So I slipped. Sorry, at least I'm standing back up.
Anyway. I had quite the deep thought on the way home from work last night (this morning, actually). Unfortunately, it drifted away about the same time my head hit the pillow. I was too tired to mark it down so it's gone. That happens often enough to be quite aggravating. Well, if it was important God will bring it back to me. Or to someone else, it hardly matters.
On to the bread.
Psalm 108 makes me think of military marching chants. It starts with a call to sing and play instruments in praise of God. Then it praises a selection of the tribes of Israel (possibly just the tribes in Judah during the separation, but I haven't confirmed that) and denegrates some enemy nations. Finally it calls on God to assist in overcoming those enemies.
So, I see some real parrallels to "Sound off!" etc. I can imagine David's armies chanting this at the top of their lungs on the march to Edom, or wherever. I'm probably wrong, that's just the impression I get.
Now, I think I'll have to make Matthew wait until the kids are napping. I had enough trouble carving some peace out just to consider this small psalm, nevermind something substantial from the NT.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Psalm 107
A litany of horrible circumstances which God releived when man called out to Him. Ending with a call to be mindful of God's mercy and love. Beginning with a call to thank and glorify Him.
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south." PSA 107:2-3
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south." PSA 107:2-3
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Matthew 1-3
1-
Primarily a recount of the genealogy of Jesus. Some of the interesting points:
~Bathsheba figures prominently (David's great sin).
~The way Matthew counts out the generations, 14 from Abraham to David, 14 from David to Babylon, and 14 from Babylon to Messiah. I'd draw a parallel to the Trinity here, but my meager knowledge isn't capable of backing it up.
~Joseph didn't consummate his marriage to Mary until after Jesus' birth.
2-
The visit of the magi, and Herod's conniving. Funny that Herod attempts to use the worship of Jesus against Him and fails. Ending with Joseph settling his family down in Nazareth.
3-
John the Baptist was baptising people to the Lord when, apparently, a pack of Pharisees and Sadducees show up. John seems to tell them that being of Abraham's line (Jewish by birth, in other words) is not enough to save them. That they must "bear fruit in keeping with repentance;" and carrying the fruit analogy further, informs them that "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." MAT 3:8 & 10. John mentions that "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." (9) which I find hard to translate but which may mean:
1 The line of Abaraham numbers greater than the stars in the sky (as promised), if God needs one of that line to do His work there is an abundance of material to choose from.
2 God can/will choose who is worthy of Abraham's inheritance and will raise to that status any who truly repent (the corollary would seem to be that if you don't repent then you won't be raised or perhaps might fall)
3 God can, if he chose, make a child of Abraham from the very stones of the ground, as in Genesis, so what benefit is it to claim that line?
The 3rd seems rather tenuous, and the 2nd seems to contravene some of what I've already been taught. However the first doesn't seem to fit with the context, so I'm at a loss. Carrying on then...
Jesus comes to be baptized by John, who initially refuses, apparently on the grounds that "I am not fit to remove His sandals;" (11) though Jesus insists and John accedes (who wouldn't?). As well as being the opening to the traditional affirmation by God of His Son, my Bible (a Ryrie study Bible) points out in the notes that the baptism of Christ identifies Him with the sinners who were baptized before him (presumably those after as well, though there's the added context of following in the Lord's steps there).
Enough for one day. Hopefully chapter 4 tomorrow. Make that prayerfully.
Primarily a recount of the genealogy of Jesus. Some of the interesting points:
~Bathsheba figures prominently (David's great sin).
~The way Matthew counts out the generations, 14 from Abraham to David, 14 from David to Babylon, and 14 from Babylon to Messiah. I'd draw a parallel to the Trinity here, but my meager knowledge isn't capable of backing it up.
~Joseph didn't consummate his marriage to Mary until after Jesus' birth.
2-
The visit of the magi, and Herod's conniving. Funny that Herod attempts to use the worship of Jesus against Him and fails. Ending with Joseph settling his family down in Nazareth.
3-
John the Baptist was baptising people to the Lord when, apparently, a pack of Pharisees and Sadducees show up. John seems to tell them that being of Abraham's line (Jewish by birth, in other words) is not enough to save them. That they must "bear fruit in keeping with repentance;" and carrying the fruit analogy further, informs them that "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." MAT 3:8 & 10. John mentions that "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." (9) which I find hard to translate but which may mean:
1 The line of Abaraham numbers greater than the stars in the sky (as promised), if God needs one of that line to do His work there is an abundance of material to choose from.
2 God can/will choose who is worthy of Abraham's inheritance and will raise to that status any who truly repent (the corollary would seem to be that if you don't repent then you won't be raised or perhaps might fall)
3 God can, if he chose, make a child of Abraham from the very stones of the ground, as in Genesis, so what benefit is it to claim that line?
The 3rd seems rather tenuous, and the 2nd seems to contravene some of what I've already been taught. However the first doesn't seem to fit with the context, so I'm at a loss. Carrying on then...
Jesus comes to be baptized by John, who initially refuses, apparently on the grounds that "I am not fit to remove His sandals;" (11) though Jesus insists and John accedes (who wouldn't?). As well as being the opening to the traditional affirmation by God of His Son, my Bible (a Ryrie study Bible) points out in the notes that the baptism of Christ identifies Him with the sinners who were baptized before him (presumably those after as well, though there's the added context of following in the Lord's steps there).
Enough for one day. Hopefully chapter 4 tomorrow. Make that prayerfully.
Psalm 106
The psalmist recounts the history of Israel, from Moses to the Judges(?). In this condensed form it's easy to see how closely the tribe of Israel resembles the life of a man. God has forever shown mercy on Israel, just as he continues to show mercy on me each and every time I've fallen. Some of his reminders have been less than gentle, but I certainly deserve worse.
Then He gave them into the hand of the nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them. PSA 106:41
Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness. PSA 106:44-45
Amen
Then He gave them into the hand of the nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them. PSA 106:41
Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness. PSA 106:44-45
Amen
Monday, July 13, 2009
Semi-Random thoughts
Something that popped into my brain during yesterday's AM service. Sin is exceedingly patient. It consistently creeps up on me, and it doesn't mind feeling defeated. It knows it will eventually impose the same sentiments on me if it just waits patiently.
Fortunately Jesus is also patient, always standing by waiting to help. Always, and perhaps more importantly, willing to patiently forgive and suffer on my behalf.
It also struck me just now that support groups, self-help, accountability regimes, and peer groups may, in fact, be counterproductive. Consider, the only help and support we should need is Jesus. The only one to whom we should be accountable (for spiritual things anyway, worldly accountability is an entirely different and complex topic) is Jesus. There is a danger of leaning too much on man and not enough on Him. At the same time, of course, being a member of such a group reinforces the familial bonds and fellowship which is one of the hallmarks (and commands, if I recall) of a healthy church. Life is just too blindingly complicated, isn't it?
Fortunately Jesus is also patient, always standing by waiting to help. Always, and perhaps more importantly, willing to patiently forgive and suffer on my behalf.
It also struck me just now that support groups, self-help, accountability regimes, and peer groups may, in fact, be counterproductive. Consider, the only help and support we should need is Jesus. The only one to whom we should be accountable (for spiritual things anyway, worldly accountability is an entirely different and complex topic) is Jesus. There is a danger of leaning too much on man and not enough on Him. At the same time, of course, being a member of such a group reinforces the familial bonds and fellowship which is one of the hallmarks (and commands, if I recall) of a healthy church. Life is just too blindingly complicated, isn't it?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Psalm 105
A recounting of God's dealings with Abraham and Israel, beginning with exhortations to thank, praise, seek, and remember Him.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Whoops!
This theory just got blown out of the water.
http://catdelveworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/thoughts-on-nature-of-god.html
http://catdelveworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/thoughts-on-nature-of-god.html
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