Sep 28, 2022
2CHRONICLES 20-21:
Yesterday we heard of Jehoshaphat wisely
appointing judges, and he also travelled all over Israel personally
encouraging people to follow the Lord.
ECCLESIASTES 1:
The
book of Ecclesiastes is the record of Solomon seeking to find God
in a worldly way. This is a book of worldly wisdom. Solomon
repeatedly uses the key theme word ‘useless’ to describe our lives
on earth. God had not given clear promises about how all mankind
will live after death, and Solomon considers the afterlife an open
question. Had he known what we know, his opinions on many things
would have changed. He does finally come to the same conclusion
found in Proverbs— namely that the best thing is to fear God and
keep his commands.
MATTHEW 15a:
Yesterday we heard of John the Baptist’s
beheading. Jesus retreated to the countryside, but a huge crowd
followed him. Then he worked several powerful miracles— all of
which hold clear symbolic meanings for us. It is worth the time to
meditate on Jesus’ miracles!
GNT Translation
notes:
2Chr.
20:8-9 [We, their descendants,//They] have lived here and have
built [this//a] temple to honor you, knowing that if any disaster
struck [us//them] to punish [us//them]—a war, an epidemic, or a
famine—then [we//they] could come and stand in front of this Temple
where you are worshiped. [We//They] could pray to you in
[our//their] trouble, and you would hear [us//them] and rescue
[us//them].
====
Mat.
15:8 ‘These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their
heart[s are// is] really far away from me.
12
Then [we, his//the] disciples came to him and said, “Do you know
that the Pharisees [were offended//had their feelings hurt] by what
you said?”
14
“Don't worry about them! They are blind [people leading other blind
people//leaders of the blind]; and when one blind man leads
another, both fall into a ditch.”
15
Peter spoke up, “Explain [to us what you said about things that
defile people.//this saying to us.]”
16
Jesus said to them, “CEV Don't any of you know what I am talking
about by now?//You are still no more intelligent than the
others.]