out in The Revelation of Moses, and with praise and song as directed by David.19 He also assigned security guards at the gates of God’s Temple so that no one who was unprepared could enter.20 Then he got everyone together—officers, nobles, governors, and the people themselves—and escorted the king down from The Temple of God, through the Upper Gate, and placed him on the royal throne.
21 Everybody celebrated the event. And the city was safe and undisturbed—Athaliah had been killed; no more Athaliah terror.
King Joash
2 Chronicles 24
1 Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Gazelle (Zibiah). She was from Beersheba.2 Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased God throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime.3 Jehoiada picked out two wives for him; he had a family of both sons and daughters.4 The time came when Joash determined to renovate The Temple of God.5 He got the priests and Levites together and said, “Circulate through the towns of Judah every year and collect money from the people to repair The Temple of your God. You are in charge of carrying this out.”6 But the Levites dragged their feet and didn’t do anything.7 Then the king called in Jehoiada the chief priest and said, “Why haven’t you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax Moses, servant of God and the congregation, set for the upkeep of the place of worship? You can see how bad things are—wicked Queen Athaliah and her sons let The Temple of God go to ruin and took all its sacred artifacts for use in Baal worship.”8 Following the king’s orders, they made a chest and placed it at the entrance to The Temple of God.9 Then they sent out a tax notice throughout Judah and Jerusalem: “Pay the tax that Moses the servant of God set when Israel was in the wilderness.”10 The people and their leaders were glad to do it and cheerfully brought their money until the chest was full.11 Whenever the Levites brought the chest in for a royal audit and found it to be full, the king’s secretary and the official of the chief priest would empty the chest and put it back in its place. Day after day they did this and collected a lot of money.12 The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the managers of The Temple project; they in turn paid the masons and carpenters for the repair work on The Temple of God.13 The construction workers kept at their jobs steadily until the restoration was complete—the house of God as good as new!
14 When they had finished the work, they returned the surplus money to the king and Jehoiada, who used the money for making sacred vessels for Temple worship, vessels for the daily worship, for the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, bowls, and other gold and silver liturgical artifacts.
Whole-Burnt-Offerings were made regularly in The Temple of God throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime.15 He died at a ripe old age—130 years old!16 They buried him in the royal cemetery because he had such a distinguished life of service to Israel and God and God’s Temple.17 But after the death of Jehoiada things fell apart. The leaders of Judah made a formal presentation to the king and he went along with them.18 Things went from bad to worse; they deserted The Temple of God and took up with the cult of sex goddesses. An angry cloud hovered over Judah and Jerusalem because of this sin.19 God sent prophets to straighten them out, warning of judgment. But nobody paid attention.20 Then the Spirit of God moved Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest to speak up: “God’s word: Why have you deliberately walked away from God’s commandments? You can’t live this way! If you walk out on God, he’ll walk out on you.”21 But they worked out a plot against Zechariah, and with the complicity of the king—he actually gave the order!—they murdered him, pelting him with rocks, right in the court of The Temple of God.22 That’s the thanks King Joash showed the loyal Jehoiada, the priest who had made him king. He murdered Jehoiada’s son. Zechariah’s last words were, “Look, God! Make them pay for this!”23 A year or so later Aramean troops attacked Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, massacred the leaders, and shipped all their plunder back to the king in Damascus.24 The Aramean army was quite small, but God used them to wipe out Joash’s large army—their punishment for deserting God, the God of their ancestors. Arameans implemented God’s judgment against Joash.25 They left Joash badly wounded and his own servants finished him off—it was a palace conspiracy, avenging the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him in his bed. Afterward they buried him in the City of David, but he was not honored with a grave in the royal cemetery.26 The temple conspirators were Zabad, whose mother was Shimeath from Ammon, and Jehozabad, whose mother was Shimrith from Moab.
27 The story of his sons, the many sermons preached to Joash, and the account of his repairs on The Temple of God can be found contained in the commentary on the royal history.
Amaziah, Joash’s son, was the next king.
King Amaziah
2 Chronicles 25
1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.2 He lived well before God, doing the right thing for the most part. But he wasn’t wholeheartedly devoted to God.3 When he had the affairs of the kingdom well in hand, he executed the palace guard who had assassinated his father the king.4 But he didn’t kill the sons of the assassins—he was mindful of what God commanded in The Revelation of Moses, that parents shouldn’t be executed for their childrens’ sins, nor children for their parents’. We each pay personally for our sins.5 Amaziah organized Judah and sorted out Judah and Benjamin by families and by military units. Men twenty years and older had to register—they ended up with 300,000 judged capable of military service.6 In addition he hired 100,000 soldiers from Israel in the north at a cost of about four and a half tons of silver.7 A holy man showed up and said, “No, O king—don’t let those northern Israelite soldiers into your army; God is not on their side, nor with any of the Ephraimites.8 Instead, you go by yourself and be strong. God and God only has the power to help or hurt your cause.”
9 But Amaziah said to the holy man, “But what about all this money—these tons of silver I have already paid out to hire these men?”
“God’s help is worth far more to you than that,” said the holy man.10 So Amaziah fired the soldiers he had hired from the north and sent them home. They were very angry at losing their jobs and went home seething.11 But Amaziah was optimistic. He led his troops into the Valley of Salt and killed 10,000 men of Seir.12 They took another 10,000 as prisoners, led them to the top of the Rock, and pushed them off a cliff. They all died in the fall, smashed on the rocks.13 But the troops Amaziah had dismissed from his army, angry over their lost opportunity for plunder, rampaged through the towns of Judah all the way from Samaria to Beth Horon, killing 3,000 people and taking much plunder.14 On his return from the destruction of the Edomites, Amaziah brought back the gods of the men of Seir and installed them as his own gods, worshiping them and burning incense to them.15 That ignited God’s anger; a fiery blast of God’s wrath put into words by a God-sent prophet: “What is this? Why on earth would you pray to inferior gods who couldn’t so much as help their own people from you—gods weaker than Amaziah?”
16 Amaziah interrupted him, “Did I ask for your opinion? Shut up or get thrown out!”
The prophet quit speaking, but not before he got in one last word: “I have it on good authority: God has made up his mind to throw you out because of what you’ve done, and because you wouldn’t listen to me.”17 One day Amaziah sent envoys to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, challenging him to a fight: “Come and meet with me, I dare you. Let’s have it out face to face!”18 Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah, “One day a thistle in Lebanon sent word to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But then a wild animal of Lebanon passed by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it.19 Just because you’ve defeated Edom in battle, you now think you’re a big shot. Go ahead and be proud, but stay home. Why press your luck? Why bring defeat on yourself and Judah?”20 Amaziah wouldn’t take no for an answer—God had already decided to let Jehoash defeat him because he had defected to the gods of Edom.21 So Jehoash king of Israel came on ahead and confronted Amaziah king of Judah. They met at Beth Shemesh, a town of Judah.22 Judah was thoroughly beaten by Israel—all the soldiers straggled home in defeat.23 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. But Jehoash didn’t stop at that; he went on to attack Jerusalem. He demolished the Wall of Jerusalem all the way from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a stretch of about six hundred feet.24 He looted the gold, silver, and furnishings—anything he found that was worth taking—from both the palace and The Temple of God—and, for good measure, he took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.25 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah continued as king fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.26 The rest of the life and times of Amaziah from start to finish is written in the Royal Annals of the Kings of Judah and Israel.27 During those last days, after Amaziah had defected from God, they cooked up a plot against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he had to flee to Lachish. But they tracked him down in Lachish and killed him there.
28 They brought him back on horseback and buried him in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David.
King Uzziah–The Message
All Scripture quotations not otherwise designated are from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
All hymn texts are taken from the hymnal Sing to the Lord. Copyright © 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Company.
Copyright © 2010 by WordAction Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Http://www.WordAction.com
SECOND THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST — September 7, 2010
SPRINGS OF BENIGNITY BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water.–John 4:14
The picture Our Lord gives is not that of a channel but a fountain.
“Be being filled,” and the sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus
will flow out of the saint as lavishly as it is imparted to him. If
you find your life is not flowing out as it should, you are to blame;
something has obstructed the flow. Keep right at the Source, and -
you will be blessed personally? No, out of you will flow rivers of
living water, irrepressible life.
We are to be centres through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living
water in blessing to every one. Some of us are like the Dead Sea,
always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly
related to the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive from Him, He will
pour out through us, and in the measure He is not pouring out, there
is a defect in our relationship to Him. Is there anything between you
and Jesus Christ? Is there anything that hinders your belief in Him?
If not, Jesus says, out of you will flow rivers of living water. It
is not a blessing passed on, not an experience stated, but a river
continually flowing. Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in
Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady
flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.
Is it not too extravagant to say that out of an individual believer
rivers are going to flow? “I do not see the rivers,” you say. Never
look at yourself from the standpoint of – Who am I? In the history of
God’s work you will nearly always find that it has started from the
obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but the steadfastly true to Jesus
Christ.
THIRD THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Blessing One Another
To bless means to say good things. We have to bless one another constantly. Parents need to bless their children, children their parents, husbands their wives, wives their husbands, friends their friends. In our society, so full of curses, we must fill each place we enter with our blessings. We forget so quickly that we are God’s beloved children and allow the many curses of our world to darken our hearts. Therefore we have to be reminded of our belovedness and remind others of theirs. Whether the blessing is given in words or with gestures, in a solemn or an informal way, our lives need to be blessed lives.–Henri J. M. Nouwen
