Yesterday(just as a reminder, for me, yesterday was June 19), I titled my Bible Study, “How Can I Serve The Lord Right Now?” Then today when I was on Facebook looking at what my friends had posted I came across something that answered the question for any time I am out in public. The post was about someone who, when they were out driving around, would smile and wave to everyone they encountered. When asked why they did it, they responded that they had seen a story about people who had tried and failed to commit suicide. In that story they read that many of those people would not have tried to kill themselves if someone, anyone, had acknowledged them with a smile and a wave. I don’t know if that is true, but I do know that I feel better when people pleasantly acknowledge encountering me. I have decided that at least part of the answer to my question is that I can pleasantly acknowledge everyone I see.
I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Solomon had bronze and gold furnishings made for the Temple. When the Temple and all of the furnishings were completed, Solomon summoned all of the leaders of the people of Israel to Jerusalem for a holy festival to move the Ark of the Covenant from where David had placed it into the Temple. When all of the leaders arrived, Levites picked up the Ark and brought it to the Temple. In addition other priests and Levites brought the tent it had been in and all of the sacred articles that were in the tent into the Temple. During the process of moving the Ark Solomon and the people of Israel sacrificed so many animals, sheep, goats, and cattle, that no one kept track of the number.
When the sacrifices were finished, the priests carried the Ark into the Holy Place in the Temple. After the priests left the Holy Place the priestly and Levite musicians performed together to praise God. While they were singing and playing a thick cloud filled the Temple. The cloud was so think that the priests could not continue the service. Solomon then concluded the service by praying a prayer thanking and praising God for choosing David, his father, to be king over Israel, and himself to build God’s Temple in Jerusalem.
I always find it hard to explain what Paul is saying in today’s passage. I think that partly that is because Paul had a hard time expressing the idea he was trying to convey. The first point Paul makes is that cancels all of our commitments under the law. He then goes on to show how that means we are freed from our bondage to sin. We were bound to service to sin by the law. However, when we died with Christ at our baptism we were freed from that bondage. We are no longer captive to the law, before our death with Christ in baptism we were obligated either to keep every jot and tittle of the law or we were bound to serve sin in our every action. Christ’s death freed us from those two choices and allowed us to serve God according to the spirit of His intentions.
Another point which Paul makes is sin takes advantage of our knowledge of good and evil to entice us to do evil. The law was introduced in order to show us the boundaries of good behavior, but in our sinfulness we see those boundaries as lines to cross to demonstrate our independence. I’m still not getting it right. Every time I read this passage I think, “Wow, that is an awkward way to say that.” Then I try to reword it another way and it always comes out either being even more convoluted, or saying something completely different from what Paul was saying. Or both.
The psalmist prays to God for deliverance from his foes and his troubles. Why does he do this? Because he knows that God will answer. That God will bend down and listen, just as a loving mother will bend down to hear what her child is saying. The psalmist goes on to warn us that those who look for their reward in this world will face destruction at the hand of God. But those who are righteous will be vindicated because they seek to see God face to face as their reward. This psalm sums up where those who follow “prosperity gospel” go wrong. “Prosperity gospel” teaches that we will receive a reward in this world. While we may receive good things in this world, our reward is to see God face to face.
What we truly desire is to be loyally loved. We will be happier being poor with someone who honestly loves us than rich with someone we cannot trust. If we truly fear the Lord, and act accordingly, we will have no reason to fear anything else and trouble will pass us by.