Through the Bible in one year - Day 8

Psalm 7:8

The Lord judges the peoples;

judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness

and according to the integrity that is in me.

‘As the Lord judges according to my righteousness, and my integrity,’ well that gives me pause. Does it give you pause? How righteous am I? Do I act with integrity? I’d like to think so, but if I am honest I know that isn’t always the case; sometimes I am sure to act according to my own will or in what I think is my best interest, but is it really according to the Lord’s will for me? Do I even ask that question of myself when I wish to have/do/buy or act in some way?

Psalm 7:11

God is a righteous judge,

and a God who feels indignation every day.

Lord, I pray, that I do not add to your indignation every day.

Today in Genesis, we see Noah, his family and the beasts leaving the Ark, and in 1 Chronicles we read the Genealogy of Saul – a Benjaminite.

Luke

...And Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit and a report went out about him to all the towns...I expect that it was so obvious, that people were talking about him. If the power of the Spirit were strong and evident in us, don’t you suppose people would be talking about that as well?...And Jesus went to the Synagogue as was his custom...thankfully, this is my custom (well not the Synagogue, but to my community of faith and learning – to church on Sunday).

Even the demons knew he was the Christ – the Savior, and were afraid-and under his control. Yet it wasn’t for them to spread the word or the good news- they were incapable of that. They, like the devil yesterday were capable of twisting the Word to their own purposes and of waiting for an ‘opportune time,’ BUT we, like Jesus have the ability to say no, to send the demons away in His name.

Psalm 7:17

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,

and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High

Join me in giving thanks, and singing praise.

Today’s readings: Psalm 7, Genesis 8:1-19, 1 Chronicles 8, Luke 4:14-44

Through the Bible in one year - Day 7

Genesis 7:5-6

And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.

In 1 Chronicles today we read of the descendents of Issachar, Benjamin, Napthali, Manasseh, Ephraim, & Asher. We might find it tiresome to read all these long lists of names, and genealogies, BUT I want to say that not only is it important for someone to have written them down for posterity, it is important for us to know as well. One of the things we will notice in these lists is that a lot of the names are repeated...and so without the who came from whom information we could easily get confused (or even more confused), we also notice that all these different clans and tribes we read about in history or in the Bible are all related in one way or another. (DUH, you may say, they did after all, all come from Adam.) So my point about these relationships is that they are not just bad-guys and good-guys fighting each other – we do see that in many cases there are both in each-and in part it could be sibling rivalry, which we have seen already between Cain and Abel.

You will have noticed with me, had you be reading along that the tribes of Issachar, Benjamin and Asher are all listing their warriors, where Naphtali, Manasseh and Ephraim are not. It seems that knowing who has the warriors and how many is important at this point in the genealogies; how sad, and what a long way from the Garden. Why do you suppose Naphtali, Manasseh and Ephraim do not have warriors? I don’t know, but it is important I am certain. (Although in Napthali’s case there were only the four sons listed and nothing more.)

Another thing I realize about these Chronicles is that they give us another point of reference when we read Luke 3:23-38. In the section of Luke we read the genealogy of Joseph. In this genealogy we see all these people backward from Joseph all the way to Adam. Which Mattathias? Well, there were two; the son of Amos and the son of Semein...and so on. Through these two recordings of names (of people really) we can look and see who is related to whom. This is indeed important for us. These were people who all had parents and siblings and descendents – just like us.

The verses from Genesis I posted at the top of today’s blog give me two insights that we each can apply to our lives today – and every day. The first is that Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. Yup, that is how we can be righteous and upright – just do what the Lord has directed us. And second, Noah was SIX HUNDRED years old. That is OLD. Older than I’ll ever get on this earth, so when I think I am too old to start something or to be good for something or to make a difference – well look at Noah and you will see as I do that these thoughts are just excuses. We are never too old for God’s purposes. Below are two different verses that give us hope with regard to our being useful – at any age, even our ‘old’ age.

Genesis 18:14

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Joshua 13:1

Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.

Luke 4:8, 12-13

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve."... And Jesus answered him, "It is said, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

We shall serve the Lord. And we should be on the lookout for the devil in those ‘opportune’ times of self doubt. Joshua says in verse 24:15

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

I’m with him. How about you?

Today’s readings: Psalm 6, Genesis 7, 1 Chronicles 7, Luke 3:23-4:13

Through the Bible in one year - Day 6

Psalm 5:4-6

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;

you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies;

the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Genesis 6:5-8

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

These two passages spoke to me today of the need for righteousness, and yet of our own accord we are not righteous. God is holy, we can’t fake our way or scam our way into His presence. God will not be deceived, nor will we who are evil or harbor evil thoughts come to Him.

The other day I was thinking about the heart-pain we cause the Lord, and here in fact we hear just that – we grieve the heart of God.

But then the story of Noah.

I have loved this story for so long, and for so many reasons. From Bill Cosby’s dialogue, to the Jewish book “Does God have a Big Toe?” To the promise of the rainbow. Wow, Noah. This indeed is what difference one man (person) can make. This then is the difference we each can make for the world. This story is certainly a foreshadowing of the Christ, the Savior of the World, and it gives us hope – and a call. Hope that God cares for His creation, for us, hope that one individual can make a difference for good in this world, and a call on our lives to be that one person; to make that difference.

Luke 3:8

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

John the Baptist says we must bear fruit in keeping with repentance and turn from our evil ways.

This is how we can make a difference in this world. We cannot stand on our past or the past of our family or friends, we must always be working toward the Lord, and for His purposes.

Today’s readings: Psalm 5, Genesis 6, 1 Chronicles 6, Luke 3:1-22

Through the Bible in one year - Day 5

Psalm 4:7-8
You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Lord, I ask that you put YOUR joy in my heart, and that I seek after your righteousness, so that in you and through you I may lie down and sleep in peace.

Genesis 5:21-24
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

...then Methuselah, then Lamech, and then Noah. This is what Lamech said about Noah:
When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands." (Genesis 5:28-29)

In 1 Chronicles we read the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, and next in Luke we read of Anna who ‘was descended from the Tribe of Ashar.’ Ashar we know is one of those 12 tribes; in this way of reading we can readily see the relationships from Old to New Testaments, and while the reading may be difficult for us to clearly see the relationships of so many peoples, I find it helpful to read with broad strokes these meta-narratives, all the while knowing that the detail is here for further study, and the people have stories that continue on in other places.

Luke 2:29-32
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

When we read of Simeon, Luke doesn’t tell us which Simeon this is or who his forefathers were, he just lets us know that this man is righteous and devout. In this way Simeon’s story could be our own, we too can be righteous and devout; not on our own account or of our own doing but through Christ. This passage in Luke ends by saying: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) For us, we can take heart, as this can be a plan for us too.

Today’s readings: Psalm 4, Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 5, Luke 2:22-52

Through the Bible in one year - Day 4

What is this heritage of blood? How is it that Cain has the brash reply ready, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord answers that his brother’s blood cries out to him. I think of the poor Lord God, who has in his ears the cries of all the blood we spill because of our fears, and greed and selfish ambition. Even after this killing, the Lord protects Cain and we see the lineage of Cain, yet it is tainted and Lamech almost seems to boast of his own murderous behavior. (Genesis 4:24)

One thing stands out to me as I read these passages, and that is that Cain laments being sent away even while he fears reprisals. Yet for Cain, who obviously has “issues,” this separation from God is a terrible loss. Too bad for those of us who have read this account and yet disregarded it, that it hasn’t made enough of an impression to stop our own foolish, fearful, rash, greedy and murderous behavior. 

(Here I am reminded of Hebrews, though not in the selected readings of the day, it certainly speaks to me about the difference between faith and following the Lord - or our own designs:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

               By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks...

               By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise... By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.      

 - (Hebrews 11:1-12 ESV))

This chapter of Genesis ends by saying at this time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Then we continue to read from 1 Chronicles (chapter 4) about the descendents of Judah, and we have the verses made famous several years ago in a small book called the Prayer of Jabez: 

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; …Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

 In the New King James version we see that the translation says “that I may not cause pain,” and this is what the author of the little book uses as his inspiration for this prayer. Jabez is a man who calls “upon the name of the Lord,” and this prayer is significant in that he asks not to harm or cause pain. I read that little book when it came out and often think to ask that I might bring glory to the Lord – rather than my typical prayer requests, whereby I ask for this or that – for myself or others. This prayer is for Kingdom building. This descendent of Judah has asked differently than Lamech or Cain, no wonder he is more honorable than his brothers!

Psalm 3:8
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!

(How, we might ask?)

Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Readings today: Psalm 3, Genesis 4, 1 Chronicles 4, Luke 2:1-21