July 6th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4 ~ Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8 ~ Proverbs 18:16-18

Old Testament - Chronicles 2 verse 20 mentions a man that you might easily overlook at a quick read - "Hur was the father of Uri. Uri was the father of Bezalel."  Bezalel is the master craftsman who supervised the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 31:1-5.  Bezalel is only mentioned here in Chronicles and in Exodus, but it is believed that the Chronicler is attempting in this genealogy to show Bezalel as a model for Solomon in the building of the temple.  Just a little Bible minutiae here for you.  It is fun to look for minutiae like this when reading through the genealogies!  :)   Here's an image of Bezalel's handiwork with the tabernacle -

New Testament - Today we read about Paul before the Roman Governor Felix.  And Paul expertly lays out his case!

(image from http://www.lamp.ac.uk/hogarth/81to100.htm)

The close of today's readings are interesting.  It seems to me that Felix has a double-edged reason for keeping Paul in prison for two years.  1.  Felix enjoys talking to Paul!  Why do you suppose this is?  Do you suppose Felix was hearing the Truth from Paul?  I'm sure that he was...  2. Verse 27 tells us - "And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison."  So, Felix gets to hear the Truth from Paul and hopefully keep his job by appeasing the Jewish leaders.  Sounds reasonable, right?  However... it is interesting to see that he is balancing the Truth with the World.  How often in our lives do we try to balance the Truth with the World?  I am afraid this is a tough balance to keep...  Remember always that we are to be "in the world, but not of it."  Don't let the World outweigh the Truth in your life...

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Paul Stands Before Felix: The Preacher and the Politician" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 4 is a wonderful Davidic Psalm.  Verse 7 stood out to me today - "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine."   Do you believe that God's Spirit can give you greater joy than any amount of money or material good or even human love can give?  Will you seek a deeper relationship with God this year and ask God for this holy joy?

(image courtesty of http://d21c.com/AnnesPlace/Fall.html)

Proverbs - Proverbs 18 verse 17 is so important for us to remember - "Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight." I think so often we forget that there are indeed two sides to every story.  And oftentimes we'll believe what we hear about a situation or person based on the very first story we hear.  When, we really need to make sure we have the straight story.  Keep this in mind in particular if you ever hear something about someone else.  This would be gossip - which hopefully you aren't partaking in.  But, nonetheless, I am sure there will be times when you do indeed have gossip delivered to you by someone else.  Don't believe that gossip story at face value.  That person very likely does not have the story straight...  And most important - please don't be the one passing forward gossip - you may very well be passing forward a false story - which is a lie!

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

I Chronicles 2:18-4:4
“It is fun to look for minutiae like this when reading through the genealogies!.”

Mike I’m not so sure minutiae, (small or trivial details) is the right word, maybe hunting down little details that lead to greater revelation should be called “Gold.”

I became fascinated with the genealogy of Caleb, specifically the descendants of his son Hur, at the end of the second chapter (50-55). Not only was Bezalel’s work the model for Solomon’s Temple, but the descendents of Shobal another of Hur’s sons populated the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol, which play a major role in the story of Sampson and the tribe of Dan (Judges 13-18). Also Caleb’s descendents, members of the tribe of Judah populated the little town of Bethlehem, which translates into The House of Bread in Hebrew, the birth place of Jesus. (4:4)

Caleb means dog in Hebrew and for me it is uplifting and encouraging that a man with a name of an animal that is considered lower than low in Judaism is used by God not only as a great warrior in conquering the Promise Land, but to point and prepare the way to and for our soon coming King, Jesus. Even the “Dog’s” of society have hope in God.

Acts 24:1-27

What struck me in this reading is how the theme of false accusations runs through the readings for Acts, with Paul’s situation, and through Psalm and Proverbs.

We try to make lies truth by gathering up a posse of people to agree with us, the greater the departure from the truth the bigger the posse and the louder the voices. Paul has the high priest, Jewish leaders and their lawyer, upstanding members of the community forming an alliance to conquer truth by volume and numbers cannot overcome the light of truth no matter how big the mob.

Felix the governor, knowing the truth, is willing to suppress and corrupt the truth because he is looking for a bribe. I don’t know how much of what Paul observed in human behavior contributed to his Letter to the Romans stating,

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. 19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Obviously, Paul knew something about the subversion of truth in his travels and his imprisonment.

Psalm 4:1-8
David also is battling false accusation in this Psalm. Verse two states,

How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make these groundless accusations?
How long will you pursue lies?

Gossip, falsehoods, rumors and innuendoes have been around since the fall in the garden, but no matter how long we know people have been “bad-mouthing” others, it still hurts when we are the brunt of the attack. And truth be known we have all been on the “giving” end of passing along false information, as well as the receiving.

Proverbs 18:16-18

So, because I realize that I have been receiving as well as giving false words, the three Proverbs in today’s reading take on a whole new meaning, a very personal one that I need to heed.

A gift, a bribe can cause people to turn their heads away from truth, like Felix was hoping Paul would do, subverting truth. Setting the record straight, after the first story is released, may be stonewalled and blocked, thus allowing the first story to circulate freely and unhindered for a while truth is blocked. A lie is halfway ‘round the world before truth gets out of bed. Casting lots and throwing dice may be the least confrontational method in settling disputes, but again truth is not the primary concern when one bases a decision or choice on the throw of a die.

Grace and peace,
Ramona