The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans continues without comment:

The Duties of Christians:

I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God—your spiritual service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed into the newness of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Humility and Concord:

By the grace that has been given to me, I say to each one among you: let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and as according to as God has appointed to each one the measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but severally members one of another. But we have gifts differing according to the grace that has been given us, such as prophecy to be used according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhorting; he who gives, in simplicity; he who presides, with carefulness; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Fraternal Charity:

Let love be without pretense. Hate what is evil, hold to what is good. Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with honor. Be not slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. Be patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer. Share the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be of one mind towards another. Do not set your mind on high things but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man render evil for evil, but provide good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as far as in you lies, be at peace with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” But “If thy enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head.” Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Obedience:

Let everyone be subject to the higher authorities, for there exists no authority except from God, and those who exist have been appointed by God. Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist bring on themselves condemnation. For rulers are a terror not to the good work but to the evil. Dost thou wish, then, not to fear authority? Do what is good and thou wilt have praise from it. For it is God’s minister to thee for good. But if thou does what is evil, fear, for not without reason does it carry the sword. For it is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this is also why you pay tribute, for they are the ministers of God, serving unto this very end. Render to all men whatever is their due; tribute to whom tribute is due; taxes to whom taxes are due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due.

Charity a Social Duty:

Owe no man anything except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For “Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shall not covet”; and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Loves does no evil to a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.

The Spirit of Christ:

And this do, understanding the time, for it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we came to believe. The night is far advanced, the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly as in the day, not in revelry or drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lusts.

Mutual Forbearance:

But him who is weak in faith, receive, without disputes about opinions. For one believes he may eat all things; but he who is weak, let him eat vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats: for God has received him. Who art thou to judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls; but he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. For one esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, abstains for the Lord, and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of God; for it is written “As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

Charity and Peace:

Therefore every one of us will render an account for himself to God. Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, that you should not put a stumbling-block or a hindrance in your brother’s way. I know and am confident in the Lord Jesus that nothing is of itself unclean; but to him that regards anything as unclean, to him it is unclean. If, then, thy brother is grieved because of thy food, no longer dost thou walk according to charity. Do not with thy food destroy him for whom Christ died. Let not, then, our good be reviled. For the kingdom of God does not exist in food and drink, but in justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; for he who in this way serves Christ pleases God and is approved by men. Let us, then, follow after the things that make for peace, and let us safeguard the things that make for mutual edification. Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God! All things indeed are clean; but a thing is evil for the man who eats through scandal. It is good not to eat meat and not to drink wine, nor to do anything by which thy brother is offended or scandalized or weakened. Thou hast faith. Keep it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But he who hesitates, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not from faith; for all that is not from faith is sin.

And there you have it–the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is Love!

Day 144: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is Love!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 12-14.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter gives the fullest explanation of his doctrine. In the first eleven chapters he explains that justification is through faith in Christ and not through the works of the Jewish Law. The last five chapters are directions for the conduct of a Christian life.

Romans Chapter 12:  The duties of Christians; Humility and concord; Fraternal charity.

The Duties of Christians:

I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God—your spiritual service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed into the newness of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Humility and Concord:

By the grace that has been given to me, I say to each one among you: let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and as according to as God has appointed to each one the measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but severally members one of another. But we have gifts differing according to the grace that has been given us, such as prophecy to be used according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhorting; he who gives, in simplicity; he who presides, with carefulness; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Fraternal Charity:

Let love be without pretense. Hate what is evil, hold to what is good. Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with honor. Be not slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. Be patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer. Share the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be of one mind towards another. Do not set your mind on high things but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man render evil for evil, but provide good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as far as in you lies, be at peace with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” But “If thy enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head.” Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans Chapter 13:  Obedience; Charity a social duty; The spirit of Christ.

Obedience:

Let everyone be subject to the higher authorities, for there exists no authority except from God, and those who exist have been appointed by God. Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist bring on themselves condemnation. For rulers are a terror not to the good work but to the evil. Dost thou wish, then, not to fear authority? Do what is good and thou wilt have praise from it. For it is God’s minister to thee for good. But if thou does what is evil, fear, for not without reason does it carry the sword. For it is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this is also why you pay tribute, for they are the ministers of God, serving unto this very end. Render to all men whatever is their due; tribute to whom tribute is due; taxes to whom taxes are due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due.

Charity a Social Duty:

Owe no man anything except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For “Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shall not covet”; and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Loves does no evil to a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.

Note: The Commandments omitted from above four: 1) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. 3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5) Honour thy father and thy mother. 6) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

The Spirit of Christ:

And this do, understanding the time, for it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we came to believe. The night is far advanced, the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly as in the day, not in revelry or drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lusts.

Romans Chapter 14:  Mutual forbearance; Charity and peace.

Mutual Forbearance:

But him who is weak in faith, receive, without disputes about opinions. For one believes he may eat all things; but he who is weak, let him eat vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats: for God has received him. Who art thou to judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls; but he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. For one esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, abstains for the Lord, and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of God; for it is written “As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

Charity and Peace:

Therefore every one of us will render an account for himself to God. Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, that you should not put a stumbling-block or a hindrance in your brother’s way. I know and am confident in the Lord Jesus that nothing is of itself unclean; but to him that regards anything as unclean, to him it is unclean. If, then, thy brother is grieved because of thy food, no longer dost thou walk according to charity. Do not with thy food destroy him for whom Christ died. Let not, then, our good be reviled. For the kingdom of God does not exist in food and drink, but in justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; for he who in this way serves Christ pleases God and is approved by men. Let us, then, follow after the things that make for peace, and let us safeguard the things that make for mutual edification. Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God! All things indeed are clean; but a thing is evil for the man who eats through scandal. It is good not to eat meat and not to drink wine, nor to do anything by which thy brother is offended or scandalized or weakened. Thou hast faith. Keep it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But he who hesitates, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not from faith; for all that is not from faith is sin.

 

 

Once the Temple was finished…

Then Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had vowed… to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the city of David which is Sion… the Levites took up the ark, and brought it in…

So the ark has been there unto this day. And there was nothing else in the ark but the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord gave the law to the children of Israel, at their coming out of Egypt.

So when they all sounded together, both with trumpets, and voice, and cymbals, and organs, and with divers kind of musical instruments, and lifted up their voice on high the sound was heard afar off, so that they began to praise the Lord, and to say, Give glory to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever, the house of God was filled with a cloud. Nor could the priests stand and minister by reason of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

Solomon’s Prayer in Second Paralipomenon is nearly verbatim as that found earlier in Third Kings. However, there is more detail on ‘whosoever shall pray in this place:

If any man sin against his neighbor (oaths before the altar)…

If thy people Israel be overcome by their enemies (appeal for forgiveness)…

If the heavens be shut up (prayers for rain)…

If a famine arise in the land (prayers when afflicted)…

If the stranger (worship of strangers)…

If thy people go out to war against their enemies (worship in time of war)…

And if they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not; prayer for mercy to sinners)…

Day 117: OT Third Kings C8-11: Solomon’s Prayer from the Old World but still New Today!

Solomon’s prayer: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that have walked before thee with all their heart… whatsoever they shall pray for in this place, and hear them in the place of thy dwelling in heaven; and when thou hearest, show them mercy… and forgive the sin of thy people Israel… and show them the good way wherein they should walk… when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house, then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and do so to every one according to his ways, as thou shalt see his heart…”

Is it then to be thought that God should indeed dwell upon earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built?

“Moreover also the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name’s sake… for when he shall come, and shall pray in this place, then hear thou in heaven… and do all those things, for which the stranger shall call upon thee: that all the people of the earth may learn to fear thy name, as do thy people Israel…”

“But if they sin against thee (for there is no man who sinneth not) and thou being angry deliver them up to their enemies, so that they be led away captives into the land of their enemies far or near; then of they do penance in their hear in the place of captivity, and being converted make supplication to thee in their captivity saying: ‘We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have committed wickedness, and return to thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in the land of their enemies… then hear thou in heaven… and do judgment for them. And forgive thy people, who have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them.”

Solomon blesses all Israel: “The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and not leave us, nor cast us off, but may he incline our hearts to himself, that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and all his judgments which he commanded our fathers…. that all the people of the earth may know, that the Lord he is God, and there is no other besides him. Let our hearts also be perfect with the Lord our God, that we may walk in his statues, and keep his commandments, as at this day.”

…so the king, and the children of Israel dedicated the temple of the Lord.

Also with the addition of this final prayer:

O Lord God, turn not away the face of thy anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

Solomon has built the Temple as designed by God and his father David and prayed so that all sinners who come to worship will be heard by the Lord God of Israel.

Day 145: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Solomon Builds the Temple and Prays for Sinners!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 1-6

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 1: Solomon’s offering at Gabaon; Solomon asks God for wisdom; Wisdom and knowledge given to Solomon; Solomon’s wealth.

And he (Solomon) went with the multitude to the high place of Gabaon, where was the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, which Moses the servant of God made, in the wilderness.

And behold that night God appeared to him (Solomon) saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.

Solomon to God: Mow therefore, O Lord God, let thy word be fulfilled, which thou hast promised to David my father: for thou hast made me king over thy great people, which is as innumerable as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before thy people: for who can worthily judge this thy people, which is so great?

God to Solomon: Because this choice hath pleased thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, and wealth, and glory, nor the lives of them that hate thee, nor may days of life: but hast asked wisdom and knowledge, to be able to judge my people, over which I have made thee king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to thee: and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and glory, so that none of the kings before thee, nor after thee, shall be like thee.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 2: Number of Temple builders; Solomon asks Hiram for workers and timber; Hiram agrees to help with the Temple; Number of workers.

And Solomon determined to build a house to the name of the Lord, and a palace for himself…

He sent also to Hiram king of Tyre… and on the new moons, and the solemnities of the Lord our God for ever… For the house I desire to build, is great: for our God is great above all gods,,, send me therefore a skillful man… send me also cedars, and fir trees, and pine trees from Libanus… for the house I desire to build is to be exceedingly great, and glorious.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent a let to Solomon… a wise and knowing son, endued with understanding and prudence, to build a house for the Lord, and a palace for himself. I therefore have sent thee my father Hiram, a wise and most skillful man… and we will cut down as many trees out of Libanus, as thou shall want, and will convey them in floats by sea…

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 3: Work on the Temple begun; Size and magnificence of the Temple; The holy of holies; The two cherubims; The veil; The two pillars.

And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, in mount Moria…now these are the foundations, which Solomon laid… and he overlaid it with pure gold… he paved also the floor of the temple with most precious marble, of great beauty…. And he graved cherubims on the walls…

He made the house of the holy of holies… he made also nails of gold… two cherubims of image work, and he overlaid them with gold…

He made also a veil of violet, purple, scarlet, and silk: and wrought in it cherubims…

He made also before the doors of the temple two pillars… on the right hand, he called Jachin: and on the left hand Booz.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 4: The altar of brass; The molten sea; The ten lavers; The candlesticks, tables, and bowls; The court of priests and the great hall; The instruments of brass; The instruments of gold.

He made an altar of brass…

Also a molten sea… and under it there were the likeness of oxen… and the oxen were cast: and the sea itself was set upon the twelve oxen… he also made ten lavers… to wash in them all such things as they were offered for the holocausts: but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

All the vessels did Hiram his father make for Solomon in the house of the Lord of the finest brass.

And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables… of most pure gold… all were made of the finest gold… of pure gold… without were of gold.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 5: Treasures of the Temple; The ark s placed in the Temple; The glory of God fills the Temple.

Then Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had vowed… to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the city of David which is Sion… the Levites took up the ark, and brought it in…

So the ark has been there unto this day. And there was nothing else in the ark but the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord gave the law to the children of Israel, at their coming out of Egypt.

So when they all sounded together, both with trumpets, and voice, and cymbals, and organs, and with divers kind of musical instruments, and lifted up their voice on high the sound was heard afar off, so that they began to praise the Lord, and to say, Give glory to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever, the house of God was filled with a cloud. Nor could the priests stand and minister by reason of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 6: Solomon’s blessing; Solomon’s prayer; Oaths before the altar; Appeal for forgiveness; Prayers for rain; Prayers when afflicted; Worship of strangers; Worship in time of war; Prayer for mercy to sinners; Conclusion of Solomon’s prayer.

Nearly verbatim from Third Kings with more detail on ‘whosoever shall pray in this place:

If any man sin against his neighbor (oaths before the altar)…

If thy people Israel be overcome by their enemies (appeal for forgiveness)…

If the heavens be shut up (prayers for rain)…

If a famine arise in the land (prayers when afflicted)…

If the stranger (worship of strangers)…

If thy people go out to war against their enemies (worship in time of war)…

And if they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not; prayer for mercy to sinners)…

Day 117: OT Third Kings C8-11: Solomon’s Prayer from the Old World but still New Today!

Solomon’s prayer: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that have walked before thee with all their heart… whatsoever they shall pray for in this place, and hear them in the place of thy dwelling in heaven; and when thou hearest, show them mercy… and forgive the sin of thy people Israel… and show them the good way wherein they should walk… when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house, then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and do so to every one according to his ways, as thou shalt see his heart…”

Is it then to be thought that God should indeed dwell upon earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built?

“Moreover also the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name’s sake… for when he shall come, and shall pray in this place, then hear thou in heaven… and do all those things, for which the stranger shall call upon thee: that all the people of the earth may learn to fear thy name, as do thy people Israel…”

“But if they sin against thee (for there is no man who sinneth not) and thou being angry deliver them up to their enemies, so that they be led away captives into the land of their enemies far or near; then of they do penance in their hear in the place of captivity, and being converted make supplication to thee in their captivity saying: ‘We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have committed wickedness, and return to thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in the land of their enemies… then hear thou in heaven… and do judgment for them. And forgive thy people, who have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them.”

Solomon blesses all Israel: “The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and not leave us, nor cast us off, but may he incline our hearts to himself, that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and all his judgments which he commanded our fathers…. that all the people of the earth may know, that the Lord he is God, and there is no other besides him. Let our hearts also be perfect with the Lord our God, that we may walk in his statues, and keep his commandments, as at this day.”

…so the king, and the children of Israel dedicated the temple of the Lord.

Also with the addition of this final prayer:

O Lord God, turn not away the face of thy anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

With gratitude to Saint Apostle Paul and Tertius, the writer this epistle, here is the rest of The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans without comment:

Romans Chapter 15:  Self-denial and patience; Mercy; Apostle of the Gentiles; St. Paul’s plans; Request for prayers.

 

Self-Denial and Patience:

Now we, the strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of you please your neighbor by doing good. For his edification; for Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproach thee have fallen upon me.” For whatever things haven been written have been written for our instruction, that through the patience and the consolation afforded by the Scriptures we may have hope. May then the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind towards one another according to Jesus Christ: that, one in spirit, you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mercy:

Wherefore receive one another, even as Christ has received you to the honor of God. For I say that Jesus Christ has been a minister of the circumcision in order to show God’s fidelity in confirming the promises made to our fathers, but that the Gentiles glorify God because of his mercy, as it is written, “Therefore will I praise thee among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.” And again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and sing his praises, all you peoples.” And again Isaias says, “There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who shall arise to rule the Gentiles… in him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Apostle of the Gentiles:

Now I for my part, my brethren, am convinced with regard to you that you yourselves are full of love, filled with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather boldly here and there, brethren—as it were to refresh your memory—because of the grace that has been given me by God, That I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles may become acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I therefore have this boast in Christ Jesus as regards the work of God. For I do not make bold to mention anything but what Christ has wrought through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, with mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as Illyricum I have completed the evangelization of Christ. But I have not preached this gospel where Christ has already been named, lest I might build on another man’s foundation; but even as it is written, “They who have not been told of him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.”

St. Paul’s Plans:

This is why I was hindered so many times from coming to you. But now, having no more works in these parts, and having had for many years a great desire to come to you, when I set out for Spain I hope to see you as I pass through (and by you to be sped on my way there), having first enjoyed being with you for a while. Now, however, I will set out for Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have thought it well to make a contribution to the poor among the saint at Jerusalem. So it has pleased them, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they should also minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them the proceeds, I will set out by way of you for Spain. And I know that when I come to you, I shall come with the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

Request for Prayers:

Now I exhort you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the charity of the Spirit, that you help me by your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that the offering of my service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem; that I may come to you in joy, by the will of God, and may be refreshed in you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Commendation of Phoebe:

But I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of the church at Cenchrae, that you may receive her in the Lord as becomes saints, and that you may assist her in whatever business she may have need of you. For she too has assisted many, including myself.

Greetings to Individuals:

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who for my life have risked their own necks. To them I not only give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Asia to Christ. Greet Mary who has labored much among you. Greet Andronicus ad Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are distinguished among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, beloved to me in the Lord. Great Urbanus, our helper in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet the members of Aristobulus’ household. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet the members of Narcissus’ household who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Perrsis who has labored much in the Lord. Great Rufus, the elect in the Lord, and her who is his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philogus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympias, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Warning to Trouble-Makers:

Now I exhort you, brethren, that you watch those who cause dissensions and scandals contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid them. For such do not serve Christ our Lord but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattery deceive the hearts of the simple. For you submission to the faith has been published everywhere. I rejoice therefore over you. Yet I will have you wise to what is good, and guileless as to what is evil. But the God, of peace will speedily crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Greetings from Corinth:

Timothy, my fellow-laborer, greets you, and Lucine, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsman. I, Tertius, who have written this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host, and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, our brother, greet you. [May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen.]

 

Doxology:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you in accordance with my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept in silence from eternal ages, which is manifested now through the writings of the prophets according to the precept of the eternal God, and made known to all the Gentiles to bring obedience to faith—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be honor forever and ever. Amen.

More gratitude to Saint Apostle Paul and Tertius, the writer this epistle. Through the The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans one can find salvation! Amen! Aleluia!

Day 146: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Gratitude to Saint Apostle Paul & Tertius the Writer of this Epistle.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 15-16 (END).

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter gives the fullest explanation of his doctrine. In the first eleven chapters he explains that justification is through faith in Christ and not through the works of the Jewish Law. The last five chapters are directions for the conduct of a Christian life.

Romans Chapter 15:  Self-denial and patience; Mercy; Apostle of the Gentiles; St. Paul’s plans; Request for prayers.

Self-Denial and Patience:

Now we, the strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of you please your neighbor by doing good. For his edification; for Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproach thee have fallen upon me.” For whatever things haven been written have been written for our instruction, that through the patience and the consolation afforded by the Scriptures we may have hope. May then the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind towards one another according to Jesus Christ: that, one in spirit, you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mercy:

Wherefore receive one another, even as Christ has received you to the honor of God. For I say that Jesus Christ has been a minister of the circumcision in order to show God’s fidelity in confirming the promises made to our fathers, but that the Gentiles glorify God because of his mercy, as it is written, “Therefore will I praise thee among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.” And again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and sing his praises, all you peoples.” And again Isaias says, “There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who shall arise to rule the Gentiles… in him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Apostle of the Gentiles:

Now I for my part, my brethren, am convinced with regard to you that you yourselves are full of love, filled with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather boldly here and there, brethren—as it were to refresh your memory—because of the grace that has been given me by God, That I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles may become acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I therefore have this boast in Christ Jesus as regards the work of God. For I do not make bold to mention anything but what Christ has wrought through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, with mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as Illyricum I have completed the evangelization of Christ. But I have not preached this gospel where Christ has already been named, lest I might build on another man’s foundation; but even as it is written, “They who have not been told of him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.”

St. Paul’s Plans:

This is why I was hindered so many times from coming to you. But now, having no more works in these parts, and having had for many years a great desire to come to you, when I set out for Spain I hope to see you as I pass through (and by you to be sped on my way there), having first enjoyed being with you for a while. Now, however, I will set out for Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have thought it well to make a contribution to the poor among the saint at Jerusalem. So it has pleased them, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they should also minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them the proceeds, I will set out by way of you for Spain. And I know that when I come to you, I shall come with the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

Request for Prayers.

Now I exhort you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the charity of the Spirit, that you help me by your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that the offering of my service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem; that I may come to you in joy, by the will of God, and may be refreshed in you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans Chapter 16:  Commendation of Phoebe; Greetings to individuals; Warning to trouble-makers; Greetings from Corinth; Doxology.

Commendation of Phoebe:

But I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of the church at Cenchrae, that you may receive her in the Lord as becomes saints, and that you may assist her in whatever business she may have need of you. For she too has assisted many, including myself.

Greetings to Individuals:

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who for my life have risked their own necks. To them I not only give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Asia to Christ. Greet Mary who has labored much among you. Greet Andronicus ad Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are distinguished among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, beloved to me in the Lord. Great Urbanus, our helper in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet the members of Aristobulus’ household. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet the members of Narcissus’ household who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Perrsis who has labored much in the Lord. Great Rufus, the elect in the Lord, and her who is his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philogus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympias, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Warning to Trouble-Makers:

Now I exhort you, brethren, that you watch those who cause dissensions and scandals contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid them. For such do not serve Christ our Lord but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattery deceive the hearts of the simple. For you submission to the faith has been published everywhere. I rejoice therefore over you. Yet I will have you wise to what is good, and guileless as to what is evil. But the God, of peace will speedily crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Guileless—free from guile; sincere; honest; straightforward; frank.

Guile—insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

Greetings from Corinth:

Timothy, my fellow-laborer, greets you, and Lucine, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsman. I, Tertius, who have written this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host, and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, our brother, greet you. [May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen.]

Doxology:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you in accordance with my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept in silence from eternal ages, which is manifested now through the writings of the prophets according to the precept of the eternal God, and made known to all the Gentiles to bring obedience to faith—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be honor forever and ever. Amen.

Amazing how after 40 years of a successful King Solomon rule over a unified and prosperous Israel, how quickly the situation can change and deteriorate with his death and his son Roboam replacing him.

Perhaps all was not copacetic during the times of King Solomon as far as the general population of Israel was concerned? For they revolted immediately after King Solomon died. Roboam’s decision to be a heavy hand was the last straw. Where they sinful in not feeling they had shared in the material success of Israel, whether in reality or imagined deep in the darkness of the evil part of their soul, the Silly Ego?

For whatever reason they revolted and looked to Jerobaom, who previously was an exiled dissident in Egypt, upon his return to Israel.

Net result Roboam’s kingdom was Jerusalem and the houses of Juda and Benjamin. Roboam had two houses and Jeroboam had ten houses—all of which returned to their homeland and did not fight against their Israel brethren.   

From Solomon to Roboam to Abia versus Jeroboam: civil war comes to Israel:

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are written in the words of Nathan the prophet… and Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And he slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David: and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.

Now the rest of the acts of Roboam, and all that he did, behold they are written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda. And there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam always. And Roboam slept with his fathers… and Abiam his son reigned in his stead.

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned in Juda. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem… and there was war between Abia and Jeroboam…

Abia: Hear me, O Jerobaum, and all Israel. Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave to David the kingdom over Israel for ever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? And Jerobaom… the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his Lord… and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them… and you have a great multitude of people, and golden calves, which Jerobaum hath made you for gods… is made a priest with no gods. But the Lord our God, whom we forsake not… for we keep the precepts of the Lord our God, whom you have forsaken. Therefore God is the leader of our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good for you.

While he (Roboam) spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about from behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he encompassed Juda, who perceived it not, with his army.

And all the men of Juda shouted: and behold when they shouted, God terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and Juda. And the children of Israel fled before Juda, and the Lord delivered them into their hand. And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men. And the children of Israel were brought down, at that time, and the children of Juda were exceedingly strengthened, because they had trusted in the Lord the God of their fathers… And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia; and the Lord struck him, and he died.

With a flashback to Third Kings, we see more detail in the account of Second Paralipomenon. Indeed, Paralipomenon brings us things omitted in the four Books of Kings. With more detail here we see that after Solomon, comes a civil war in Israel.

Day 147: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; After Solomon, Comes a Civil War in Israel.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 7-13

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7: Fire from heaven; Solomon’s sacrifice; The completion of the Temple; God’s answer to the prayer of Solomon.

And when Solomon had made an end of his prayer, fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocausts and the victims: and the majesty of the Lord filled the house… and falling down on their faces to the ground, upon the stone pavement, they adored and praised the Lord: because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.

And Solomon kept the solemnity at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation… he sent away the people to their dwellings, joyful and glad for the good that the Lord had done to David… and all that he (Solomon) had designed in his heart to do… and he prospered.

And the Lord appeared to him by night, and said: I have heard thy prayer, and I have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice…then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer of him that shall pray in this place… and my heart may remain there perpetually…

But if you turn away, and forsake my justices, and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve strange gods, and adore them, I will pluck you up by the root out of my land which I have given to you: and this house which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast away from before my face, and will make it a byword, and an example among all nations.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 8: Solomon builds cities; The Chanaanites serve Israel; Pharao’s daughter moves to her own house; Sacrifices established; Priests and Levites appointed; Ships bring gold from Ophir.

And at the end of twenty years after Solomon had built the house of the Lord… all that Solomon had a mind, and designed, he built in Jerusalem and in Libanus, and in all the land of his domain.

And to the chief captains of King Solomon’s army were two hundred and fifty, who taught the people…

David: My wife (Pharao’s daughter) shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for it is sanctified: because the ark of the Lord came into it.

…that every day an offering might be made on it according to the ordinance of Moses, in the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the festival days three times a year—feast of unleavened bread, feast of weeks, and feast of tabernacles.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 9: The Queen of Saba tests Solomon; Gifts to Solomon; Solomon’s gifts to the Queen of Saba; Solomon’s gold; Spears and shields; Solomon’s throne; Household vessels; Trade; The renown of Solomon; Solomon’s power and wealth; Roboam succeeds Solomon.

Day 117: OT Third Kings C8-11: Solomon’s Prayer from the Old World but still New Today!

The queen of Saba came to validate the God-given wisdom of Solomon:

Having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions… she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that she had in her heart… she no longer had any spirit in her, and she said to the king… ‘thy wisdom and thy works, exceed the fame which I heard… blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.’

Very similar wording with more details—when she no longer had any spirit in her she was astonished. The word is true which I heard in my country of thy virtues and wisdom… I had proved that scarce one half of thy wisdom had been told me: thou hast exceeded the same with thou virtues—with same conclusion—therefore hath he made thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are written in the words of Nathan the prophet… and Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And he slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David: and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 10: The people appeal to Roboam for relief; Roboam seeks advice; Roboam’s harsh answer; Ten tribes revolt; Roboam flees to Jerusalem.

From the notes of Day 119, the same Roboam and Jeroboam story!

Day 119: OT Third Kings C12-16; Second Parable of the Old Testament; Vision to The Third!

3 Kings Chapter 12: The people ask for lighter burdens; Roboam consults old and young; Roboam refuses the people’s request; Revolt of ten tribes; God tells Roboam, not to fight the rebels; Jeroboam leads his people into idolatry.

Roboam the son of King Solomon…

Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was yet in Egypt, a fugitive from the face of King Solomon, hearing of his death, returned out of Egypt.

Thy father (King Solomon) laid a grievous yoke upon us… of his most heavy yoke… make the yoke which thy father put upon us lighter?

What counsel do you give me?

Old men: grant their petition and they will be thy servants always…

Young men: I will add to your yoke.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam…

…but I will add to your yoke: my father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions… for the Lord was turned away from him (King Roboam), to make good his word… (behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee (Jeroboam) ten tribes…

What portion do we have in David?

And Israel revolted from the house of David (David-Solomon-Roboam), unto this day.

…and there was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Juda only.

…and the tribe of Benjamin…

House of Israel (ten tribes) vs. the House of David (one tribes); 12^th tribe was Levi?

The Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel…”

And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David, if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem: and the heart of this people will turn to their lord Roboam the king of Juda, and they will kill me, and return to him.

FEAR, LACK OF TRUST IN GOD???

Jeroboam made two golden calves… and he set one in Bethel, and the other in Dan… and this thing became an occasion of sin… and he made temples in high places, and priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi… which he had devised of his own heart.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 11: The Lord tells Roboam not to fight; Roboam fortifies his kingdom; Priest and Levites come to Roboam; Roboam’s wife and children.

God to Roboam: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this thing has been done.

And the priests and Levites, that were in all of Israel… passing over to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priestly office to the Lord.

Moreover out of the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord, the God of their fathers. And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years.

And Roboam took to wife Mahalath… and after her he married Maacha… and Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his wives, and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore concubines: and he begot eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 12: Sesac ravages Juda; Roboam humbles himself before God; Sesac seizes the treasures of Jerusalem; Abia succeeds Roboam.

More from the notes of Day 119, the same Roboam and Jeroboam story!

3 Kings Chapter 14: Jeroboam’s wife consults the prophet, Ahias; He foretells the ruin of Jeroboam’s family; Death of Abia, son of Jeroboam; Death of Jeroboam; Roboam’s wicked reign in Juda; Sesac pillages Jerusalem; Abiam succeeds Roboam.

And Roboam the son of Solomon reigned in Juda: Roboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem the city, which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there.

And Juda did evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoked him above all that their fathers had done, in their sins which they committed. For they also built them altars, and statures, and groves upon every high hill and under every green tree. They were also the effeminate in the land and they did according to all the abominations of the people whom the Lord had destroyed before the face of the children of Israel.

And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the king’s treasures, and carried all off; as also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Now the rest of the acts of Roboam, and all that he did, behold they are written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda. And there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam always. And Roboam slept with his fathers… and Abiam his son reigned in his stead.

But 2 Paralipomenon Chapter 12 has more detail on what really happened in Jerusalem:

Roboam forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem (because they had sinned against the Lord)… and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, to wit, Libyans, and Troghodites, and Ethiopians. And he took the strongest cities in Juda and came to Jerusalem.

God to princes of Juda gathered in Jerusalem: You have left me, and I have left you in the hand of Sesac. And the princes of Israel, and the king, being in a consternation, said: The Lord if just, And when the Lord saw that they were humbled, the word of the Lord came to Semeias, saying: Because they are humbled, I will not destroy them, and I give them a little help, my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem by the hand of Sesac. But yet they shall serve him, that they may know the difference between my service, and the service of a kingdom of the earth.

So Sesac king of Egypt departed from Jerusalem, taking away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s house, and he took all with him.

But yet because they were humbled, the wrath of the Lord turned away from them, and they were not utterly destroyed: for even in Juda there were found good works.

King Roboam therefore was strengthened in Jerusalem, and reigned: he was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem… But he did evil, and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord… And there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all their days. And Roboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And Abia his son reigned in his steed.

Note that in 3 Kings Chapter 14 that Abiam was the name of Roboam’s son whereas here in 2 Paralipomenon Chapter 12 his name was Abia. Surely a translation issue but surprising that the name is not consistent within the same bible.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 13: War between Abia and Jerobaum; Abia declares the justice of his cause; Abia overcomes Jerobaum; Abia’s wives and children.

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned in Juda. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem… and there was war between Abia and Jeroboam…

Abia; Hear me, O Jerobaum, and all Israel. Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave to David the kingdom over Israel for ever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? And Jerobaom… the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his Lord… and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them… and you have a great multitude of people, and golden calves, which Jerobaum hath made you for gods… is made a priest with no gods. But the Lord our God, whom we forsake not… for we keep the precepts of the Lord our God, whom you have forsaken. Therefore God is the leader of our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good for you.

While he (Roboam) spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about from behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he encompassed Juda, who perceived it not, with his army.

And all the men of Juda shouted: and behold when they shouted, God terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and Juda. And the children of Israel fled before Juda, and the Lord delivered them into their hand. And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men. And the children of Israel were brought down, at that time, and the children of Juda were exceedingly strengthened, because they had trusted in the Lord the God of their fathers… And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia; and the Lord struck him, and he died.

 

 

 

 

 

Like Saint Paul the Apostle’s epistle to the Romans, the first taste of his epistle to the Corinthians is very similar—very powerful!

I will minimize my sharing so that Paul’s words can speak directly to you.

Grace, that gift of God is so important in my life; especially as the years advance onward like the digital dollar meter at the gas station. It adds up fast and you can’t believe life has gone by, and is going by so fast!

Pride and things of the flesh, even the wisdom of the world is not what I seek now.

I seek the Spirit of God so that I may continue to learn by the Spirit. I don’t want to be one of those prideful fools that God makes a fool so that he may come to be wise.

I know that I am a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in me. Everything in the world is mine, and I am Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. Amen! Alleluia!

So we begin First Corinthians, first with the biblical introduction (using my family’s 1952 Holy Bible), then the text, with nearly all included, and with highlights of words, phrases and passages that hit home with me.

Introduction:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

 

1 Corinthians Chapter 1:  

Greeting:

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God at Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints with all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place—their Lord as well as ours. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gifts of God:

I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, because in everything you have been enriched in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; even as the witness to the Christ has been made so firm in you that you lack no grace, while awaiting the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also keep you secure unto the end, unimpeachable in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is trustworthy, by him you have been called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dissensions at Corinth:

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment. For I have been informed about you, my brethren, by those in the house of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.

Has Christ been divided up? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Salvation not by Wisdom of Words:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made void. For the doctrine of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.” Where is the “wise man?” Where is the scribe? Where is the disputant of this world?  Has God not turned to foolishness the “wisdom” of this world? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not come to know God by “wisdom,” it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save those who believe. For the Jews ask for signs, and the Greeks look for “wisdom”; but we, for our part, preach a crucified Christ—to the Jews indeed a stumbling-block and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Their Case an Example:

For consider your own call, brethren; that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But the foolish things of the world has God chosen to put to shame the “wise,” and the weak things of the world has God chosen to put to shame the strong, and the base things of the world and the despised has God choosen, and the things that are not, to bring to naught the things that are; lest any flesh should pride itself before him. From him you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us God-given wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption; so that, just as it is written, “Let him who takes pride, take pride in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians Chapter 2:

Paul’s Method of Preaching:

And I, brethren, when I come to you did not come with pretentious speech or wisdom, announcing unto you the witness to Christ. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in the persuasive words of wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might rest, not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

True Wisdom.

Wisdom, however, we speak among those who are mature, yet not a wisdom of this world nor of the rulers of this world, who are passing away. But we speak the wisdom of God, mysterious, hidden, which God foreordained before the world unto our glory, a wisdom which none of the rulers of this world had ever known; for had they known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him.” But to us God has revealed them through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man save the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, the things of God no one knows but the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, that we may know the things that have been given us by God. These things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in the learning of the Spirit, combining spiritual with spiritual. But the sensual man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him and he cannot understand, because it is examined spiritually. But the spiritual man judges all things, and he himself is judged by no man. For “who has known the mind of the Lord, that he might instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians Chapter 3:  

They Cannot Receive Full Doctrine:

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men but only as carnal, as to little ones in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you were not ready for it. Nor are you now ready for it, for you are still carnal. For since there are jealousy and strife among you, are you not carnal, and walking as mere men? For whenever one says, “I am of Paul,” but another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

The Office of God’s Ministers:

What then is Apollos? What indeed is Paul? They are servants of him whom you have believed—servants—according as God has given to each to serve. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God has given the growth. So then neither he who plants is anything, not he who waters, but God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, yet each will receive his own reward according to his labor. For we are God’s helpers, you are God’s tillage, God’s building.

Their Responsibility and Reward:

According to the grace of God, which has been given to me, as a wise builder, I laid the foundations, and another builds thereon. But let everyone take care how he builds thereon. For other foundation no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus. But if anyone builds upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—the work of each will be made manifest, for the day of the Lord will declare it, since the day is to be revealed in fire. The fire will assay the quality of everyone’s work: if his work abides which he has built thereon, he will receive reward; if his if his work burns he will lose his reward, but himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for holy is the temple of God, and this temple you are.

Pride not to be Taken in Man:

Let no one deceive himself. If any one of you thinks himself wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may come to be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “I will catch the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are empty.” Therefore let no one take pride in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas; or the world, or life, or death; or things present, or things to come—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

 

Day 148: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Seeking & Learning Through the Spirit of God.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 1-3.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 1:  Greeting; The gifts of God; Dissensions at Corinth; Salvation not by wisdom of words; Their case an example.

???Why Saint Paul the Apostle for the Romans Epistle and only Saint Paul for First Corinthians?

‘e.g.’–for example; for the sake of example; such as; From the Latin word exemplī grātiā.

‘i.e.’—that is; From the Latin word id est.

Note: Okay got my writer questions out of the way; now onto the spiritual ones!

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God at Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints with all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place—their Lord as well as ours. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saint—any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization; a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence; a founder, sponsor, or patron, as of a movement or organization.

Apostle—any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world; (sometimes initial capital letter) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot; the first or the best-known Christian missionary in any region or country.

Grace—elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action; a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment; favor or goodwill.

Peace—the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world; (often initial capital letter) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism; a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations; the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security; cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension; freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity; a state of tranquility or serenity; a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquility; silence; stillness; (initial capital letter, italics) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.

I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, because in everything you have been enriched in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; even as the witness to the Christ has been made so firm in you that you lack no grace, while awaiting the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also keep you secure unto the end, unimpeachable in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is trustworthy, by him you have been called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment. For I have been informed about you, my brethren, by those in the house of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.

House of Chloe—There is little known about Chloe in the Bible. What we know from the verse is that Chloe was a Christian woman living in Corinth and that she was an acquaintance of the apostle Paul. Because Paul simply refers to her by her first name, Chloe, it is likely she was well known to the believers of that area, possibly a householder. (Google Search)

Strife—vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism; a quarrel, struggle, or clash; competition or rivalry.

Has Christ been divided up? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made void. For the doctrine of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.” Where is the “wise man?” Where is the scribe? Where is the disputant of this world?  Has God not turned to foolishness the “wisdom” of this world? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not come to know God by “wisdom,” it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save those who believe. For the Jews ask for signs, and the Greeks look for “wisdom”; but we, for our part, preach a crucified Christ—to the Jews indeed a stumbling-block and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Disputant—a person who disputes; debater.

For consider your own call, brethren; that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But the foolish things of the world has God chosen to put to shame the “wise,” and the weak things of the world has God chosen to put to shame the strong, and the base things of the world and the despised has God choosen, and the things that are not, to bring to naught the things that are; lest any flesh should pride itself before him. From him you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us God-given wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption; so that, just as it is written, “Let him who takes pride, take pride in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians Chapter 2:  Paul’s method of preaching; True wisdom.

And I, brethren, when I come to you did not come with pretentious speech or wisdom, announcing unto you the witness to Christ. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in the persuasive words of wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might rest, not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Wisdom, however, we speak among those who are mature, yet not a wisdom of this world nor of the rulers of this world, who are passing away. But we speak the wisdom of God, mysterious, hidden, which God foreordained before the world unto our glory, a wisdom which none of the rulers of this world had ever known; for had they known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him.” But to us God has revealed them through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man save the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, the things of God no one knows but the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, that we may know the things that have been given us by God. These things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in the learning of the Spirit, combining spiritual with spiritual. But the sensual man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him and he cannot understand, because it is examined spiritually. But the spiritual man judges all things, and he himself is judged by no man. For “who has known the mind of the Lord, that he might instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians Chapter 3:  They cannot receive full doctrine; The office of God’s ministers; Their responsibility and reward; Pride not to be taken in man.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men but only as carnal, as to little ones in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you were not ready for it. Nor are you now ready for it, for you are still carnal. For since there are jealousy and strife among you, are you not carnal, and walking as mere men? For whenever one says, “I am of Paul,” but another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

Apollos—was an evangelist, apologist, church leader, and friend of the apostle Paul. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, Egypt, described as “eloquent,” “mighty in the Scriptures,” “fervent in the spirit” and “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:24). In A.D. 54, he traveled to Ephesus, where he taught boldly in the synagogue. However, at that time, Apollos’ understanding of the gospel was incomplete, since he was “acquainted only with the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). This probably means that Apollos preached repentance and faith in the Messiah—he maybe even believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah—but he did not know the full magnitude of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Aquila and Priscilla, friends of Paul, spent some time with Apollos and filled in the gaps in his understanding of Jesus Christ (Acts 18:26). Apollos, now armed with the complete message, immediately began a preaching ministry and was used of God as an effective apologist for the gospel (Acts 18:28).

Apollos traveled through Achaia and eventually found his way to Corinth (Acts 19:1), where he “watered” where Paul had “sown” (1 Corinthians 3:6). This is important to remember when studying the first Epistle to Corinth. Apollos, with his natural gifts, had attracted a following among the church in Corinth, but simple admiration was growing into divisiveness. Against Apollos’ wishes, there was a faction in Corinth that claimed him as their spiritual mentor, to the exclusion of Paul and Peter. Paul deals with this partisanship in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13. Christ is not divided, and neither should we be. We cannot love personality over truth. (Google Search)

What then is Apollos? What indeed is Paul? They are servants of him whom you have believed—servants—according as God has given to each to serve. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God has given the growth. So then neither he who plants is anything, not he who waters, but God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, yet each will receive his own reward according to his labor. For we are God’s helpers, you are God’s tillage, God’s building.

According to the grace of God, which has been given to me, as a wise builder, I laid the foundations, and another builds thereon. But let everyone take care how he builds thereon. For other foundation no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus. But if anyone builds upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—the work of each will be made manifest, for the day of the Lord will declare it, since the day is to be revealed in fire. The fire will assay the quality of everyone’s work: if his work abides which he has built thereon, he will receive reward; if his if his work burns he will lose his reward, but himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for holy is the temple of God, and this temple you are.

Let no one deceive himself. If any one of you thinks himself wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may come to be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “I will catch the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are empty.” Therefore let no one take pride in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas; or the world, or life, or death; or things present, or things to come—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Cephas—Jesus gave Simon (Peter) the name of Cephas. What meaning did he attach to the word Cephas? “Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone” (John i, 42). (Google Search)

On the good side—Paralipomenon, means things omitted, and these two biblical books are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings—on the bad side—they also repeat much from previous books, sometimes nearly verbatim.

I would say it is a 50-50 mix of the two!

Of the things omitted they really serve to tell more of the story. What’s a story without background information on settings, the development of characters and other parts of the story? There’s always more to the story! Well received with gratitude!

As far as some things being repeated, well that is an opportunity for learning, maybe seeing something new or a little different the second time through. Also, well received with gratitude!

Lots more detail on King Asa of Juda, Benjamin, and Jerusalem! Fifth from David, fourth from Solomon (Asa—Abia—Roboam—Solomon—David) in the line of succession:

And the spirit of God came upon Azarias… and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear ye me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, because you have been with him. If you seek him, you shall find him: but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. And many days shall pass in Israel (other ten tribes under Jeroboam), without the true God, and without a priest a teacher, and without the law. And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the God of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him. At that time there shall be no peace to him that goeth out and cometh in, but terrors on every side among all the inhabitants of the earth. For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city, for the Lord will trouble them all with distress. Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work.

And when Asa had heard the words, and the prophecy of Azarias the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and took away the idols out of all the land of Juda, and out of Benjamin… and he gathered… the strangers… for many were come to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him… And he went to confirm as usual the covenant, that they should seek the Lord the God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul. And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, let him die, whether little or great, man or woman. And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet, and sound of cornets, all that were in Juda with a curse: for with all their heart they swore, and with all their will they sought him, and they found him, and the Lord gave them rest year round.

So all was well and good with King Asa until one poor decision that was inconsistent with the above depiction of a trusted and trusting in the Lord ruler:

Baasa the king of Israel came up against Juda, and built a wall about Rama, that no one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa.

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s treasures, and sent to Benadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: There is a league between me and thee… wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou mayest break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him depart from me… and when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and interrupted his work.

At the time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not the Lord thy God… For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore, thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee. And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time.

And Asa fell sick… of a most violent pain in his feet, and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians. And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

And Josaphat (Josaphat—Asa—Abia—Roboam—Solomon—David) his son reigned in his stead, and grew stronger against Israel.

And the Lord was with Josaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim, but in the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not according to the sins of Israel.

And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he took away also the high places and the groves out of Juda.

And in the third year of his reign, he sent… his princes… to teach in the cities of Juda. And they taught the people in Juda, having with them the book of the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Juda, and instructed the people.

And the fear of the Lord came upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Juda, and they durst not make war against Josaphat. The Philistines brought presents to Josaphat… and the Arabians brought him cattle…

In the detail of Second Paralipomenon we find another interesting tidbit. After Josaphat returns from an ill-fated attempt with King Achab of Israel to take back Ramoth Galaad from the Syrians, he basically gets chewed out by the son of the prophet that he should have listened to:

And Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house in peace in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer met him and said to him: Thou helpest the ungodly. And thou art joined in friendship with them that hate the Lord, and therefore thou didst deserve indeed the wrath of the Lord. But good works are found in thee, because thou hast taken away the groves out of the land of Juda, and hast prepared thy heart to seek the Lord the God of thy fathers.

But Josaphat would pray to the Lord once more and his prayers were miraculously answered:

After this the children of Moab, and the children of the Ammon, and with them the Ammonites, were gathered together to fight against Josaphat.

And Josaphat being seized with fear betook himself wholly to pray to the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Juda. And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.

Josaphat to all of Juda and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord:

O Lord God of our fathers, thou art God in heaven, and rulest over all the kingdoms and nations, in thy hand is strength and power, and no one can resist thee.

Didst not thou our God kill all the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And dwell in it, and built in it a sanctuary to thy name, saying: If evil falls upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand in thy presence before this house, in which thy name is called upon: And we will cry to thee in our afflictions, and thou will hear, and save us.

Now therefore behold the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and mount Seir, through whose lands thou didst not allow Israel to pass, when they came out of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and slew them not, do the contrary, and endeavor to cast us out of the possession which thou hast delivered to us.

O our God, will thou not them judge them? As for us we have strength enough to resist this multitude, which cometh violently upon us. But as we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee. And all Juda stood before the Lord with their little ones, and their wives, and their children.

The Lord to King Josaphat and Juda and Benjamin (through Jahaziel… was there, upon whom the spirit of the Lord came in the midst of the multitude…):

Fear ye not, and be not dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow you shall go down against them: for they will come up by the ascent named Sis, and you shall find them at the head of the torrent, which is over against the wilderness of Jeruel. It shall not be you that shall fight, but only stand with confidence, and you shall see the help of the Lord over you, O Juda, and Jerusalem: fear ye not, nor be you dismayed: to morrow you shall go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.

Then Josaphat, and Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell flat on the ground before the Lord, and adored him.

Josaphat: Give glory to the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever.

… the Lord turned their ambushments upon themselves, that is to say… for the children of Ammon, and of Moab, rose up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of them, they turned also against one another and destroyed one another. And when Juda came to the watch tower, that looketh toward the desert, they saw afar off all the country, for a great space, full of dead bodies, and that no one was left that could escape death…. Nor in three days take away the spoils, the booty was so great… in the Valley of the Blessing.

So in Second Paralipomenon there are lots more details, including Asa’s lethal foot pain…

Day 149: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Asa’s Lethal Foot Pain & More Josaphat Details…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 14-20

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 14: Asa destroys idolatry; Asa arms the kingdom; Asa defeats the Ethiopians.

And Abia slept with his fathers (Asa—Abia—Roboam—Solomon—David), and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead: in his days the land was quiet ten years.

…and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places. And broke the statues, and cut down groves… (destroyed high places and cut down the groves is in contrast to Third Kings and later here in Chapter 14 of Second Paralipomenon).

And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments.

He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace.

And Zara, the Ethiopian, came out against them with his army.

Asa to God: Lord, there is no difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many, help us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name, we are come against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee.

And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and the Ethiopians fled… and the Ethiopians fell to utter destruction. For the Lord slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed… and they (Asa and Juda) pillaged the cities and carried off much booty.

FLASHBACK to notes of the Third Kings; which had no account of Zara the Ethiopian:

Day 119: OT Third Kings C12-16; Second Parable of the Old Testament; Vision to The Third!1

And the rest of the words of Abiam, and all that he did, are thy not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? And there was war between Abiam and Jeroboam. And Abiam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, reigned Asa king of Juda, and he reigned one and forty years on Jerusalem.

And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as did David his father. And he took away all the effeminate out of the land, and he removed all the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made… but the high places he did not take away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord all his days, and he brought in the things which his father had dedicated…

And there was war between Asa, and Baasa king of Israel all their days… Then Asa took all the silver and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hands of his servants; and sent them to Benadad… king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying… I desire thee to come, and break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me. Benadad hearkening to king Asa, sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel, and they smote…

But the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his strength, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. And he slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Josaphat his son reigned in his place.

END OF FLASHBACK

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 15: The prophecy of Azarias; Asa renews the covenant with God; Asa deposes his mother; Asa enriches the Temple.

And the spirit of God came upon Azarias… and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear ye me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, because you have been with him. If you seek him, you shall find him: but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. And many days shall pass in Israel (other ten tribes under Jeroboam), without the true God, and without a priest a teacher, and without the law. And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the God of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him. At that time there shall be no peace to him that goeth out and cometh in, but terrors on every side among all the inhabitants of the earth. For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city, for the Lord will trouble them all with distress. Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work.

And when Asa had heard the words, and the prophecy of Azarias the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and took away the idols out of all the land of Juda, and out of Benjamin… and he gathered… the strangers… for many were come to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him… And he went to confirm as usual the covenant, that they should seek the Lord the God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul. And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, let him die, whether little or great, man or woman. And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet, and sound of cornets, all that were in Juda with a curse: for with all their heart they swore, and with all their will they sought him, and they found him, and the Lord gave them rest year round.

Moreover Maacha the mother of king Asa he deposed for the royal authority, because she had made in a grove an idol of Priapus.

But high places were left in Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all this days.

And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the kingdom of Asa.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 16: Asa hires Syrians to drive off Baasa; Hanani reproves Asa; Last sickness and death of Asa.

Baasa the king of Israel came up against Juda, and built a wall about Rama, that no one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa.

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s treasures, and sent to Benadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: There is a league between me and thee… wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou mayest break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him depart from me… and when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and interrupted his work.

At the time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not the Lord thy God… For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore, thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee. And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time.

And Asa fell sick… of a most violent pain in his feet, and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians. And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 17: Josaphat’s good reign; Josaphat sends teachers to Juda; A time of Peace; Josaphat’s captains.

And Josaphat (Josaphat—Asa—Abia—Roboam—Solomon—David) his son reigned in his stead, and grew stronger against Israel.

And the Lord was with Josaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim, but in the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not according to the sins of Israel.

And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he took away also the high places and the groves out of Juda.

And in the third year of his reign, he sent… his princes… to teach in the cities of Juda. And they taught the people in Juda, having with them the book of the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Juda, and instructed the people.

And the fear of the Lord came upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Juda, and they durst not make war against Josaphat. The Philistines brought presents to Josaphat… and the Arabians brought him cattle…

And Josaphat grew, and became exceedingly great…

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 18: Josaphat and Achab are allies; Achab and Josaphat consult false prophets; Achab and Josaphat send for Micheas; The Prophecy of Micheas; Micheas is imprisoned; Achab killed by arrow.

FLASHBACK to notes of the Third Kings; which had basically the same story of Josaphat and Achab:

Day 123: OT Third Kings C21-22 (END); God’s Word Reigns Eternally; to All Generations!

And the Third Book of Kings ends with a chapter about how Achab and Josaphat king of Juda listened to false prophets and invaded Ramoth Galaad. They were defeated and Achab was killed in battle.

This is a testimony to how God can utilize deceiving spirits and lying spirts to present false guidance to powerful people that results in their own demise:

And there passed three years without war between Syria and Israel.

Achab: Know ye not that Ramoth Galaad (a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River) is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria.

Josaphat king of Juda said to Achab king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my people and thy people are one: and my horseman, thy horseman… Inquire, I beseech thee, this day, the word of the Lord.

There is only one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: Micheas… but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good to me, but evil.

Then the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, sat each on his throne clothed with royal robes, in a court by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them… And all the prophets prophesized in like manner, saying: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hands.

Micheas the only prophet? Who were all these other prophets? False prophets.

Micheas: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.

Micheas: I saw Israel scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no master: let every man of them return to his house in peace.

Micheas: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne… And the Lord said: who shall deceive Achab… that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him… I will go forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.

Achab: Put this man (Micheas) in prison, and fee him with bread of affliction, and water of distress, till I return in peace.

Micheas to Achab: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me… Hear, all ye people.

The battle at Ramoth Galaad:

And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and chanced to strike the king of Israel between the lungs and the stomach…

Achab: for I am grievously wounded…

And the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians, and he died in the evening: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot… according to the word of the Lord which he (Micheas) had spoken.

How do we find our true prophets like Micheas in our own lives?

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

So Achab slept with his fathers, and Ochozias his son reigned in his steed.

Josaphat… began to reign over Juda in the fourth year of Achab king of Israel… and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem… And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, and he declined not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?

And Josaphat slept with his fathers… and Joram his son reigned in his steed.

END OF FLASHBACK

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 19: Josaphat returns to Jerusalem; Josaphat appoints judges; Josaphat appoints priests and Levites.

And Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house in peace in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer met him and said to him: Thou helpest the ungodly. And thou art joined in friendship with them that hate the Lord, and therefore thou didst deserve indeed the wrath of the Lord. But good works are found in thee, because thou hast taken away the groves out of the land of Juda, and hast prepared thy heart to seek the Lord the God of thy fathers.

And Josphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again to the people from Bersabee to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord the God of their fathers.

And he set judges of the land in all the fenced cities of Juda, in every place.

In Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed Levites, and priests… and he charged them, saying: Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart… the law, the commandment, the ceremonies, the justifications… show it to them, that they may not sin against the Lord, and that wrath may not come upon you and your brethren: and so doing you shall not sin.

And Amarias the priest your high priest shall be chief of things which regard God,,, take courage and do diligently, and the Lord will be with you in good things.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 20: Enemies approach; Josphat prays and fasts; Josaphat’s prayer; God’s answer; The people worship God; Josaphat marches against his enemies; The victory of Josaphat; Joy over the victory; Josaphat’s reign; Josaphat’s ships are destroyed.

After this the children of Moab, and the children of the Ammon, and with them the Ammonites, were gathered together to fight against Josaphat.

And Josaphat being seized with fear betook himself wholly to pray to the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Juda. And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.

Josaphat to all of Juda and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord:

O Lord God of our fathers, thou art God in heaven, and rulest over all the kingdoms and nations, in thy hand is strength and power, and no one can resist thee.

Didst not thou our God kill all the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And dwell in it, and built in it a sanctuary to thy name, saying: If evil falls upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand in thy presence before this house, in which thy name is called upon: And we will cry to thee in our afflictions, and thou will hear, and save us.

Now therefore behold the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and mount Seir, through whose lands thou didst not allow Israel to pass, when they came out of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and slew them not, do the contrary, and endeavor to cast us out of the possession which thou hast delivered to us.

O our God, will thou not them judge them? As for us we have strength enough to resist this multitude, which cometh violently upon us. But as we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee. And all Juda stood before the Lord with their little ones, and their wives, and their children.

The Lord to King Josaphat and Juda and Benjamin (through Jahaziel… was there, upon whom the spirit of the Lord came in the midst of the multitude…):

Fear ye not, and be not dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow you shall go down against them: for they will come up by the ascent named Sis, and you shall find them at the head of the torrent, which is over against the wilderness of Jeruel. It shall not be you that shall fight, but only stand with confidence, and you shall see the help of the Lord over you, O Juda, and Jerusalem: fear ye not, nor be you dismayed: to morrow you shall go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.

Then Josaphat, and Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell flat on the ground before the Lord, and adored him.

Josaphat: Give glory to the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever.

… the Lord turned their ambushments upon themselves, that is to say… for the children of Ammon, and of Moab, rose up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of them, they turned also against one another and destroyed one another. And when Juda came to the watch tower, that looketh toward the desert, they saw afar off all the country, for a great space, full of dead bodies, and that no one was left that could escape death…. Nor in three days take away the spoils, the booty was so great… in the Valley of the Blessing.

And every man of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem returned, and Josaphat at their head, into Jerusalem with great joy, because the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.

And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Josaphat was quiet, and God gave him peace round about.

And Josaphat reigned over Juda, and he was five and thirty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem… And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and departed not from it, doing things that were pleasing before the Lord. But yet he took not away the high places, and the people had not yet turned their heart to the Lord the God of their fathers. But the rest of the acts of Josaphat, first and last, are written in the words of Jehu the son of Nanani, which he digested into the books of the kings of Israel.

 

The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is pure gold in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below a brief personal insight into ‘minding your own business except in the Spiritual World’ found in the section below entitled ‘Paul’s Suggestion is for Punishment by Excommunication:’

Ministers of Gospel Judged by Christ:

Let a man so account us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now here it is required in stewards that a man be found trustworthy. Bit with me it is a very small matter to be judged by you or by man’s tribunal. Nay I do not even judge my own self. For I have nothing on my conscience, yet I am not thereby justified; but he who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, pass no judgment before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and make manifest the counsels of the heart; and then everyone will have his praise from God.

Corinthians Contrasted With Apostles:

Now, brethren, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos by way of illustration for your sakes, that in our case you may learn not to be puffed up one against the other over a third party, transgressing what is written. For who singles thee out? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received it, why dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received it? You are already filled! You are already made rich! Without us you reign! And would that you did reign, that we too might reign with you! For I think God has set forth us the apostle last of all, as men doomed to death, seeing the we have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are without honor! To this very hour we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and buffeted, and have no fixed abode. And we toil, working with our own hands. We are reviled and we bless, we are persecuted and we bear with it, we are maligned and we entreat, we have become as the refuse of this world, the off scouring of all, even until now!

Paul’s Love for the Corinthians:

I write these things not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my dearest children.  For although you have won ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, did I beget you. Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. For this very reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful to the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

He will Visit Them Shortly:

Now some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you. But I shall come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing and I shall learn the power of those who are puffed up, not he promises. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What is your wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?

Action Against the Incestuous Man:

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and such immorality as is not found even among the Gentiles, that a man should have his father’s wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned so that he who hast done this deed might be put away from your midst. I indeed, absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though present, passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on the one who has so acted—you and my spirit gathered together with the power of our Lord Jesus—to deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your boasting is unseemly. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump? Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new dough, as you really are without leaven. For Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Mind your own business… be friends with all in the world but be careful as to where your spiritual examples and leadership come from:

Paul’s Suggestion is for Punishment by Excommunication.

I wrote to you in the letter not to associate with the immoral—not meaning, of course, the immoral of this world, or the covetous, or the greedy, or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But now I write to you not to associate with one who is called a brother, of he is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or evil-tongued, or a drunkard, or greedy, with such a one not even to take food. For what have I do to do with judging those outside? Is it not those inside whom you judge? For those outside God will judge. Expel the wicked man from your midst.

No Lawsuits before Pagans:

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, bring your case to be judged before the unjust and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more worldly things! If, therefore, you have cases about worldly matters to be judged, appoint those who are rated as nothing in the Church to judge. To shame you I say it. Can it be that there is not one wise man among you competent to settle a case in his brother’s matter? But brother goes to law with brother and that before unbelievers.

Christians should have No Disputes:

Nay, to begin with, it is altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that to your brethren. Or do you not know that the unjust will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor the evil-tongued, nor the greedy will possess the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of God.

Sacredness of the Body:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anyone. Food for the belly and the belly for food, but one God will destroy both the one and the other. Now the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Now God has raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? By no means! Or do you not know that he who cleaves to a harlot, becomes one body with her? “For the two,” it says, “shall be one flesh.” But he who cleaves to the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside his body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought at a great price. Glorify God and bear him in your body.

Mind your own business… be friends with all in the world but be careful as to where your spiritual examples and leadership come from:

Day 150: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Mind Your Own Business except in the Spiritual World!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 4-6.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 4:  Ministers of gospel judged by Christ; Corinthians contrasted with Apostles; Paul’s love for the Corinthians; He will visit them shortly.

Ministers of Gospel Judged by Christ:

Let a man so account us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now here it is required in stewards that a man be found trustworthy. Bit with me it is a very small matter to be judged by you or by man’s tribunal. Nay I do not even judge my own self. For I have nothing on my conscience, yet I am not thereby justified; but he who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, pass no judgment before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and make manifest the counsels of the heart; and then everyone will have his praise from God.

Corinthians Contrasted With Apostles:

Now, brethren, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos by way of illustration for your sakes, that in our case you may learn not to be puffed up one against the other over a third party, transgressing what is written. For who singles thee out? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received it, why dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received it? You are already filled! You are already made rich! Without us you reign! And would that you did reign, that we too might reign with you! For I think God has set forth us the apostle last of all, as men doomed to death, seeing the we have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are without honor! To this very hour we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and buffeted, and have no fixed abode. And we toil, working with our own hands. We are reviled and we bless, we are persecuted and we bear with it, we are maligned and we entreat, we have become as the refuse of this world, the off scouring of all, even until now!

Reviled—to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language; address or speak of abusively.

Entreat—to ask (a person) earnestly; beseech; implore; beg; to ask earnestly for (something).

Paul’s Love for the Corinthians:

I write these things not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my dearest children.  For although you have won ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, did I beget you. Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. For this very reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful to the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

He will Visit Them Shortly:

Now some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you. But I shall come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing and I shall learn the power of those who are puffed up, not he promises. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What is your wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?

1 Corinthians Chapter 5:  Action against the incestuous man; Paul’s suggestion is for punishment by excommunication.

Action Against the Incestuous Man:

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and such immorality as is not found even among the Gentiles, that a man should have his father’s wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned so that he who hast done this deed might be put away from your midst. I indeed, absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though present, passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on the one who has so acted—you and my spirit gathered together with the power of our Lord Jesus—to deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your boasting is unseemly. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump? Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new dough, as you really are without leaven. For Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul’s Suggestion is for Punishment by Excommunication.

I wrote to you in the letter not to associate with the immoral—not meaning, of course, the immoral of this world, or the covetous, or the greedy, or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But now I write to you not to associate with one who is called a brother, of he is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or evil-tongued, or a drunkard, or greedy, with such a one not even to take food. For what have I do to do with judging those outside? Is it not those inside whom you judge? For those outside God will judge. Expel the wicked man from your midst.

1 Corinthians Chapter 6:  No lawsuits before pagans; Christians should have no disputes; Sacredness of the body.

No Lawsuits before Pagans:

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, bring your case to be judged before the unjust and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more worldly things! If, therefore, you have cases about worldly matters to be judged, appoint those who are rated as nothing in the Church to judge. To shame you I say it. Can it be that there is not one wise man among you competent to settle a case in his brother’s matter? But brother goes to law with brother and that before unbelievers.

Christians should have No Disputes:

Nay, to begin with, it is altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that to your brethren. Or do you not know that the unjust will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor the evil-tongued, nor the greedy will possess the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of God.

Sacredness of the Body:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anyone. Food for the belly and the belly for food, but one God will destroy both the one and the other. Now the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Now God has raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? By no means! Or do you not know that he who cleaves to a harlot, becomes one body with her? “For the two,” it says, “shall be one flesh.” But he who cleaves to the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside his body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought at a great price. Glorify God and bear him in your body.

Paralipomenon—things omitted in the four Books of Kings—and more—rich detail of things omitted!

Joram, a mere mention in Fourth Kings…

Day 127: OT Fourth Kings C6-10; Inspiring Perspective, Jehu Obeys, & Confusion!

Joran, with lots of rich details in Second Paralipomenon:

And Josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David: and Joram his son reigned in his stead.

And he had brethren… And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and pensions, with strong cities in Juda; but the kingdom he gave to Joram, because he was the oldest.

So when Joram rose up over the kingdom of his father: and when he had established himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and some of the princes of Israel.

Joran was two and thirty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Achab had done: for his wife was a daughter of Achab, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. But the Lord would not destroy the house of David: because of the covenant which he made with him: and because he had promised to give a lamp to him, and to his sons for ever.

 

And there was a letter brought him (Joram) from Elias the prophet, in which it is written: Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Josaphat thy father, nor in ways of Asa king of Juda, but hast walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and hast made Juda and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, imitating the fornication of the house of Achab, moreover also thou hast killed thy brethren, the house of thy father, better men than myself, behold the Lord will strike thee with a great plague, with all thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance. And thou shall be sick of a grievous disease of thy bowels, till thy vital parts come out by little and little every day.

And the Lord stirred up against Joram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who border on the Ethiopians. And thy came up into the land of Juda, and wasted it, and they carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, his sons also, and his wives, so that there was no son left him but Joachaz, who was the youngest.

And besides this, the Lord struck him with an incurable disease in his bowels. And as day came after day, and time rolled on, two whole years passed: then after being wasted with a long consumption, so as to void his very bowels, his disease ended his life. And he died of a most wretched illness and the people did not make a funeral for him according to the manner of burning, as they had done for his ancestors… And he walked not rightly, and they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchers of the kings.

And then there was Joas and Joiada rebuilding the Temple in Fourth Kings:

Day 129: OT Fourth Kings C11-16; A Young King, Finances, & the Kings’ Book of Words!

But no mention of the betrayal of Joiada after his death and murder of his son Zacharias which is so richly detailed in Second Paralipomenon:

Joas was seven years old when he began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem… And he did that which is good before the Lord all the days of Joiada the priest.

After this Joas had a mind to repair the temple of the Lord…

For that wicked woman Athalia, and her children have destroyed the house of God, and adorned the temple of Baal with all the things that had been dedicated in the temple of the Lord.

And they (Joas and Joiada) made a proclamation in Juda and Jerusalem, that every man should bring to the Lord the money which Moses the servant of God appointed for all of Israel, in the desert. And all the princes, and all the people rejoiced: and going in they contributed and cast so much into the chest of the Lord, that it was filled… and there was gathered an immense sum of money.

But Joiada grew old, and was full of days, and he died when he was a hundred and thirty years old. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good to Israel, and to his house.

And after the death of Joiada, the princes of Juda went in, and worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them. And they forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Juda and Jerusalem for this sin. And he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and they would not give ear when they testified against them.

The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you? And they gathered themselves together against him, and stoned him at the king’s (Joas) commandment in the court of the house of the Lord. And king Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he (Zacharias) died, he said: The Lord see, and require it.

And when a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him (Joas): and they came to Juda and Jerusalem and killed all the princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of Damascus, And whereas there came a very small number of Syrians, the Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed shameful judgments. And departing they left him in great diseases: and his servants rose up against him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the priest, and they slew him (Joas) in his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of avid, but not in the sepulchers of the kings… and Amasias his son reigned in his stead.

And the generations of David continued:

And all the people of Juda took his (Amasias) son Ozias, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of Amasias his father… and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Amasias his father had done. And he sought the Lord in the days of Zacharias that understood and saw God: and as long as he sought the Lord, he directed him in all things.

And Ozias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the field of the royal sepulchers, because he was a leper: and Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham)

So now the generations of David number twelve (by my count) with the rich detail of Second Paralipomonen complementing the four Books of Kings!

Day 151: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Rich in Detail; Now Twelve Generations of David.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 21-26

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 21: Joram succeeds Josaphat; Joram murders his brothers; Joram’s wicked reign; Edom and Lobna revolt; The prophecy of Elias; Philistines and Arabians invade Juda; Sickness and death of Joram.

And Josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David: and Joram his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram)

And he had brethren… And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and pensions, with strong cities in Juda; but the kingdom he gave to Joram, because he was the oldest.

So when Joram rose up over the kingdom of his father: and when he had established himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and some of the princes of Israel.

Joran was two and thirty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Achab had done: for his wife was a daughter of Achab, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. But the Lord would not destroy the house of David: because of the covenant which he made with him: and because he had promised to give a lamp to him, and to his sons for ever.

And there was a letter brought him (Joram) from Elias the prophet, in which it is written: Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Josaphat thy father, nor in ways of Asa king of Juda, but hast walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and hast made Juda and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, imitating the fornication of the house of Achab, moreover also thou hast killed thy brethren, the house of thy father, better men than myself, behold the Lord will strike thee with a great plague, with all thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance. And thou shall be sick of a grievous disease of thy bowels, till thy vital parts come out by little and little every day.

And the Lord stirred up against Joram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who border on the Ethiopians. And thy came up into the land of Juda, and wasted it, and they carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, his sons also, and his wives, so that there was no son left him but Joachaz, who was the youngest.

And besides this, the Lord struck him with an incurable disease in his bowels. And as day came after day, and time rolled on, two whole years passed: then after being wasted with a long consumption, so as to void his very bowels, his disease ended his life. And he died of a most wretched illness and the people did not make a funeral for him according to the manner of burning, as they had done for his ancestors… And he walked not rightly, and they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchers of the kings.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 22: Ochozias’ wicked reign; Jehu slays Ochozias; Athalia usurps the throne.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ochozias his (Joran or Josaphat???) youngest son king in his place…

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias)

Note: confusing as Joachaz was Joram’s youngest son???

So Ochozias the son of Joram king of Juda reigned. Ochozias was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Athalia… He (Ochozias) also walked in the ways of the house of Achab: for his mother pushed him on to do wickedly. So he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Achab did: for they were his counselors after the death of his father (Joram), to his destruction.

And he (Ochozias) walked after their counsels. And he went with Joram the son of Achab king of Israel, to fight against Hazael king of Syria, at Ramoth Galaad: and the Syrians wounded Joram.

And Ochozias the son of Joram king of Juda, went down to visit Joram the son of Achab in Jezrahel where he lay sick. For it was the will of God against Ochozias that he should come to Joram: and when he was come should go out also against Jehu… whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Achab. So when Jehu was rooting out the house of Achab, he found the princes of Juda, and the sons of the brethren of Ochozias, who served him, and he slew them. And he sought for Ochozias himself… and when he was brought to him (Jehu), he killed him (Ochozias), and they buried him: because he was the son of Josaphat, who had sought the Lord with all his heart. And there was no more hope that any one should reign of the race of Ochozias

Confusing as above stated Ochozias was the son of Joram who was the son of Josaphat???

For Athalia his (Ochozias) mother, seeing that her son was dead, rose up, and killed all the royal family of the house of Joram. But Josabeth the king’s daughter took Joas the son of Ochozias and… now Josabeth that hid him (Joas) was the daughter of king Joram, wife of Joiada the high priest, and sister of Ochozias, and therefore Athalia did not kill him. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years, during which time Athalia reigned over the land.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 23: Joiada’s conspiracy against Athalia; Joas is crowned king; Athalia is killed; Covenant renewed.

And in the seventh year Joiada being encouraged… made a covenant with them… And all the multitude made a covenant with the king (Joas) in the house of the God: and Joiada said to them: Behold the king’s (Ochozias) son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.

And they brought out the king’s (Ochozias) son, and put the crown upon him, and the testimony, and gave him the law to hold in his hand, and they made him king: and Joiada the high priest and his sons anointed him: and they prayed for him (Joas), and said: God save the king.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas)

Now Athalia heard the noise… she rent her garments, and said: Treason, treason… and when she is without (the Temple) let her be killed with the sword… they killed her there.

And Joiada made a covenant between himself and all the people, and the king, that they should be the people of the Lord… and they slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altars… as it is written in the law of Moses, with joy and singing, according to the disposition of David… and they brought down the king (Joas) from the house of the Lord, and brought him through the upper gate into the king’s house, and set him on the royal throne. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: bit Athalia was slain with the sword.  

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 24: Joas reigns well; The Temple repaired; Death of Joiada; Joas turns to idolatry; Zacharias is stoned; Divine punishment.

Joas was seven years old when he began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem… And he did that which is good before the Lord all the days of Joiada the priest.

After this Joas had a mind to repair the temple of the Lord…

For that wicked woman Athalia, and her children have destroyed the house of God, and adorned the temple of Baal with all the things that had been dedicated in the temple of the Lord.

And they (Joas and Joiada) made a proclamation in Juda and Jerusalem, that every man should bring to the Lord the money which Moses the servant of God appointed for all of Israel, in the desert. And all the princes, and all the people rejoiced: and going in they contributed and cast so much into the chest of the Lord, that it was filled… and there was gathered an immense sum of money.

But Joiada grew old, and was full of days, and he died when he was a hundred and thirty years old. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good to Israel, and to his house.

And after the death of Joiada, the princes of Juda went in, and worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them. And they forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Juda and Jerusalem for this sin. And he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and they would not give ear when they testified against them.

The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you? And they gathered themselves together against him, and stoned him at the king’s (Joas) commandment in the court of the house of the Lord. And king Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he (Zacharias) died, he said: The Lord see, and require it.

And when a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him (Joas): and they came to Juda and Jerusalem and killed all the princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of Damascus, And whereas there came a very small number of Syrians, the Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed shameful judgments. And departing they left him in great diseases: and his servants rose up against him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the priest, and they slew him (Joas) in his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of avid, but not in the sepulchers of the kings… and Amasias his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias)

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 25: Amasias kills his father’s murderers; Amasias disbands his army; Amasias conquers the children of Seir; Rejected soldiers kill three thousand; Amasias turns to idolatry; Joas defeats Amasias; Death of Amasias.

Amasias was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem… And he did what was good in the sight of the Lord: but yet not with a perfect heart. And when he saw himself strengthened in his kingdom, he put to death the servants that had slain the king his father. Bit he slew not their children, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying; The fathers shall not be slain for the children, nor the children for their fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

… found three hundred thousand young men that could go out to battle, and could hold the spear and the shield. He (Amasias) hired also of Israel a hundred thousand valiant men, for a hundred talents of silver.

But a man of God came to him, and said: O king, let not the army of Israel go out with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel, and all the children of Ephraim.

Amasias to the man of God: What will then become of the hundred talents which I have given to the soldiers of Israel?

And the man of God answered: The Lord is rich enough to be able to give thee much more than this.

Then Amasias separated the army that came to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: but they being much enraged against Juda, returned to their own country.

And Amasias taking courage led forth his people, and went to the vale of saltpits, and slew of the children of Seir ten thousand.

And other ten thousand men the sons of Juda took, and brought to the steep of a certain rock, and cast them down headlong from the top, and they all were broken to pieces.

But the army which Amasias had sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, spread themselves among the cities of Juda, from Samaria to Bethhoron, and having killed three thousand took away much spoil.

But Amasias, after he had slain the Edomites, set up the gods of the children of Seir, which he had brought thence, to be his gods, and adored them, and burnt incense to them. Wherefore the Lord, being angry against Amasias, sent a prophet to him, to say to him: Why hast thou adored gods that have not delivered their own people out of thy hand? And when he spoke these things, he answered him: Art thou the king’s counselor? Be quiet, lest I kill thee. And the prophet departing, said: I know that God is minded to kill thee, because thou hast done this evil, and moreover hast not hearkened to my counsel.

Then Amasias king of Juda taking bad counsel, sent to Joas the son of Joachaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us see one another… Thou (Amasias) hast said: I have overthrown Edom, and therefore thy heart is lifted up with pride… Amasias would not hearken to him (Joas), because it was the Lord’s will that he should be delivered into the hands of enemies, because of the gods of Edom. So Joas king of Israel went up, and they presented themselves to be seen by one another: and Amasias king of Juda… fell before Israel, and they fled to their dwellings… And Joas king of Israel took Amasias king of Juda… and brought him to Jerusalem: and broked down the walls… and he took all the gold, and silver, and all the vessels, that he found in the house of God… and in the treasures of the king’s house. Moreover also the sons of the hostages, he brought back to Samaria.

And Amasias lived, after the death of Joas, fifteen years… And after he revolted against the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. And he fled to Lachis, and they sent, and killed him there. And they brought him back upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of David.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 26: Ozias reigns well; Ozias prospers; Ozias improves defenses; Ozias becomes leprous; Joatham succeeds Ozias.

And all the people of Juda took his (Amasias) son Ozias, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of Amasias his father… and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Amasias his father had done. And he sought the Lord in the days of Zacharias that understood and saw God: and as long as he sought the Lord, he directed him in all things.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias)

Moreover he went forth and fought against the Philistines… and God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians… and against the Ammonites. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Ozias: and his name was spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt for his frequent victories.

And he made in Jerusalem engines of diverse kinds, which he placed in the towers, and in the corners of the walls, to shoot arrows, and great stones: and his name went forth far abroad, for the Lord helped him, and had strengthened him.

But when he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he neglected the Lord his God: and going into the temple of the Lord, he had a mind to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And immediately Azarias the priest going in… withstood the king and said: If doth not belong to thee, Ozias, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests… go out of the sanctuary, do not despise: for this thing shall not be accounted for to thy glory by the Lord God. And Ozias was angry… threatened the priests… And presently there rose a leprosy in his forehead before the priests, in the house of the Lord at the altar of incense… himself also being frightened… he had quickly felt the stroke of the Lord. And Ozias the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and he dwelt in a house apart, being full of leprosy for which he had been cast out of the house of the Lord. And Joatham his son governed the king’s house, and judged the people of the land.

And Ozias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the field of the royal sepulchers, because he was a leper: and Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham)

 

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is pure gold in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness. Tribulations of the flesh, yet am I not free?

Advice to the Married:

Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for man not to touch woman. Yet, the fear of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife her due, and likewise the wife to the husband. The wife has not authority over her body, but the husband; the husband likewise has not authority over his body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by consent, for a time, that you may give yourself to prayer; and return together again lest Satan tempt you because you lack self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not by way of commandment. For I would that you all were as I am myself; but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.

Advice to the Unmarried:

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they so remain, even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry than to burn. But to those who are married, not I, but the Lord commands that a wife is not to depart from her husband, and if she departs, that she is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not a husband put away his wife.

Obligation of the Believing Spouse:

To the others I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, let him not put her away. And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, let her not put away her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but, as it is, they are holy. For if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how dost thou know, O wife, whether thou wilt save thy husband Or how dost thou know, O husband, whether thou wilt save thy wife?

No Change to be Sought:

Only, as the Lord has alloted to each, as when God has called each, so let him walk—and so I teach in all the churches. Was one called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was one called having been uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision does not matter, and uncircumcision does not matter; but the keeping of the commandments of God is what matters. Let every man remain in the calling in which he was called. Wast thou a slave when called? Let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst become free, make use of it rather. For a slave who has been called in the Lord, is a freedman of the Lord; just as a freeman who has been called is a slave to Christ. You have been bought with a price; do not become the slaves of men. Brethren, in the state in which he was when called, let every man remain with God.

The State of Virginity:

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give an opinion, as one having obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. I think, then, that this is good on account of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Art thou bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Art thou freed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if thou takest a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you that.

Why Virginity is to be Preferred:

But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remains that those who have wives be as if they had none; and those who weep, as though not weeping; and those who rejoice, as though not rejoicing; and those who buy, as though not possessing; and those who use this world, as though not using it, for this world as we see it is passing away. I would have you free from care. He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God. Whereas he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife; and he is divided. And the unmarried woman, and the virgin, thinks about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit. Whereas she who is married thinks about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. Now this I say for your benefit, not to hold you in check, but to promote what is proper, and to make it possible for you to pray to the Lord without distraction.

Duty of Father to Virgin Daughter:

But if any man thinks that he incurs disgrace with regard to his virgin, since she is over age, and that it ought so to be done, let him do what he will, he does not sin if she should marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but is free to carry out his own will, and has decided to keep his virgin—he does well. Therefore both he who gives his virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her does better.

 Widows:

A woman is bound as long as her husband is alive, but if her husband dies, she is free. Let her marry whom she pleases, only let it be in the Lord. But she will be more blessed, in my judgment, if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.

General Principles concerning Idols:

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. Now as for food sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are what are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (for indeed there are many gods, and many lords), yet for us there is only one God, the Father from whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

Practical Rules:

But such knowledge is not in everyone. Some, still idol-conscious, eat idol offerings as such, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Now food does not command us to God. For neither shall we suffer any loss if we do not eat, nor if we do eat have any advantage. Still, take care lest perhaps this right of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. For if a man sees one who “has knowledge” reclining at table in an idol place, will not his conscience, weak as it is, be emboldened to eat idol offerings? And through thy “knowledge” the weak one will perish, the brother for whom Christ died. Now when you sin thus against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food scandalizes my brother, I will eat flesh no more forever, lest I scandalize my brother.

Paul’s Claim of Rights:

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? And if to others I am not an apostle, yet to you I am. For you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord. My defense against those who question me is this: Have we not a right to eat and to drink? Have we not a right to take about with us a woman, a sister, as do the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have not the right to do this? What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who feeds the flock, and does not eat of the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things on human authority? Or does the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain.”

Is it the oxen that God has care? Or does he say this simply for our sakes? These things were written for us. For he who plows shall plow in hope, and he would threshes, in hope of partaking of the fruits. If we have sown for you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap from you carnal things? If others share in this right over you, why not we rather? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, lest we offer hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that they who minister in the temple eat what comes from the temple, and that they who serve the altar, have their share with the altar? So also the Lord directed that those who preach the gospel should have their living from the gospel.

Reason for not using Rights:

But I for my part have used none of these rights. Neither do I write these things that so it should be done in my case. For it were better for me to die than that anyone should make void my boast. For even if I preach the gospel, I have therein no ground for boasting, since I am under no constraint. For woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, it is a stewardship that has been entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That preaching the gospel, I deliver the gospel without charge, so as not to abuse my right in the gospel.

Paul is All Things to All Men:

For, free though I was as to all, unto all I have made myself a slave that I might gain the more converts. And I have become to the Jews a Jew that I might gain the Jews; to those under the Law, as one under the law (though not myself under the Law), that I may gain those without the Law. To the weak I became weak, that I night gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be made partaker thereof.

He makes sure his Reward:

Do you not know that those who run in a race, all indeed run, but one receives the prize? So run as to obtain it. And everyone is a contest abstains from all things—and they indeed to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. I, therefore, so run as not without a purpose; I so fight as not beating the air; but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps after preaching to other I myself should be rejected.

Tribulations of the flesh, yet am I not free?

Day 152: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Tribulations of the flesh, yet am I not free?

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 7-9.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 7:  Advice to the married; Advice to the unmarried; Obligation of the believing spouse; No change to be sought; The state of virginity; Why virginity is to be preferred; Duty of father to virgin daughter; Widows.

Advice to the Married:

Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for man not to touch woman. Yet, the fear of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife her due, and likewise the wife to the husband. The wife has not authority over her body, but the husband; the husband likewise has not authority over his body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by consent, for a time, that you may give yourself to prayer; and return together again lest Satan tempt you because you lack self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not by way of commandment. For I would that you all were as I am myself; but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.

Advice to the Unmarried:

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they so remain, even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry than to burn. But to those who are married, not I, but the Lord commands that a wife is not to depart from her husband, and if she departs, that she is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not a husband put away his wife.

Obligation of the Believing Spouse:

To the others I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, let him not put her away. And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, let her not put away her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but, as it is, they are holy. For if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how dost thou know, O wife, whether thou wilt save thy husband Or how dost thou know, O husband, whether thou wilt save thy wife?

No Change to be Sought:

Only, as the Lord has alloted to each, as when God has called each, so let him walk—and so I teach in all the churches. Was one called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was one called having been uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision does not matter, and uncircumcision does not matter; but the keeping of the commandments of God is what matters. Let every man remain in the calling in which he was called. Wast thou a slave when called? Let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst become free, make use of it rather. For a slave who has been called in the Lord, is a freedman of the Lord; just as a freeman who has been called is a slave to Christ. You have been bought with a price; do not become the slaves of men. Brethren, in the state in which he was when called, let every man remain with God.

The State of Virginity:

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give an opinion, as one having obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. I think, then, that this is good on account of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Art thou bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Art thou freed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if thou takest a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you that.

Why Virginity is to be Preferred:

But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remains that those who have wives be as if they had none; and those who weep, as though not weeping; and those who rejoice, as though not rejoicing; and those who buy, as though not possessing; and those who use this world, as though not using it, for this world as we see it is passing away. I would have you free from care. He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God. Whereas he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife; and he is divided. And the unmarried woman, and the virgin, thinks about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit. Whereas she who is married thinks about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. Now this I say for your benefit, not to hold you in check, but to promote what is proper, and to make it possible for you to pray to the Lord without distraction.

Duty of Father to Virgin Daughter:

But if any man thinks that he incurs disgrace with regard to his virgin, since she is over age, and that it ought so to be done, let him do what he will, he does not sin if she should marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but is free to carry out his own will, and has decided to keep his virgin—he does well. Therefore both he who gives his virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her does better.

 Widows:

A woman is bound as long as her husband is alive, but if her husband dies, she is free. Let her marry whom she pleases, only let it be in the Lord. But she will be more blessed, in my judgment, if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.

1 Corinthians Chapter 8:  General principles concerning idols; Practical rules.

General Principles concerning Idols:

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. Now as for food sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are what are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (for indeed there are many gods, and many lords), yet for us there is only one God, the Father from whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

Edifies—to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift:

Practical Rules:

But such knowledge is not in everyone. Some, still idol-conscious, eat idol offerings as such, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Now food does not command us to God. For neither shall we suffer any loss if we do not eat, nor if we do eat have any advantage. Still, take care lest perhaps this right of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. For if a man sees one who “has knowledge” reclining at table in an idol place, will not his conscience, weak as it is, be emboldened to eat idol offerings? And through thy “knowledge” the weak one will perish, the brother for whom Christ died. Now when you sin thus against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food scandalizes my brother, I will eat flesh no more forever, lest I scandalize my brother.

1 Corinthians Chapter 9:  Paul’s claim of rights; Reason for not using rights; Paul is all things to all men; He makes sure his reward.

Paul’s Claim of Rights:

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? And if to others I am not an apostle, yet to you I am. For you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord. My defense against those who question me is this: Have we not a right to eat and to drink? Have we not a right to take about with us a woman, a sister, as do the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have not the right to do this? What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who feeds the flock, and does not eat of the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things on human authority? Or does the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain.”

Is it the oxen that God has care? Or does he say this simply for our sakes? These things were written for us. For he who plows shall plow in hope, and he would threshes, in hope of partaking of the fruits. If we have sown for you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap from you carnal things? If others share in this right over you, why not we rather? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, lest we offer hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that they who minister in the temple eat what comes from the temple, and that they who serve the altar, have their share with the altar? So also the Lord directed that those who preach the gospel should have their living from the gospel.

Reason for not using Rights:

But I for my part have used none of these rights. Neither do I write these things that so it should be done in my case. For it were better for me to die than that anyone should make void my boast. For even if I preach the gospel, I have therein no ground for boasting, since I am under no constraint. For woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, it is a stewardship that has been entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That preaching the gospel, I deliver the gospel without charge, so as not to abuse my right in the gospel.

Paul is All Things to All Men:

For, free though I was as to all, unto all I have made myself a slave that I might gain the more converts. And I have become to the Jews a Jew that I might gain the Jews; to those under the Law, as one under the law (though not myself under the Law), that I may gain those without the Law. To the weak I became weak, that I night gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be made partaker thereof.

He makes sure his Reward:

Do you not know that those who run in a race, all indeed run, but one receives the prize? So run as to obtain it. And everyone is a contest abstains from all things—and they indeed to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. I, therefore, so run as not without a purpose; I so fight as not beating the air; but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps after preaching to other I myself should be rejected.

 

 

In the four Books of Kings the Scriptures go back and forth between the kings of the divided children of Israel—Juda & Jerusalem and Israel & Samaria

To the extent that I referenced as “sort of a dance back and forth” in Day 131:

Day 131: OT Fourth Kings C17-20; Assyria takes Israel; Juda’s Prayers are Answered!

Israel split into two countries—Israel including Samaria in the North and Juda including Jerusalem in the South. The Juda and Israel kingships always referenced each other to one another, it was sort of a dance back and forth to time-stamp the changes in leadership with the wildcard always being Assyria:

Now here is the splendid detail of Second Paralipomenon we see Ezechias, King of Juda, lead what looks to be  the reuniting and reunification of all Israel, both Juda and Jerusalem and Israel and Samaria!

Led by the spirit and through prayer the hearts of many can be changed… complete with the music of King David being brought back to life!

In the extracted inspirational words of the Bible:

And king Ezechias rising early, assembled all the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. And they offered together… for sin, for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, for Juda… and the priests took the blood, and they poured also their blood upon the altar… and the priests immolated them, and sprinkled their blood before the altar for an expiation of all Israel: for the king had commanded that the holocaust and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, according to the regulation of David the king… for it was a commandment of the Lord by the hand of his prophets. And the Levites stood, with the instruments of David, and the priests with trumpets… they began to sing praises to the Lord, and to sound with trumpets, and divers instruments which David the king of Israel had prepared. And all the multitude adored, and the singers, and the trumpeters, were in their office till the holocaust was finished. And when the oblation was ended, the king, and all that were with him bowed down and adored…

Ezechias, and all the people rejoiced because the ministry of the Lord was accomplished. For the resolution of doing this thing was taken suddenly.

And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel.

Ezechias… proclaiming: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians. Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the Lord the God of their fathers, and he hath given them up to destruction, as you see. Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.  For if you turn again to them your brethren, and children shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive, and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

But the hand of God was with Juda, to give them one heart to do the word of the Lord…

NOTE: action indicated with the words “to do,” inspired to act on the Scriptures, initiated by the heart!

The Lord  who is good will show mercy, to all them, who with their whole heart seek the Lord the God of their fathers… kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy, praising the Lord every day… during the seven days of the solemnity… And there was a great solemnity in Jerusalem, such as had not been in that city since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel… and their prayer came to the holy dwelling place of heaven.

Joy, Joy, Joy!!!

Perhaps a return to the remnant of your self is a prayerful, reuniting and reunification of Israel and perhaps with family and friends to eventually encompass the one hundred and ninety-five or so countries that make up our entire world!

Perhaps, as Ezechias did with spirit and prayer, or by way of The Third Testament of The Holy Spirit and our Splendid Spiritual Selves…

Day 153: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Return to the Remnant of You…a Prayerful Reuniting and Reunification of Israel!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 27-31

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 27: Joatham reigns well; Joatham defeats the Ammonites; Achaz succeeds Joatham.

Joatham was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem… And he did that which was right before the Lord, according to all that Ozias his father had done, only that he entered not into the temple of the Lord, and the people still transgressed. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and castles and towers in the forests.

He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame them… And Joatham was strengthened, because he had his way directed before the Lord his God.

Now the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all his wars, and his works, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda.

And Joatham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Achaz his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz)

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 28: Achaz reigns wickedly; Achaz defeated by Israel and Syria; Oded demands release of the captives; Captives released; Assyrians hired to aid Juda; Achaz becomes more idolatrous; Ezechias succeeds Achaz.

Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; moreover also he cast states for Baalim. It was he that burnt incense in the valley of Benennom, and consecrated his sons in the fire, according to the manner of the nations which the Lord slew at the coming of the children of Israel. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

And the Lord God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who defeated him, and took a great booty out of his kingdom, and carried it to Damascus: he was also delivered into the hands of the king of Israel, who overthrew him with a great slaughter… a hundred and twenty thousand in one day… And the children of Israel carried away of their brethren (children of Juda and Jerusalem) two hundred thousand women, boys, and girls, and an immense booty; and they brought it to Samaria.

At that time there was a prophet of the Lord there, whose name was Oded… and he said to them: Behold the Lord the God of your fathers being angry with Juda, hath delivered them into your hands, and you have butchered them cruelly, so that your cruelty hath reached up to heaven. Moreover you have a mind to keep under the children of Juda and Jerusalem for your bondmen and bondwomen, which ought not to be done: for you have sinned in this against the Lord your God. But hear ye my counsel, and release the captives that you have brought of your brethren, because a great indignation of the Lord hangeth over you.

The some of the chief men of the sons of Ephraim… stood up against them that came from the war. And they said to them: You shall not bring the captives hither, lest we sin against the Lord. Why will you add to our sins, and heap up upon our former offences? For the sin is great, and the fierce anger of the Lord hangeth over Israel. So the soldiers left the spoils, and all that was taken… clothed all then that were naked… anointed them because of their labor… and brought them down to the city of Jericho the city of palm trees to their brethren, and they returned to Samaria.

At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians asking help. And the Edomites came and slew many of Juda, and took a great booty. The Philistines also spread themselves among the cities of the plains, and to the south of Juda: and they took (six cities) with their villages, and they dwelt in them. For the Lord had humbled Juda because of Achaz the king of Juda, for he had stripped it of help, and had contemned the Lord… king of the Assyrians, who also afflicted him, and plundered him without resistance. And Achaz stripped the house of the Lord, and the house of the kings, and of the princes, and gave gifts to the king of the Assyrians, and yet it availed him nothing.

Contemned—to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt.

Moreover also in the time of his distress he increased contempt against the Lord: king Achaz himself by himself, sacrificed victims to the gods of Damascus that struck him, and he said: The gods of the kings of Syria help them, and I will appease them with victims, and they will help me; whereas on the contrary they were the ruin of him, and Israel. Then Achaz… shut up the doors of the temple of God… and he provoked the Lord the God of his fathers to wrath.

And Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: for they received him not into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. And Ezechias his son reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias)

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 29: Ezechias restores true worship; Priests and Levites purify the Temple; Offerings for sin; Temple music is reestablished; The multitude worship.

Now Ezechias began to reign, when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem.

In the first year and month of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them

Ezechias to the Levites: Hear me, ye Levites, and be sanctified, purify the house of the Lord the God of your fathers, and take away all filth out of the sanctuary.

Now therefore I have a mind that we make a covenant with the Lord the God of Israel, and he will turn away the wrath of his indignation from us. My sons, be not negligent: the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, and to minister to him, and to worship him, and to burn incense to him.

…and they purified the temple in eight days…

And king Ezechias rising early, assembled all the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. And they offered together… for sin, for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, for Juda… and the priests took the blood, and they poured also their blood upon the altar… and the priests immolated them, and sprinkled their blood before the altar for an expiation of all Israel: for the king had commanded that the holocaust and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

Expiation—the means by which atonement or reparation is made.

And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, according to the regulation of David the king… for it was a commandment of the Lord by the hand of his prophets. And the Levites stood, with the instruments of David, and the priests with trumpets… they began to sing praises to the Lord, and to sound with trumpets, and divers instruments which David the king of Israel had prepared. And all the multitude adored, and the singers, and the trumpeters, were in their office till the holocaust was finished. And when the oblation was ended, the king, and all that were with him bowed down and adored…

And Ezechias, and all the people rejoiced because the ministry of the Lord was accomplished. For the resolution of doing this thing was taken suddenly.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 30: Ezechias proclaims the Pasch; Ezechias letter of proclamation; Some mock at the Letter; Some fellow Ezechias’ proclamation; Idols in Jerusalem destroyed; Celebration of the Pasch; Paschal celebration prolonged.

And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel.

Ezechias… proclaiming: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians. Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the Lord the God of their fathers, and he hath given them up to destruction, as you see. Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.  For if you turn again to them your brethren, and children shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive, and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

But he hand of God was with Juda, to give them one heart to do the word of the Lord…

NOTE: action indicated with the words “to do.”

The Lord  who is good will show mercy, to all them, who with their whole heart seek the Lord the God of their fathers… kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy, praising the Lord every day… during the seven days of the solemnity… And there was a great solemnity in Jerusalem, such as had not been in that city since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel… and their prayer came to the holy dwelling place of heaven.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 31: Idolatry is abolished; Appointment of priests and Levites; Offerings and tithes; Distribution of offerings; Ezechias prospers.

…then all the children of Israel returned to their possessions and cities.

…for holocausts, and for peace offerings, to minister, and to praise, and to sing in the gates of the camp of the Lord… on the Sabbaths, and the new moons, and the other solemnities, as it is written in the law of Moses.

He commanded also the people that dwelt in Jerusalem… the children of Israel offered in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey: and brought the tithe of all things which the ground bringeth forth…

Since the firstfruits began to be offered in the house of the Lord, we have eaten, and have been filled, and abundance is left, because the Lord hath blessed his people: and of that which is left is this great store which thou seest.

Then Ezechias commanded to prepare storehouses in the house of the Lord. And when they had done so, they brought in faithfully both the firstfruits, and the tithes, and all they had vowed.

So Ezechias did all things which we have said in all of Juda, and wrought that which was good, and right, and truth, before the Lord his God, in all the service of the ministry of the house of the Lord according to the law and the ceremonies, desiring to seek his God with all his heart, and he did it and prospered.