Psalm
38:1
O
Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor
discipline me in your wrath!
Here
is a companion verse to ours from yesterday; refrain from anger leave rage
alone (Psalm 37:8). In today’s Psalm, we ask that the Lord not rebuke us in his
anger – and I see that this holds very good advice for us too; let’s not act out
of anger. Rather let us act out of mercy, and in the full knowledge of God’s
grace toward us.
This
Psalmist is having a very bad time, and we can relate if we’ve ever had those
times ourselves. This plea for God not to leave him in his trouble or at the
mercy of his enemies; yes this is something we can pray in earnest, whenever
these circumstances overwhelm us.
In
Genesis today we read of the re-naming of Jacob. I noticed that it was after
all this journeying, and after Jacob had obeyed God, only then did he hear the
Lord bless him as Abraham had called for him to be blessed. I think of my own
inclinations which are to ask for the blessing first and in thanksgiving I
would obey. But, this makes me wonder if only having gone, and seen and obeyed
was Jacob able to receive the fullness of the blessing. Had he stayed and never
gone, what would the blessing have been? How would he have been the father of a
great nation?
We
also read of the deaths of those dear to Jacob. This is something that happens
to everyone as they go through this life. People we love, die before us; and if
not this then we would die and leave them. We may have known that Jacob is the
father of 12 sons, and today we have them all listed so that we know who comes
from whom, and we also see why Jacob loves Joseph and Benjamin so dearly; they
are the only two sons of his beloved Rachel. In fact Rachel dies while giving
birth to Benjamin; somehow I had forgotten that. And right on the heels of
this, we read of Isaac’s death. Yes, Jacob got a new name and a place to call
his own, but this also is a lot of loss. I know from experience that it is
sometimes hard to appreciate the blessings when there is such a heartfelt loss.
And yet, I read the last line today from this chapter and noticed that when
Isaac died, his two sons buried him together. This wouldn’t have been possible
at the beginning of our readings of Esau and Jacob. This illustrates for me how
healing the work of God can be in individual lives and in families.
One
other thing I noticed – and had been waiting for something more about this. Did
you wonder, as I did, what would come of those household gods that Rachel stole
all the way back when they were fleeing from her father? A lot has happened
since then; children have been born, peoples have been met and dealt with,
families have been reunited – and not a word about those idols, until today.
God gives Jacob the land of the promise – the land he promised to Abraham and
Isaac all those years before, and God gives Jacob a new name and God has them
put away all the false little household gods; all those things to which they
might have looked for solace in the place of looking to God. This is the end of
those household gods – and any others they might have acquired along the way. (These
household gods get buried in Shechem...) In this new land, they will look to
the Lord to be their God, and in doing this, they remove the obstacles of false
hope these idols represent.
From
2 Chronicles 12, this is what it ends with today:
“There were continual wars between Rehoboam
and Jeroboam.” (verse 15) This is indeed a very sad commentary.
What
a difference from the opening lines of today’s reading from Acts:
Now
the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one
said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had
everything in common.
(verse 4:32)
Next
we read of how some thought to keep things from the Lord by giving less then
everything, and they died. I see that is isn’t the keeping that was the problem;
(for they hadn’t had to sell the property up to this point) rather it was the
lying that was the issue. We read how people were afraid – perhaps to die if
they lied – or of a God who knew what actions were lies – and cared enough to
pay attention.
Going
along we read of more healings and then we come to a point where the
authorities were afraid of the men and their growing publicity – and perhaps
their growing power. They wished to get rid of them, before it was too late and
they lost their own power. (I’m guessing here.)
And
this is what one in their midst says:
When
they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in
the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the
people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And
he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with
these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and
a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who
followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean
rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him.
He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present
case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan
or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not
be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they
took his advice, (Acts 5:33-39)
We
end today’s readings in Acts with the choosing of servants for the ministry to
the widows; they choose these men in addition to those preaching so that both
things should continue. For us, we might take note that acts of charity are not
to be accomplished at the expense of the Gospel – but that the acts of charity
must also not be neglected – this is a both-and approach instead of an
either/or.
Today’s
readings: Psalm 38, Genesis 35, 2 Chronicles 12, Acts 4:32-6:7
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