In between Galatians and Ephesians we read one chapter of Proverbs and two chapters of Job.
July 30: Proverbs 10, Job 37, Job 38 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Proverbs 10 contains some of the wise sayings of Solomon, with New Testament thoughts sprinkled in.
Job 37. Elihu continues proclaiming God’s majesty.
Job 38. Them the LORD intervenes and answers Job out of the whirlwind.
The truth about rats and lemmings.
The rats in the Baltimore port
are eating the “food” of all sort.
Where corruption abounds
it’s as bad as it sounds
for rats are Corruption’s cohort.
Everybody have heard about lemming
years, when a large number of lemmings follow each other over a cliff, falls down into the sea below and drown. Political analogies abound, and so this has become common knowledge: That’s what lemmings do. But why? By the way, 2011 was a lemming year in Northern Sweden, it repeats itself every 20 years or so. Here is a video from BBC Nature.
To explain why, there is an even better example with rats. When food is plentiful they multiply fast and after about 4 years there are far too many rats for the food supply. No, they do not die of starvation, virtually all the rats get stressed out and die, all in short order, and the cycle starts anew. It used to be a fairly limited supply of food for the rats, people ate what the land produced, and the number of rats were kept below the stress level. Enter modern day landfills and cities with inadequate sanitation like Baltimore. There is an overabundance of food in a very limited area, so rats congregate there and multiply. Eventually they will hit the stress level die out and the cycle is renewed. Enter the division of rodent control. In their wisdom they put out rat poison to keep the population down. In so doing they manage to keep the rat population just below the stress level, thereby ensuring that every year is a year of plenty of rats rather than every fourth year.
The only solution to get rid of a rat infestation is to eliminate the food source!
To point that out is not racist.
Donald Trump pointed out the rat-infestation and was immediately labeled a racist. It is also not racist to point out that the three last mayors of Baltimore have resigned. None of them addressed the real problems of Baltimore, a once beautiful, vibrant City with a charming inner harbor.
Make Baltimore beautiful again!
In between Galatians and Ephesians we read two Psalms and two chapters of Job.
July 29: Psalm 64, Psalm 65, Job 35, Job 36 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Psalm 64, of David. The enemy has arrows and shoots at the man who prays for God’s protection. But God has arrows too, and He hits his targets. The righteous shall be glad and trust in the LORD.
Psalm 65, of David. A Psalm full of thanksgiving for atonement for iniquities, setting things straight in nature and among people, and providing for an abundant harvest, and the response is to burst out in song,
Job 35, Elihu hammers it in and condemns self-righteousness.
Job 36, Elihu proclaims God’s goodness and His majesty.
In between Galatians and Ephesians we read two Psalms and one chapter of Job.
July 28: Psalm 62, Psalm 63, Job 34 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Psalm 62, of David. David, as always claims God is his rock and salvation, even when surrounded by false and evil men, he will not be moved. All power belongs to God.
Psalm 63, of David. Seek God early, praise Him, this is better than life, praise Him.
Job 34, Elihu continues and proclaims God’s justice.
Today we read the last chapter of Galatians and one chapter of Job.
July 27: Galatians 6, Job 33 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 6. Bear one another’s burdens and at the same time each one should carry his own burden. A man reaps what he sows, be generous and do good, especially to those of the household of faith. Glory only in the cross. Paul gives a final blessings.
Job 33. Elihu continues and contradicts Job, no one is righteous before God.
Today we read the fifth chapter of Galatians and two chapters of Job.
July 26: Galatians 5, Job 31, Job 32 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 5, “ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Paul speaks of christian liberty, love fulfills the law and walking in the spirit.
Job 31. Job ends his defense.
Job 32. Elihu, a younger fellow appears and speaks against Job’s friends.
Today we read the fourth chapter of Galatians and two chapters of Job.
July 25: Galatians 4, Job 29, Job 30 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 4. Paul tells the Galatians they are children of God and heirs of the promise, but still, he fears for the Church since they prefer the law over the promise. He explains it through two covenants, one in bondage through the law, the other in freedom through the Spirit.
Job 29. Job gives his best defense, and recalls the good old days when God was with him.
Job 30: “But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.” Things are not going well for Job.
Today we read the third chapter of Galatians and two chapters of Job.
July 24: Galatians 3, Job 27, Job 28 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 3. We are justified by faith, even as Abraham was justified by faith. The law brings a curse, it is impossible to keep the law. God gave the everlasting promise to Abraham before the law. “The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“
Job 27. Through all this Job maintained his integrity.
Job 28, Job continued with a discourse on wisdom.
Today we read the second chapter of Galatians and four chapters of Job.
July 23: Galatians 2, Job 23, Job 24, Job 25, Job 26 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 2. Paul is vigorously defending the gospel and warns the Galatians there is no return to the Law! “ for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Job 23. Job proclaims God’s righteous judgments. Rejoice in the Lord. “ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.“
Job 24. Job complains of violence on earth.
Job 25. Bildad asks the question: How can man be righteous?
Job 26. Job replies and speaks of man’s frailty and God’s majesty.
Today we read the first chapter of Galatians and three chapters of Job.
July 22: Galatians 1, Job 20, Job 21, Job 22 (click on the chapter to begin reading).
Galatians 1. Paul starts out with a greeting and blessing. Then he tears into the Galatians: There is only one gospel, Paul gives his defense for it, and explains his call to apostleship.
Job 20. Then Zophar gave a sermon on the wicked man.
Job 21. In reply Job gave a discourse on the wicked.
Job 22. Eliphaz the Temanite accused Job of wickedness.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 