Acts 18:1-8. Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half, teaching many in the city, and some believed. When the Jews opposed him Paul decided that he from then on would go to the Gentiles.
2 Chronicles 11. The LORD warned against going to war with Israel, so instead Rehoboam fortified the cities, the priests and Levites left Israel and moved to Judah. The family tree of Rehoboam is recorded.
2 Chronicles 12. Egypt Attacked Jerusalem and Judah paid the ransom. The reign of Rehoboam ended.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Our current President Joseph R. Biden Jr gave a highly anticipated speech on how to reduce crime, mostly through gun control, but also to attack the problem by using unspent Covid money. But a few of his other sayings were puzzling:
President Joe Biden’s speech 6/23 2021
We just celebrated Juneteenth as the day the Republicans freed the Democrats slaves, and the Civil War was bloody and deadly indeed, and fought with physical guns. The Government likes to point to January 6 2021 as an armed insurrection to overthrow the government. Even though over 400 people are arrested and still held in D.C. prison on trespassing charges, none is accused of being armed with guns. The only casualty from guns is an unarmed protestor, Ashley Babbit, shot by an as of yet unidentified D.C. police. All the protestors demanded was a 12 day audit of the results in seven states to make sure all was done properly and in order. The Government should have welcomed an audit to finally lay to rest accusations of impropriety in the 2020 election.
No, the problem is much deeper, and it is spiritual. Both Republicans and Democrats are deeply flawed people, as are we all, in need of a redeemer. That is why the battle is spiritual. As the Scripture says in 2 Corintians 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;).
So what are the weapons of our warfare? Ephesians 6:13-17
Yes, this battle is much bigger than gun control, bigger than Democrat versus Republican. It is a battle for good vs. evil, liberty vs. Government control of what defines freedom, anarchy vs. law and order, and most important is is a spiritual battle for the soul of every individual, the nation and the world.
Acts 16:1-15. Timothy joined Paul and Silas in Lystra, in Troas Paul received “the Macedonian Call”. Lydia, a new convert was baptized at Philippi.
2 Chronicles 1. Solomon asked for wisdom, he received it and more, God also gave him economic and military power.
2 Chronicles 2. Solomon Prepared to build the temple, took inventory of all things collected and tallied the number of constricted aliens to do the work.
Psalm 45, of the Sons of Korah, a Wedding Song. C.S. Lewis saw this psalm pointing to Christmas: “The birth of Christ is the arrival of the great warrior and the great king. Also of the Lover, the Bridegroom, whose beauty surpasses that of man. But not only the Bridegroom as the lover, the desired; the Bridegroom also who makes fruitful, the Father of children still to be begotten and born.” (C.S. Lewis, cited in Willem VanGemeren)
Acts 15. There was much ado about circumcision, and the believers decided to decide the issue at the Council at Jerusalem, which led to the Jerusalem decree, (in short: Abstain from fornication and from blood). Barnabas and Paul argued about Mark, so they split up, and Paul took Silas and embarked on the second missionary journey.
Proverbs 7. Keep the Law, Seek wisdom and above all, stay away from harlots! They will use every trick to get you!
Psalm 44. Of the sons of Korah. It is a Psalm recounting the great victories God gave the Israelites when they followed God, and the humiliating defeats they suffered when they did not. Yet the psalmists were trusting God and claimed they had not forgotten the Lord and ended with an urgent plea for help.
Acts 12. King Herod persecuted the Church putting many in prison, even Peter but Peter miraculously escaped. Herod’s suffered a violent death after giving a speech without giving glory to God.
1 Chronicles 22. David made preparations to build the Temple.
1 Chronicles 23 contains a listing of the Levites and their duties.
Psalm 43. This Psalm can very well be a continuation of Psalm 42. Nevertheless, it is a Psalm of deep depression and yet full of praise and hope.
Acts 5:12-42. When Ananias and Sapphira had lied to the Holy Spirit and died on the spot, great fear and great power came over the Church. An Angel of the LORD came during the night and freed the Apostles that had been jailed the previous day. They went back to the Temple courts and got called in to the Sanhedrin again for the crime of preaching about Jesus, but Gamaliel gave them good advice, they listened, and after flogging the Apostles were let go.
1 Chronicles 1 lists the partial family tree of Adam to Noah’s sons, the family tree of Abraham, beginning with the family tree of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine whom he married after the death of Sarah, the family tree of Isaac, the family tree of the people of Seir in Edom and finally a list of the kings of Edom.
Psalm 42, a Maskil. Of the sons of Korah. A very old Psalm, it mentions Elohim many times, but Jehovah only once. It begins “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.” Enjoy! (I love the song)
Acts 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira were lying to the Holy Spirit and fell down dead. This lead to great fear and great power in the Church.
Proverbs 6 warns against cosigning documents with neighbors, condemns sluggards of their sleepy and lazy habits and points to the destruction of wicked men. It tells about seven detestable things to the LORD, and finally it takes a dim view of adultery, a sure way to destroy yourself and others.
Psalm 41, of David. A prayer for help in sickness and protection from traitors and other enemies.
Mark 14:32-72. After Judas Iscariot left the eleven remaining disciples, they and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives where there is a garden called Gethsemane. While they were there Jesus Prayed intensely. Judas Iscariot reappeared and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The accompanying soldiers arrested Jesus, and he was brought before the Sanhedrin. Peter was waiting outside and denied Jesus three times, after which the cock crowed twice.
1 Samuel 3 tells of Samuel’s first prophecy, a prophesy against Eli and his sons, because Eli failed to restrain them.
1 Samuel 4. The Philistines captured the Ark of God. Soon after that Eli died, and Phineas died and his wife gave birth to Ichabod, which means “No Glory”, for the glory had departed from Israel.
Psalm 39, of David. At the later part of his life David wrote this Psalm to give words of wisdom, knowing the end for him was near. It is sometimes quoted in part during funerals to give comfort when words are hard to find.
Mark 13, Jesus told his disciples of the Signs of the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, the Coming of the Son of Man, the lesson of the Fig Tree and the Day and Hour of his return, which shall remain unknown.
Proverbs 2 is, telling of the moral benefits of wisdom.
Psalm 37, of David. With two lines dedicated to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, this psalm is one of the longer acrostics in the book of Psalms. David wrote it late in life (“ I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.“) It is full of promises and praise, and was intended for memorization.
Psalm 38, of David, a Petition. This is a Psalm of deep despair and remorse. David acknowledged his sin and cried out to God. Yet, in failing health and abandonment by friends and family his hope in God remained steadfast.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 