Feeling good having progressed through the four books of kings. Brutal times and seemingly a ‘Bipolar God’ that alternatively love and hates his children on earth. Alternately love and hates at best, more like 20:1; bad to good ratio. How does one control a puppet without a string? How to control human beings from the inside-out with heart and soul first in a world that puts those sort of things last and materialism and self-gratification first?

I am excited to get through the darkness of this section of the bible, although there are spirited sections of the Old Testament, and I am alternating (truly alternating, ratio: 1:1) New Testament to Old.

Yet now it seems that in the Books of Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings, we are thrust backwards to the genealogy of man and posterity of Adam as if we were back at the Book of Genesis.

The two Books of Paralipomenon also repeat much from previous books. The first Book of Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

That, in terms of the Old Testament is from the start of Genesis to the second chapter of Third Kings and all the books in between. In my Bible this is all of the first 284 pages.

 

But let’s be open-minded and see where God will lead us in His Scriptures, His Word aided by the love of Jesus and the spirit of The Holy Spirit.

Day 2: NT Matthew C1-2; Ancestry begots Inspiration…

We think of ancestry as being only in the Old Testament since the New Testament of Jesus was only three years of his life in duration—with all the places and people already fully developed. But ‘Ancestry begots Inspiration’ as I found out while ironically reading my first passage in the New Testament.

So here we go to be inspired by God’s Word starting in the first chapter of the First Book of Paralipomenon. After all we don’t want to miss a bit of inspiration, omitted or otherwise:

Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Malaleel, Jared, Henoc, Mathusale, Lamech, Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japeth.

Remember that Eve and Adam had two sons initially. Their first-born Cain rose up against his brother Abel and slew him in the field. Cain went out from the face of the Lord and dwelt as a fugitive on the earth. Cain did marry and had a son who had a son and a posterity of his own. I wonder what happened to Cain’s descendants?

Like most all, they likely were consumed in the Great Flood.

Afterwards Eve and Adam had a third son named Seth as witnessed above.

Noe the tenth in succession of Adam built the ark and survived the Great Flood!

Like most families the same name is used more than once over the generations. The first such note of this in the bible is the Lamech. On the one side it was Adam—Cain—Henoch—Irad—Maviael—Mathusael—Lamech; the seventh in line versus ninth in the Adam—Seth lineage. No particular reason to mention just part of digesting the bible for me!

Beyond the genealogy and posterity and the tidbits of connection found below in the Bible Notes, the power of prayer is re-emphasized once again in this part of the bible:

And the Agarites were delivered into their hands, and all that were with them, because they called upon God in the battle: and he heard them, because they had put their faith in him.

Still have to do the work, exercise free will, consider alternatives, and make choices but in reality prayer is powerful!

Praying from the inside-out, being your Splendid Spiritual Self, whether omitted from being a king, all things are present in life as we live it as the children of God!

For this and an intimate, loving, and directional relationship with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit; for this I pray!

Amen! Alleluia!

Day 135: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Omitted from Kings; Things Present in the Children of God…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 1-5

Bible Notes:

This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 1: Genealogy from Adam to Noe; Posterity of Jupheth: Posterity of Cham; Posterity of Sem; From Sem to Abraham; Posterity of Abraham though Ismahel; Posterity of Abraham and Cetura; Posterity of Abraham though Isaac; Posterity of Seir; Kings of Edom; Dules of Edom.

Genealogy—a record or account of the ancestry and descent of a person, family, group, etc.; the study of family ancestries and histories; descent from an original form or progenitor; lineage; ancestry.

Posterity—succeeding or future generations collectively; all descendants of one person.

Adam, Seth Enos, Cainan, Malaleel, Jared, Henoc, Mathusale, Lamech, Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japeth.

Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

…and Casluim: from whom came the Philistines…

…the name of one was Phaleg, because in his days the earth was divided…

And these are the generations of them…

And Abraham begot Isaac: and his sons were Esau and Israel (Jacob)…

And the sister of Lotan was Thamma…

Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Eden, before there was a king over the children of Israel… reigned in his stead…

…there began to be dukes in Edom instead of kings…

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 2: The twelve sons of Jacob; Posterity of Juda; Sons of Hesron through Ram; Sons of Hesron through Caleb; Sone of Hesron through Jerameel; Other sons of Caleb, through Mesa; Other sons of Caleb, by Epha and Maacha; Other sons of Caleb, through Hur.

And these are the sons of Israel (Jacob): Ruben, Someon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, and Zabullon, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephtali, Gad, and Aser.

The sons of Juda: Her, Onan, and Sela.

And Her, the firstborn of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him.

…Achar, who troubled Israel, and sinned by the theft of the anathema.

Anathema– a person or thing detested or loathed; a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction; a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication; any imprecation of divine punishment; a curse; execration.

…begot…begot…begot…begot…begot…

And Epha the concubine of Caleb, bore Haran, and Mosa, and Gezez.

And Maacha the concubine of Caleb bore Saber, and Tharana…

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 3: Sons of David; David’s line to Sedecias; Posterity of Jechonias.

Now these were the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon of Achinoam; the second Daniel of Abigail; the third Absalom the son of Maacha; the fourth Adonias the son of Aggith; the fifth Saphatias of Abital; the sixth Jethrahem of Egla his wife.

So six sons were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months.

And in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years.

And these sons were born to him in Jerusalem: Simmaa, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bethsabee… Jebaar also and Elisama, and Eliphaleth, and Noge, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elisama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth, nine.

All these sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines: and they had a sister Thamar.

By my math that makes—six plus—four plus—nine is nineteen sons plus the sons of the concubines and one daughter Thamar. Poor Thamar, no sister and she grew up with nineteen-plus brothers!

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 4: Posterity of Juda; Posterity of Assur; Prayer of Jabes; Posterity of Caleb, brother of Sua; Posterity of Cenez; Posterity of Caleb, son of Jephone; Posterity of Simeon; Cities of Simeon; Princes of Simeon; Simeon takes Gador and Mount Seir.

The sons of Juda… and the name of their sister was Asalelphuni.

And Jabes was more honorable than any of his brethren, and his mother called him Jabes, saying: Because I bore him with sorrow.

I could be named Jabes as both of my mother’s parents had passed within four weeks of my birth. Both of my father’s parents would pass within four years of my birth. Without grandparents as I.

And Jabes called upon the God of Israel, saying: If blessing thou wilt bless me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and they hand be with me, and thou save me from being oppressed by evil. And God granted him the things he prayed for.

…begat Joab the father of the Valley of artificers: for artificers were there.

Now these are things of old.

These were their cities unto the reign of David… This was their habitation, and the distribution of their dwellings.

These were named princes in their kindreds, and in the houses of their families were multiplied exceedingly.

And they went forth to enter into Gador as far as to the east side of the valley, to seek pastures for their flocks… And these whose names are written above, came in the days of Ezechias king of Juda: and they beat down their tents, and slew the inhabitants that were found there, and utterly destroyed them unto this day: and they dwelt in their place, because they found there fat pastures… and they slew the remnant of the Amalecites, who had been able to escape and they dwelt there in their stead unto this day.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 5: Sons of Ruben; Sons of Gad; Conquests of Ruben, Gad, and Manasses; Chiefs of the half tribe of Manasses; Captivity of Ruben, gad, and Manasses.

Now the sons of Ruben, the firstborn of Israel (Jacob) (for he was his firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his first birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel (Jacob), and he was not accounted for the firstborn. But the race of Juda, who was strongest among his brethren, came the princes: but the first birthright was accounted to Joseph.)

From Genesis, Chapter 35:   …Ruben went, and slept with Bala, the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of.

And in the day of Saul…

And the children of God dwelt over against them in the land of Basan…

All these were numbered in the days of Joathan king of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

And the Agarites were delivered into their hands, and all that were with them, because they called upon God in the battle: and he heard them, because they had put their faith in him.

And many fell down slain: for it was the battle of the Lord. And they dwelt in their stead till the captivity (of Assyria for Israel/Samaria and of Babylon for Juda/Jerusalem).

But they forsook the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

 

 

 

The spirit, likely The Holy Spirit, abounds in the words of the Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans—the holiness of his spirit—whom I serve in my spirit—spiritual grace unto you to strengthen you—and a matter of the heart in the spirit…

What does being spiritual mean?

Is just being spiritual a way to attain immortality—life forever?

Thoughts and comments intermixed with the words of Saint Paul The Apostle:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to Jew first and then to Greek. For in it the justice of God is revealed, from faith unto faith, as it is written, “He who is just lives by faith.”

Justification by faith—the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin.

Is belief enough? Are good works needed?

What does “live by faith” mean in today’s world?

Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle… among you also, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. To Greeks and to foreigners, to learned and unlearned, I am a debtor…

No doubt Paul was a debtor after persecuting so many Christians earlier in his life.

Today, this would be like the equivalent of a comeback by Bernard Madoff to become the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Paul was in debt, Jesus made him realize that he owed society a great deal. Not only was Paul turned around but he ended up leading the pack in the right direction:

Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whoever thou art who judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou dost condemn thyself. For thou who judgest dost the same things thyself.

The long version of those who live in glass houses should not throw stones:

Does thou not know that the goodness of God is meant to lead thee to repentance?

His love overwhelms us in so doing… and for good reason—there will be a Judgment Day:

…and of the revelation of the just judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his works. Life eternal indeed he will give to those who by patience in good works seek glory and honor and immortality… Tribulation and anguish shall be visited upon the soul of every man who works evil… But glory and honor and peace shall be awarded to everyone who does good…

The following is the insight into logic or the lack thereof… an association of two things does not imply a cause-and-effect relationship… and what is logical may or may not be heartfelt. Start with the heart:

For it is not they who hear the Law that are just in the sight of God; but it is they who follow the Law that will be justified. When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the Law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the Law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them, even when conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them. This will take place of the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden secrets of men through Jesus Christ.

 

I did not know that the Gentiles had no law like the Jews and relied on doing things naturally?

We better find the hidden secrets in our life before God judges them even if they are secrets to us. Come out of our Sully Egos, Denial, Justification and Rationalization.

…a teacher of children, having in the Law the pattern of knowledge and truth. Thou therefore who teaches another, dost thou not teach thyself?

Yes we should all teach ourselves and who better to learn from than ourselves if we can get out of our selfish perspectives and see things objectively and honestly as they are. Most importantly our thoughts, our emotions, our words spoken, and our behavior. Always best to be and learn from the inside-out utilizing this opportunity to read, meditate and internalize The Spiritual Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans.

Day 136: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spiritual Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 1-2.

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 1:  Greeting; Commendation and desire to visit them; Why he wishes to visit them; Theme of the epistle; The pagans adore idols; Punishment of idolaters.

Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle…

…his son… who was foreordained Son of God by an act of power in keeping with the holiness of his spirit, by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received the grace of apostleship to bring about obedience to faith among all the nations for his name’s sake…grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

First I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you… For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son… For I long to see you that I may impact some spiritual grace unto you to strengthen you…

…among you also, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. To Greeks and to foreigners, to learned and unlearned, I am a debtor…

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to Jew first and then to Greek. For in it the justice of God is revealed, from faith unto faith, as it is written, “He who is just lives by faith.”

For since the creation of the world his (God’s) invisible attributes are clearly seen…

…these men who in wickedness hold back the truth of God… and their senseless minds have been darkened. For while professing to be wise, they have become fools… Therefore God has given them up in the lustful desires of their heart to uncleanliness, so that they dishonor their own bodies among themselves—they who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator… men with men doing shameless things and receiving in themselves the fitting recompense of their perversity… they have not understood that those who practise such things are deserving of death. And not only do they do these things, but they applaud others doing them.

Romans Chapter 2:  All will be rewarded or punished; Gentiles to be judged by the natural law; The Jews transgress the Law; True circumcision.

Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whoever thou art who judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou dost condemn thyself. For thou who judgest dost the same things thyself.

Does thou not know that the goodness of God is meant to lead thee to repentance?

…and of the revelation of the just judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his works. Life eternal indeed he will give to those who by patience in good works seek glory and honor and immortality… Tribulation and anguish shall be visited upon the soul of every man who works evil… But glory and honor and peace shall be awarded to everyone who does good…

For it is not they who hear the Law that are just in the sight of God; but it is they who follow the Law that will be justified. When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the Law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the Law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them, even when conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them. This will take place of the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden secrets of men through Jesus Christ.

…a teacher of children, having in the Law the pattern of knowledge and truth. Thou therefore who teaches another, dost thou not teach thyself?

Circumcision, indeed, profits if thou keep the Law; but it thou be a transgressor of the Law, thy circumcision has become uncircumcision… but he is a Jew who is so inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter. His praise is not from men but from God.

It’s not remedial at all!

Rather the redo and reread of the bible up to the death of Saul at the end of First Kings is informative being from a different perspective and with more details.

More words from the bible with my occasional reaction, thoughts, and prayers. For isn’t all bible reading, study, and spiritual digestion prayerful and contemplative?

Now the sons of Issachar were… Of the posterity of Thola were numbered in the days of David, two and twenty thousand six hundred most valiant men. The sons of Ozi… five all great men. And there were with them by their families and peoples, six and thirty thousand most valiant men ready for war: for they had many wives and children. Their brethren also throughout all the house of Issachar, were numbered fourscore and seven thousand most valiant men for war.

It seems almost as if many wives and many children to build up the number of valiant men for war was the thing in those days. In stark contrast to limited family sizes to control the population explosion and awareness of limited resource thoughts of this day. Is the Universe really limited in any way? Is God limited in any way?

There is much more detail here in 1 Paralipomenon about the tabernacle of the house of the Lord and all the people involved and their various roles. This illuminates the temple for me to the extent that I can feel the spirit of the operation of the temple as though I was there in biblical times:

These they are, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the ark was placed, and they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem…

Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

And of the priests… And their brethren heads in their families a thousand seven hundred and threescore, very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God.

And of the Levites… Sellum was the prince, until that time, in the king’s gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited by their turns… the Corites were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord… was porter of the gate of the tabernacle of the testimony. All these were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred and twelve: and they registered in their proper towns… to keep the gates of the house of the Lord, and the tabernacle by their turns. In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east, and west, and north, and south. And their brothers dwelt in villages, and came upon their Sabbath days from time to time. To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures, of the house of the Lord. And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.

And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry… Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. And the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices… were over the loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every Sabbath.

These are the chief of the singing men of the families of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually day and night in their ministry. The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem.

And the people were counted and their number recorded throughout this section of the bible. Takes me back to Numbers and the censuses conducted by Moses:

Day 55: OT Numbers C26-30; Another Census; Moses Serves the Lord to the End!

The domination of the Philistines over the Israelites is replayed here as well. Including the death of Saul and his transgressions:

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded… And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, and they killed… the sons of Saul. And the battle grew hard against Saul, and the archers reached him, and wounded him with arrows. And Saul said to his armorbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was struck with fear; so Saul took his sword, and fell upon it… So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell together… they (men of Israel) forsook their cities, and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.

And the next day the Philistines taking away the spoils of them that were slain, found Saul… stripped him, and cut off his head, and taken away his armor, they sent it to their land to be carried about, and shown in the temples of the idols and to the people. And his armor they dedicated in the temple of their gods, and his head they fastened up in the temple of Dagon.

So Saul died for his iniquities, because he transgressed the commandment of the Lord, which he had commanded, and kept it not, and moreover consulted also a witch, and trusted not in the Lord: therefore he slew him, and transferred his kingdom to David the son of Isai.

Which takes us to the end of First Kings…

Day 101: OT First Kings C25-31 (END); Philistines Defeat Israel, Kill Saul; David is Living.

Somewhat remedial Old Testament testimony up to the death of Saul. But like the light of a new day there is always something new to see, experience and inspire us if we are willing to look at life in a spiritual way with an open-mind and an open-heart…

Day 137: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Remedial Old Testament Up to the Death of Saul…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 6-10

Bible Notes:

This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 6: Family of Aaron; Sons of Gerson, Coath, And Merari; The chief singers of the Temple; The Levites; The high priests; Cities of the Priests; Cities of the Levites.

The sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari… begot… begot… begot… Johanan begot Azarias. This is he that executed the priestly office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem… Now Josedec went out, when the Lord carried away Juda, and Jerusalem, by the hands of Nabuchodonoser.

So the sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari…

?Didin’t we just say that?

…And these are the kindreds of Levi according to their families…

Oh…

These they are, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the ark was placed, and they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem…

Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines, to wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they fell to them by lot… and the suburbs thereof round about, but the fields of the city… all the cities throughout their families were thirteen.

And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities, and their suburbs…

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 7: Posterity of Issachar; Posterity of Benjamin; Posterity of Nephtali; Posterity of Manasses; Posterity of Ephraim; Possessions of the tribe of Ephraim; Posterity of Aser.

Now the sons of Issachar were… Of the posterity of Thola were numbered in the days of David, two and twenty thousand six hundred most valiant men. The sons of Ozi… five all great men. And there were with them by their families and peoples, six and thirty thousand most valiant men ready for war: for they had many wives and children, Their brethren also throughout all the house of Issachar, were numbered fourscore and seven thousand most valiant men for war.

The sons of Benjamin were… five chiefs of their families, and most valiant warriors, and their number was twenty-two thousand and thirty-four… And they were numbered by their families, heads of their kindreds, most valiant men for war, twenty thousand and two hundred… heads of their kindreds, most valiant men, seventeen thousand and two hundred fir to go out to war.

…and his concubine the Syrian bore…

…and the men of Geth born in the land slew them, because they came down to invade their possessions. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort them. And he went in to his wife; and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beria, because he was born when it went evil with his house.

And their possessions and habitations…

All these were sons of Aser, heads of their families, choice and most valiant captains of captains: and the number of them that were of the age that was fit for war, was six and twenty thousand.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 8: Posterity of Benjamin; Sons of Ahod; Sons of Saharim; Other chiefs of Benjamin; Genealogy of Saul.

These were the chief fathers, and heads of their families who dwelt in Jerusalem.

…and they dwelt over against their brethren in Jerusalem with their brethren…

And the sons of Ulam were most valiant men, and archers of great strength: and they had many sons and grandsons, even to a hundred and fifty. And these were the children of Benjamin.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 9: Inhabitants of Jerusalem; Sons of Juda; Sons of Benjamin; Priests; Levites; Porters in Jerusalem; Duties of certain Levites; Singing men in Jerusalem; Genealogy of Saul.

And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in the book of the kings of Israel, and Juda: and they were carried away to Babylon for their transgression. Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities, were the…

And their brethren by their families, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these were heads of their families, by the houses of their fathers.

And of the priests… And their brethren heads in their families a thousand seven hundred and threescore, very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God.

And of the Levites… Sellum was the prince, until that time, in the king’s gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited by their turns… the Corites were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord… was porter of the gate of the tabernacle of the testimony. All these were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred and twelve: and they registered in their proper towns… to keep the gates of the house of the Lord, and the tabernacle by their turns. In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east, and west, and north, and south. And their brothers dwelt in villages, and came upon their Sabbath days from time to time. To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures, of the house of the Lord. And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.

And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry… Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. And the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices… were over the loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every Sabbath.

These are the chief of the singing men of the families of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually day and night in their ministry. The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem.

…these dwelt over against their brethren in Jerusalem, with their brethren.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 10: The death of Saul; Philistines triumph over Saul’s body; Burial of Saul and his sons; The sins of Saul.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded… And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, and they killed… the sons of Saul. And the battle grew hard against Saul, and the archers reached him, and wounded him with arrows. And Saul said to his armorbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was struck with fear; so Saul took his sword, and fell upon it… So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell together… they (men of Israel) forsook their cities, and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.

And the next day the Philistines taking away the spoils of them that were slain, found Saul… stripped him, and cut off his head, and taken away his armor, they sent it to their land to be carried about, and shown in the temples of the idols and to the people. And his armor they dedicated in the temple of their gods, and his head they fastened up in the temple of Dagon.

And when the men of Jabes Galaad had heard this, to wit, all that the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men of them arose, and took the bodies of Saul and of his sons, and brought them to Jabes, and buried their bones under the oak that was in Jabes, and they fasted seven days.

So Saul died for his iniquities, because he transgressed the commandment of the Lord, which he had commanded, and kept it not, and moreover consulted also a witch, and trusted not in the Lord: therefore he slew him, and transferred his kingdom to David the son of Isai.

As with Jesus’ words in the gospels, Paul’s words to the Romans are pure gold, pure spiritual enlightenment and are presented here without comment, although there are highlights of words that enlightened me, and one underlined section:

Objections answered:

What advantage then remains to the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? Much in every respect. First, indeed, because the oracles of God were entrusted to them. For what if some of them have now believed? Will their unbelief make void the fidelity of God? By no means! For God is true, and every man is a liar, as it is written, “That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest be victorious when thou art judged.” But if our wickedness shows forth the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts Punishment? (I speak after a purely human manner.) By no means! Otherwise, how is God to judge the world? But if through my lie the truth of God has abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why should we not, as some calumniously accuse us of teaching, do evil that good may come from it? The condemnation of such is just.

The Scriptures attest universal sin:

What then? Are we better off than they? Not at all.

For we have argued that Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written, “There is not one just man; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. All have gone astray together; they have become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not even one… Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways. And the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This concerns the Jews:

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it is speaking to those who are under the Law; in order that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world may be made subject to God. For by the works of the Law no human being shall be justified before him, for through law comes the recognition of sin.

Justice comes through faith in Christ:

But now the justice of God has been made manifest independently of the Law, being attested by the Law and the Prophets; the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ upon all who believe. For there is no distinction, as all have sinned and have need of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith, to manifest his justice, God in his patience remitting former sins; to manifest his justice at the present time, so that he himself is just, and makes just him who has faith in Jesus.

Justification excludes boasting:

Where then is thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we reckon that a man is justified by faith independently of the works of the Law. Is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles also? Indeed of the Gentiles also. For there is but one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through the same faith. Do we therefore through faith destroy the Law? By no means! Rather we establish the Law.

Abraham justified by faith:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, acquired? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has reason to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as justice.” Now to him who works, the reward is not credited as a favor but as something due. But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is credited to him as justice. Thus David declares the blessedness of the man to whom God credits justice without works: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not credit sin.”

Not justified by the works of the Law:  

For not through the Law but through the justice of faith was the promise made to Abraham… For if they who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made empty, the promise is made void. For the Law works wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there transgression, Therefore the promise was the outcome of faith, that it might be a favor, in order that it might be secure for all the offspring, not only for those who are of the Law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all; as it is written, “I have appointed thee the father of many nations.” He is our father in sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

The strength of his faith:

Abraham hoping against hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall thy offspring be.” And without weakening in faith, he considered his own deadened body (for he was almost one hundred years old) and the deadened womb of Sara; and yet in view of the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, being fully aware that whatever God has promised he is able also to perform. Therefore it was credited to him as justice.

The model of our faith:

Now not only for his sake only was it written that “It was credited to him,” but for the sale of us also, to whom it will be credited if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.

Having been justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith unto that grace in which we stand, and exult in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only this, but we exult in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works out endurance, and endurance tried virtue, and tried virtue hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For why did Christ, at the set time, die for the wicked when as yet we were weak? For scarcely in behalf of a just man does one die; yet perhaps one might bring himself to die for a good man. But God commends his charity towards us, because when as yet we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ’s death assures us salvation:

Much more now that we are justified by his blood, shall we be saved through him from wrath. For if when we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. And not this only, but we exult also in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

In Adam all have sinned:

Therefore as though one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned—for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed when there was no law; yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.

Grace and life superabound through Christ:

But not like the offense is the gift. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more has the grace of God, and the gift in the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded unto many. Nor is the gift as it was in the case of one man’s sin, for the judgment was from one man unto condemnation, but grace is from many offenses unto justification. For if by reason of the one man’s offense death reigned through the one man, much more will they who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of justice reign in the life through the one Jesus Christ. Therefore as from the offense of one man the result was unto condemnation of all men, so from the justice of the one the result is unto justification of life to all men. For just as by the disobedience of the one man the many were constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted just.

Purpose of the Law:

Now the Law intervened that the offense might abound. But where the offense has abounded, grace has abounded yet more; so that sin has reigned unto death, so also grace may reign by justice unto life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen! Alleluia!

As it is Written; By No Means is Any Comment Necessary!

Day 138: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; As it is Written; By No Means is Any Comment Necessary!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 3-5.

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 3:  Objections answered; The Scriptures attest universal sin; This concerns the Jews; Justice comes through faith in Christ; Justification excludes boasting.

Objections answered:

What advantage then remains to the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? Much in every respect. First, indeed, because the oracles of God were entrusted to them. For what if some of them have now believed? Will their unbelief make void the fidelity of God? By no means! For God is true, and every man is a liar, as it is written, “That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest be victorious when thou art judged.” But if our wickedness shows forth the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts Punishment? (I speak after a purely human manner.) By no means! Otherwise, how is God to judge the world? But if through my lie the truth of God has abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why should we not, as some calumniously accuse us of teaching, do evil that good may come from it? The condemnation of such is just.

The Scriptures attest universal sin:

What then? Are we better off than they? Not at all.

For we have argued that Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written, “There is not one just man; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. All have gone astray together; they have become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not even one… Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways. And the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This concerns the Jews:

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it is speaking to those who are under the Law; in order that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world may be made subject to God. For by the works of the Law no human being shall be justified before him, for through law comes the recognition of sin.

Justice comes through faith in Christ:

But now the justice of God has been made manifest independently of the Law, being attested by the Law and the Prophets; the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ upon all who believe. For there is no distinction, as all have sinned and have need of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith, to manifest his justice, God in his patience remitting former sins; to manifest his justice at the present time, so that he himself is just, and makes just him who has faith in Jesus.

Justification excludes boasting:

Where then is thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we reckon that a man is justified by faith independently of the works of the Law. Is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles also? Indeed of the Gentiles also. For there is but one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through the same faith. Do we therefore through faith destroy the Law? By no means! Rather we establish the Law.

Romans Chapter 4:  Abraham justified by faith; Justified before circumcision; Not justified by the works of the Law; The strength of his faith; The model of our faith.

Abraham justified by faith:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, acquired? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has reason to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as justice.” Now to him who works, the reward is not credited as a favor but as something due. But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is credited to him as justice. Thus David declares the blessedness of the man to whom God credits justice without works: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not credit sin.”

Justified before circumcision:

For we say that unto Abraham faith was credited as justice. How then was it credited? When he was in the state of circumcision or in the uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision as the seal of justice of faith which he had while uncircumcised.

Not justified by the works of the Law:  

For not through the Law but through the justice of faith was the promise made to Abraham… For if they who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made empty, the promise is made void. For the Law works wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there transgression, Therefore the promise was the outcome of faith, that it might be a favor, in order that it might be secure for all the offspring, not only for those who are of the Law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all; as it is written, “I have appointed thee the father of many nations.” He is our father in sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

The strength of his faith:

Abraham hoping against hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall thy offspring be.” And without weakening in faith, he considered his own deadened body (for he was almost one hundred years old) and the deadened womb of Sara; and yet in view of the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, being fully aware that whatever God has promised he is able also to perform. Therefore it was credited to him as justice.

The model of our faith:

Now not only for his sake only was it written that “It was credited to him,” but for the sale of us also, to whom it will be credited if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.

Romans Chapter 5:  Christ’s death assures us hope and peace; Christ’s death assures us salvation; In Adam all have sinned; Grace and life superabound through Christ; Purpose of the Law.

Christ’s death assures us hope and peace:

Having been justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith unto that grace in which we stand, and exult in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only this, but we exult in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works out endurance, and endurance tried virtue, and tried virtue hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For why did Christ, at the set time, die for the wicked when as yet we were weak? For scarcely in behalf of a just man does one die; yet perhaps one might bring himself to die for a good man. But God commends his charity towards us, because when as yet we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ’s death assures us salvation:

Much more now that we are justified by his blood, shall we be saved through him from wrath. For if when we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. And not this only, but we exult also in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

In Adam all have sinned:

Therefore as though one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned—for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed when there was no law; yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.

Grace and life superabound through Christ:

But not like the offense is the gift. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more has the grace of God, and the gift in the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded unto many. Nor is the gift as it was in the case of one man’s sin, for the judgment was from one man unto condemnation, but grace is from many offenses unto justification. For if by reason of the one man’s offense death reigned through the one man, much more will they who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of justice reign in the life through the one Jesus Christ. Therefore as from the offense of one man the result was unto condemnation of all men, so from the justice of the one the result is unto justification of life to all men. For just as by the disobedience of the one man the many were constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted just.

Purpose of the Law:

Now the Law intervened that the offense might abound. But where the offense has abounded, grace has abounded yet more; so that sin has reigned unto death, so also grace may reign by justice unto life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Well there is certainly new material in First Paralipomenon

As great as King David’s Canticle of Thanksgiving from Second Kings (linked below) is; King David’s Psalm of Praise in First Paralipomenon (shown below) is as remarkable if not more! Lots of familiar phrases that I have heard and prayed over the years!

Day 111: OT Second Kings C21-24 (END); King David’s Canticle of Thanksgiving to the Lord!

Psalm of Praise:

Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations. Sing to him, yes, sing praises to him: and relate all this wondrous works. Praise ye his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the Lord. Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore. Remember his wondrous works, which he hath done: his signs, and the judgments of his mouth. O ye seed of Israel his servants: ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. Remember for ever his covenant; the word, which he commanded in a thousand generations. The covenant which he made with Abraham; and his oath to Isaac. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a precept: and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan: the lot of your inheritance.

When they were but a small number; very few and sojourners in it. And they passed from nation to nation: and from kingdom to another people. He suffered no man to do them wrong; and reproved kings for their sake. Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.

Sing ye to the Lord, al l he earth: show forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the Gentiles, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised: and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Praise and magnificence are before him: strength and joy in his place.

Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations bring ye to the Lord glory and empire. Give to the Lord glory to his name, bring up the sacrifice, and come ye in his sight; and adore the Lord in holy becomingness. Let all the earth be moved at his presence; for he hath founded the world immovable. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad: and let them say among the nations: The Lord hath reigned, Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all things that are in him. Then shall the trees of the wood give praise before the Lord: because he is come to judge the earth.

Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye: Save us O God our savior: and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations: that we may give glory to the holy name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: and let all the people say, Amen, and (sing) a hymn to God.

David had what seemed like unanimous support of all the nations of Israel. People came to him and he used his heart and the heart of others to make commitments and was an inspiring leader. David praised his warriors. He routinely prayed to the Lord in battle with the Philistines. He was musically inclined and brought singing and instruments into the worshipping of God! Likely the most joyous time of all of the history of Israel?

Here are the supporting words of the above editorial comments direct from the bible:

…David made a covenant with them before the Lord: and they anointed him king over Israel according to the word of Lord which he spoke in the hand of Samuel.

…And this is the number of the heroes of David… he lifted up his spear against three hundred wounded by him at one time… Who was one of the three mighties… Bit these men stood in the midst of the field, and defended it: and they slew the Philistines, and the Lord gave a great deliverance to his people… he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew… but yet he attained not the first three… and he went down, and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow. And he slew an Egyptian, whose statue was of five cubits… but yet to the three he attained not: and David made him of his council.

And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas; have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge. But the spirit came upon… the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine O David, and for thee… Peace, peace be to thee, and peace be to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.

These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.

And the Philistines hearing that David was anointed king over all Israel, went all up to seek him: and David heard of it, and went out against them… And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy hand… David defeated them… And they left there their gods, and David commanded that they should be burnt.

Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves broad in the valley. And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them; turn away from them and come upon them over against the pear trees… For God has gone out before thee to strike the army of the Philistines. And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of the Philistines… And the name of David became famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.

David also at this time moved the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord God of Israel to Jerusalem from Juda. Then he offered to the Lord to build a house for the Ark of covenant. At first God said no but then he said yes according to Nathan the Prophet.

David praises the Lord, assembles the Army of God, defeats the Philistines twice in battle and is ready to build a house (temple) for the Ark of the Covenant!

Day 139: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; David Praises the Lord & Assembles the Army of God!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 11-17

Bible Notes:

This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 11: David anointed king; David captures the castle of Sion; Jesboam and Eleazar; Three brave captains; Renown of Abisai; Bravery of Banaias; Valiant men of the army.

…David made a covenant with them before the Lord: and they anointed him king over Israel according to the word of Lord which he spoke in the hand of Samuel.

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebusm where the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land… Bit David took the castle of Sion, which is the city of David… And David went on growing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him.

…And this is the number of the heroes of David… he lifted up his spear against three hundred wounded by him at one time… Who was one of the three mighties… Bit these men stood in the midst of the field, and defended it: and they slew the Philistines, and the Lord gave a great deliverance to his people… he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew… but yet he attained not the first three… and he went down, and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow. And he slew an Egyptian, whose statue was of five cubits… but yet to the three he attained not: and David made him of his council.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 12: Warriors who came to David at Siceleg; Chiefs who came to David at Hebron.

Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet fled from Saul… and they were the most valiant and excellent warriors, a bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows… the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty… also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains… these were the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over one hundred soldiers, and the greatest over one thousand. These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it used to flow over its banks: and they put to fight all that dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and the west…

And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas; have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge. But the spirit came upon… the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine O David, and for thee… Peace, peace be to thee, and peace be to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.

These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.

And this is the number of the chiefs of the army that came to David… to transfer to him the kingdom to Saul, according to the word of the Lord… to his aid, with no double heart… to make David king over all Israel:  and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. And they were there with David three days eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them… for there was joy in Israel.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 13: The Ark is taken from Cariathiarim; Oza is slain for touching the Ark; The Ark is placed in the house of Obededom.

And he said to all the assembly of Israel: If it please you, and if the words which I speak come from the Lord our God… let us bring the Ark of our god to us: for we sought it not in the days of Saul… to bring the Ark of God from Cariathiarim… And David went up with all the men of Israel to the hill of Cariathiarim which is in Juda, to bring thence the Ark of the Lord God sitting upon the cherubims, where his name is called upon.

And they carries the Ark of God upon a new cart… And David and all Israel played before God with all their might with hymns, and with harps, and with psalteries, and timbrels, and cymbals, and trumpets… Oza put forth his hand, to hold up the Ark… And the Lord was angry with Oza, and struck him, because he had touched the Ark; and he died there before the Lord. And David was troubled because the Lord had divided Oza; and he called that place the Breach of Oza to this day. And he feared God at that time, saying: How can I bring in the Ark of God to me? And therefore he brought it not home to himself, that is, into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gethite. And the Ark of God remained in the house of Obededom three months: and the Lord blessed his house, and all that he had.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 14: Hiram’s kindness to David; Birth of David’s children; David defeats the Philistines; David again defeats the Philistines.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted over his people Israel.

And David took wives in Jerusalem: and he begot sons, and daughters.

And the Philistines hearing that David was anointed king over all Israel, went all up to seek him: and David heard of it, and went out against them… And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy hand… David defeated them… And they left there their gods, and David commanded that they should be burnt.

Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves broad in the valley. And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them; turn away from them and come upon them over against the pear trees… For God has gone out before thee to strike the army of the Philistines. And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of the Philistines… And the name of David became famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 15: Moving the Ark to Jerusalem; The Levites carry the Ark; Musicians and singers with the Ark; The Ark is brought to Jerusalem; Michol despises David.

He made also houses for himself in the city of David: and built a place for the Ark of God, and pitched a tabernacle for it. Then David said: No one ought to carry the Ark of God, but the Levites, whom the Lord hath chosen to carry it, and to minister unto himself for ever… Lest the Lord at first struck us, because you were not present, the same should now also come to pass, by our doing something against the law. So the priests and the Levites were sanctified, to carry the Ark of the Lord the God of Israel.

And David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites, to appoint some of their brethren to be singers with musical instruments, to wit, on psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, that joyful music might resound on high… Now the singers… sounded with cymbals of brass… sung mysteries upon psalteries… sung a song of victory for the octave upon harps… presided over the prophecy, to give out the tunes for he was very skillful… sounded with trumpets… went to bring the Ark of Covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy… And all Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and sounding with the sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and cymbals, and psalteries, and harps.

And when the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was come to the city of David, Michol the daughter of Saul looking out a window, saw King David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 16: The Ark is placed in the tabernacle; Levites to minister before the Ark; Psalm of praise; Those in service of the Ark.

So they brought the Ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent, which David had pitched for it: and they offered holocausts, and peace offerings before God… he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. And he divided to all and every one, both men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and flour fried with oil.

And he appointed Levites to minister before the Ark of the Lord, and to remember his works, and to glorify, and praise the Lord God of Israel.

Psalm of Praise:

Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations. Sing to him, yes, sing praises to him: and relate all this wondrous works. Praise ye his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the Lord. Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore. Remember his wondrous works, which he hath done: his signs, and the judgments of his mouth. O ye seed of Israel his servants: ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. Remember for ever his covenant; the word, which he commanded in a thousand generations. The covenant which he made with Abraham; and his oath to Isaac. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a precept: and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan: the lot of your inheritance.

When they were but a small number; very few and sojourners in it. And they passed from nation to nation: and from kingdom to another people. He suffered no man to do them wrong; and reproved kings for their sake. Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.

Sing ye to the Lord, al l he earth: show forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the Gentiles, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised: and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Praise and magnificence are before him: strength and joy in his place.

Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations bring ye to the Lord glory and empire. Give to the Lord glory to his name, bring up the sacrifice, and come ye in his sight; and adore the Lord in holy becomingness. Let all the earth be moved at his presence; for he hath founded the world immovable. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad: and let them say among the nations: The Lord hath reigned, Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all things that are in him. Then shall the trees of the wood give praise before the Lord: because he is come to judge the earth.

Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye: Save us O God our savior: and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations: that we may give glory to the holy name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: and let all the people say, Amen, and a hymn to God.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 17: David proposes to build a Temple; God forbids David to build a Temple; Prosperity promised to David’s posterity; David’s prayer of thanksgiving.

Now when David was dwelling in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet: Behold I dwell in a house of cedar: and the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord is under skins. And Nathan said to David: Do all that is in thy heart for God is with thee.

Now that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: Go, and speak to David my servant: Thus saith the Lord: Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in… And I declare to thee, that the Lord will build thee a house… He shall build ne a house, and I will establish his throne for ever… According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

And King David came and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou shouldest give such things to me? …And thou hast made thy people Israel to be thy own people for ever, and thou Om lord, art become their God.

 

 

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

Christians Dead to Sin:

What then shall we say? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? By no means! For how shall we who are dead to sin still live in it?

Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? For we were buried with him by means of Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we may also walk in newness of life.

 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be so in the likeness of his resurrection also. For we know that our old self has been crucified with him, in order that the body of sin may be destroyed, that we may no longer be slaves to sin; for he who is dead is acquitted of sin.

But if we have died with Christ, we believe that that we shall also live together with Christ; for we know the Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more, death shall no longer have dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives unto God.

Thus do you consider yourselves also as dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The Reign of Sin:

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts. And do not yield your members to sin as weapons of iniquity, but present yourselves to God as those who have come to life from the dead and your members as weapons of justice for God; for sin shall not have dominion over you, since you are not under the Law but under grace.

Slavery to Sin:

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that to whom you offer yourselves as slaves for obedience, to him whom you obey you are slaves, whether to sin unto death or to obedience unto justice?

But thanks be to God that you who were the slaves of sin have now obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which you have been delivered, and having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of justice.

I speak in a human way because of the weaknesses of your flesh; for as you yielded your members as slaves of uncleanliness and iniquity unto iniquity, so now yield your members as slaves of justice unto sanctification.

For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free as regards justice. But what fruit had you then from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of these things is death.

But now set free from sin and become slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and as your end, life everlasting. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christians Freed from the Law:

Do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know law), that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

For the married woman is bound by the Law while her husband is alive; but if her husband die, she is set free from the law of the husband. Therefore, while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress if she be with another man; but if her husband dies, she is set free from the law of the husband, so that she is not an adulteress if she has been with another man.

Therefore, my brethren, you also, through the body of Christ, have been made to die to the Law, so as to belong to another who has risen from the dead, in order that we may bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in our members so that they brought forth fruit unto death. But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that by which we were held down, so that we nay serve in a new spirit and not according to the outworn letter.

The Law, the Occasion of Sin:

What shall we say them? Is the Law sin? By no means! Yet I did not know sin save through the Law. For I had not known lust unless the Law had said. “Thou shalt not lust.”

But sin, having thus found an occasion, worked in me by means of the commandment all manner of lust, for without the Law sin was dead.

Once upon a time I was living without law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, and the commandment that was unto life was discovered in my case to be unto death.

For sin, having taken occasion from the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. So that the Law indeed is holy and the commandment holy and just and good.

Sin, the Cause of Death:

Did then that which is good become death to me? By no means! But sin, that it might be manifest as sin, worked death for me through that which is good, in order that sin by reason of the commandment might become immeasurably sinful.

For we know that the Law is spiritual but I am carnal, sold into the power of sin. For I do not understand what I do, for it is not what I wish that I do, but what I hate that I do. But if I do what I do not wish, I admit that the Law is good.

Now therefore it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, no good dwells, because to wish is within my power, but I do not find the strength to accomplish what is good.

For I do not the good that I wish, but the evil that I do not wish, that I perform. Now if I do what I do not wish, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me.

Therefore, when I wish to do good I discover this law, namely, that evil is at hand for me. For I am delighted with the law of God according to the inner man, but I see another law in my members, warning against the law of my mind and making me prisoner to the law of sin that is in my members.

Deliverance due to the Grace of God:

Unhappy man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? The grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but with my flesh the law of sin.

The Faithful Need Fear no Condemnation:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who so not walk according to the flesh.

For the law of the Spirit of the life In Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death.

For what was impossible to the Law, in that it was weak because of the flesh, God has made good. By sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin-offering, he has condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

The Flesh and The Spirit:

Now they who are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but they who are according to the spirit mind the things of the spirit.

For the inclination of the flesh is death, but the inclination of the spirit, life and peace.

For the wisdom of the flesh is hostile to God, for it is not the subject to the law of God, nor can it be. And they who are carnal cannot please God. You, however, are not carnal but spiritual, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

But if Christ is in you, the body, it is true, is dead by reason of sin, but the spirit is life by reason of justification.

But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will also bring to life your mortal bodied because of his Spirit who dwells in you.

 

A Solemn Warning:

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, that we should live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh you will die: but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live.

The Faithful Sons of God:

For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Now you have not received a spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by virtue of which we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit that we are sons of God. But if we are sons, we are heirs also: heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ, provided, however, we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him.

Yearning of All Creation:

For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us. For the eager longing of creation awaits the revelation of God. For creation was made subject to vanity—not by its own will but by reason of him who made it subject—in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain until now.

Yearning of Human Beings:

And not only it, but we ourselves also who have first-fruits of the Spirit—we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption as sons, the redemption of the body. For in hope were we saved. But hope that is seen is not hope. For how can a man hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

The Holy Spirit Aids Us:

But in like manner the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groanings, And he who searched the hearts knows what the Spirit desires, that he pleads for the same according to God.

God’s Designs:

Now we know that for those who love God all things work together unto good, for those who, according to his purpose, are saints through his call. For those whom he has foreknown he has also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son, that he should be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he has predestined, them he has also called; and those whom he has called, them he has also justified, and those whom he has justified, then he has also glorified.

Unshakable Hope in God:

What then shall we say in these things? God is for us, who is against us? He who has not spared even his own Son but has delivered him for us all, how can he fail to grant us also all things with him? Who shall make accusation against the elect of God? It is God who justifies! Who shall condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died; yes, and rose again, he who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us!

Indomitable Love of Christ.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Even as it is written, “For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.” But in all these things we overcome because of him who has loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I lied! Only one comment—the Spirit of God makes us and the Love of Jesus inseparable. Amen! Alleluia!

Day 140: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spirit of God makes Us and the Love of Jesus Inseparable.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 6-8.

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 6:  Christians dead to sin; The reign of sin; Slavery to sin.

Christians Dead to Sin:

What then shall we say? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? By no means! For how shall we who are dead to sin still live in it?

Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? For we were buried with him by means of Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we may also walk in newness of life.

 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be so in the likeness of his resurrection also. For we know that our old self has been crucified with him, in order that the body of sin may be destroyed, that we may no longer be slaves to sin; for he who is dead is acquitted of sin.

But if we have died with Christ, we believe that that we shall also live together with Christ; for we know the Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more, death shall no longer have dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives unto God.

Thus do you consider yourselves also as dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

 

The Reign of Sin:

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts. And do not yield your members to sin as weapons of iniquity, but present yourselves to God as those who have come to life from the dead and your members as weapons of justice for God; for sin shall not have dominion over you, since you are not under the Law but under grace.

 

Slavery to Sin:

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that to whom you offer yourselves as slaves for obedience, to him whom you obey you are slaves, whether to sin unto death or to obedience unto justice?

But thanks be to God that you who were the slaves of sin have now obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which you have been delivered, and having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of justice.

I speak in a human way because of the weaknesses of your flesh; for as you yielded your members as slaves of uncleanliness and iniquity unto iniquity, so now yield your members as slaves of justice unto sanctification.

For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free as regards justice. But what fruit had you then from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of these things is death.

But now set free from sin and become slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and as your end, life everlasting. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans Chapter 7:  Christians freed from the Law; The Law, the occasion of sin; Sin, the cause of death; Deliverance due to the grace of God.

Christians Freed from the Law:

Do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know law), that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

For the married woman is bound by the Law while her husband is alive; but if her husband die, she is set free from the law of the husband. Therefore, while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress if she be with another man; but if her husband dies, she is set free from the law of the husband, so that she is not an adulteress if she has been with another man.

Therefore, my brethren, you also, through the body of Christ, have been made to die to the Law, so as to belong to another who has risen from the dead, in order that we may bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in our members so that they brought forth fruit unto death. But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that by which we were held down, so that we nay serve in a new spirit and not according to the outworn letter.

The Law, the Occasion of Sin:

What shall we say them? Is the Law sin? By no means! Yet I did not know sin save through the Law. For I had not known lust unless the Law had said. “Thou shalt not lust.”

But sin, having thus found an occasion, worked in me by means of the commandment all manner of lust, for without the Law sin was dead.

Once upon a time I was living without law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, and the commandment that was unto life was discovered in my case to be unto death.

For sin, having taken occasion from the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. So that the Law indeed is holy and the commandment holy and just and good.

 

Sin, the Cause of Death:

Did then that which is good become death to me? By no means! But sin, that it might be manifest as sin, worked death for me through that which is good, in order that sin by reason of the commandment might become immeasurably sinful.

For we know that the Law is spiritual but I am carnal, sold into the power of sin. For I do not understand what I do, for it is not what I wish that I do, but what I hate that I do. But if I do what I do not wish, I admit that the Law is good.

Now therefore it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, no good dwells, because to wish is within my power, but I do not find the strength to accomplish what is good.

For I do not the good that I wish, but the evil that I do not wish, that I perform. Now if I do what I do not wish, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me.

Therefore, when I wish to do good I discover this law, namely, that evil is at hand for me. For I am delighted with the law of God according to the inner man, but I see another law in my members, warning against the law of my mind and making me prisoner to the law of sin that is in my members.

 

Deliverance due to the Grace of God:

Unhappy man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? The grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but with my flesh the law of sin.

 

Romans Chapter 8:  The faithful need fear no condemnation; The flesh and the spirit; A solemn warning; The faithful sons of God; Yearning of all creation; Yearning of human beings; The Holy Spirit aids us; God’s designs; Unshakable hope in God; Indomitable love of Christ.

The Faithful Need Fear no Condemnation:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who so not walk according to the flesh.

For the law of the Spirit of the life In Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death.

For what was impossible to the Law, in that it was weak because of the flesh, God has made good. By sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin-offering, he has condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

 

The Flesh and The Spirit:

Now they who are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but they who are according to the spirit mind the things of the spirit.

For the inclination of the flesh is death, but the inclination of the spirit, life and peace.

For the wisdom of the flesh is hostile to God, for it is not the subject to the law of God, nor can it be. And they who are carnal cannot please God. You, however, are not carnal but spiritual, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

But if Christ is in you, the body, it is true, is dead by reason of sin, but the spirit is life by reason of justification.

But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will also bring to life your mortal bodied because of his Spirit who dwells in you.

 

A Solemn Warning:

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, that we should live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh you will die: but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live.

 

The Faithful Sons of God:

For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Now you have not received a spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by virtue of which we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit that we are sons of God. But if we are sons, we are heirs also: heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ, provided, however, we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him.

 

Yearning of All Creation:

For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us. For the eager longing of creation awaits the revelation of God. For creation was made subject to vanity—not by its own will but by reason of him who made it subject—in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain until now.

 

Yearning of Human Beings:

And not only it, but we ourselves also who have first-fruits of the Spirit—we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption as sons, the redemption of the body. For in hope were we saved. But hope that is seen is not hope. For how can a man hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 

The Holy Spirit Aids Us:

But in like manner the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groanings, And he who searched the hearts knows what the Spirit desires, that he pleads for the same according to God.

 

God’s Designs:

Now we know that for those who love God all things work together unto good, for those who, according to his purpose, are saints through his call. For those whom he has foreknown he has also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son, that he should be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he has predestined, them he has also called; and those whom he has called, them he has also justified, and those whom he has justified, then he has also glorified.

 

Unshakable Hope in God:

What then shall we say in these things? God is for us, who is against us? He who has not spared even his own Son but has delivered him for us all, how can he fail to grant us also all things with him? Who shall make accusation against the elect of God? It is God who justifies! Who shall condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died; yes, and rose again, he who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us!

 

Indomitable Love of Christ.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Even as it is written, “For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.” But in all these things we overcome because of him who has loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

First Paralipomenon continues with material omitted from the four Kings books of the bible:

The story and words of David and Hanon, the son of Nass, and the Ammonites rang a bell with me. Pretty much verbatim from Second Kings No reference included. Wondering if plagiarism was a sin in biblical times. No worries, plenty of new material in First Paralipomenon to ponder, meditate, and incorporate into my life.

Day 105: OT Second Kings C6-12; War and David; Sin & God’s First Parable

David’s kindness was misinterpreted through fear by the princes of the children of Ammon. The Syrians were hired to fight David and lost big-time and learned a lesson to never help the children of Ammon anymore. This all started by a misinterpretation of David’s kindness:

I will show kindness to Hanon the son of Nass, as his father showed kindness to me.

The princes of the children of Ammon: and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?

Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.

And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done injury to David, sent and hired the Syrians… then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together… And when this was told David, he gathered all of Israel together, and passed over the Jordan… and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen… and they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.

Whereas Second Kings continues with David committing adultery with Bethsabee, First Paralipomenon omits this part for now. So Paralipomenon means those sacred words omitted in the four Kings sections of the bible as well as presenting some duplicate text yet itself omitting some key passages as well?

Yet David would commit another sin and have to make a choice on how his sin would impact the people of Israel. In so doing David pleaded with the Lord to punish he and not the people of Israel. More on this in these selected words of the bible:

And Satan rose up against Israel: and moved David to number Israel.

Joab: The Lord make his people a hundred times more than they are: but, my lord the king, are they not thy servants? Why doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?

The number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand fighting men. Bit Levi and Benjamin he (Joab) did not number for Joab unwillingly executed the king’s orders.

And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he struck Israel. And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I beseech thee to take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done foolishly.

Thus saith the Lord: I give thee the choice of three things: choose one which thou wilt, and I will do it to thee… three years’ famine: or three months to flee from thy enemies, and not be able to escape their sword: or three days to have the sword of the Lord, and pestilence in the land…

David to God: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.

So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

David to God: Am not I he that commanded the people to be numbered? It is I that have sinned: it is I that have done the evil: but as for the flock, what hath it deserved? O Lord my God, let thy hand be turned, I beseech thee, upon me, and upon my father’s house: and let not thy people be destroyed.

And the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David, to go up, and build an altar to the Lord God in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And he built there an altar to the Lord: and he offered holocausts, and peace offerings, and he called upon the Lord, and he heard him by sending fire from heaven upon the altar of holocaust.

Surprisingly David was ineligible to build the House of the Lord due to all the blood-shedding as a warrior following God’s direction:

David to his son Solomon: My son, it was my desire to have built a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou hast shed much blood, and fought many battles, so thou canst not build a house to my name, after shedding so much blood before me. The son, that shall be born to thee… shall be called Peaceable: and I will give peace and quietness to Israel all his days. He shall build a house to my name, and he shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him: and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

David to the Princes: Give therefore your hearts and your souls to seek the Lord your God: and arise, and build a sanctuary to the Lord God, that the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and the vessels consecrated to the Lord, may be brought into the house, which is built to the name of the Lord.

For David said: The Lord, the God of Israel, hath given rest to his people, and a habitation in Jerusalem for ever… I think this is a bid deal in terms of what happens in the Middle East today.

And David being old and full of days, made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Comforting to know that there was sort of a succession and transfer of power versus what seemed like countless centuries of the kings being killed in battle or otherwise while still being king.

In the first 24 chapters of First Paralipomenon it was more or less King David of Israel. With only four more chapters to go in First Paralipomenon and a Second Paralipomenon coming too, I am excited to gather more perspective of the biblical and spiritual times of the Old Testament.

Day 141: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; More and Less on King David of Israel.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 18-24

Bible Notes:

This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 18: Victory over the Philistines and Moabites; Defeat of Adarezer and the Syrians; King Thou sues for peace; David consecrates the booty to God; David’s chief officers.

And it came to pass that David defeated the Philistines, and humbled them… and he defeated Moab, and the Moabites were made David’s servants, and brought him gifts.

At that time David defeated also Adarezer king of Soba of the land of Homath, when he went to extend his dominion as far as the river Euphrates.

And the Syrians of Damascus came also to help Adarezer ling of Soba: and David slew of them likewise two and twenty thousand men. And he put a garrison in Damascus, that Syria also should serve him, and bring gifts.

And all the vessels of gold, and silver, and brass king David consecrated to the Lord…

So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 19: Hanon mistreats David’s ambassadors; David and the Ammonites prepare for war; Joab defeats the Ammonites and Syrians; David defeats the Syrians.

The story and words of David and Hanon, the son of Nass, and the Ammonites rang a bell with me. Pretty much verbatim from Second Kings No worries, plenty of new material in First Paralipomenon to ponder, meditate, and incorporate into my life.

Day 105: OT Second Kings C6-12; War and David; Sin & God’s First Parable

David’s kindness was misinterpreted through fear by the princes of the children of Ammon. The Syrians were hired to fight David and lost big-time and learned a lesson to never help the children of Ammon anymore. This all started by a misinterpretation of David’s kindness:

I will show kindness to Hanon the son of Nass, as his father showed kindness to me.

The princes of the children of Ammon: and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?

Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.

And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done injury to David, sent and hired the Syrians… then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together… And when this was told David, he gathered all of Israel together, and passed over the Jordan… and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen… and they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 20: Joab destroys Rabba; David ravages the Ammonite cities; Death of three Philistine giants.

And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war… evidently there was an annual season for war back in biblical times versus our somewhat cyclic modern day approach to war…

And David took the crown of Melchom from his head, and found in it a talent weight of gold, and most precious stones, and he made himself a diadem of it: he took also the spoils of the city which were very great.

Diadem—a crown; a cloth headband, sometimes adorned with jewels, formerly worn by monarchs in Asia Minor and other parts of the East.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 21: David orders a census; David repents for ordering the census; David chooses pestilence for punishment; Seventy thousand die in the pestilence; David builds an altar; God accepts David’s offerings.

And Satan rose up against Israel: and moved David to number Israel.

Joab: The Lord make his people a hundred times more than they are: but, my lord the king, are they not thy servants? Why doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?

The number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand fighting men. Bit Levi and Benjamin he (Joab) did not number for Joab unwillingly executed the king’s orders.

And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he struck Israel. And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I beseech thee to take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done foolishly.

Thus saith the Lord: I give thee the choice of three things: choose one which thou wilt, and I will do it to thee… three years’ famine: or three months to flee from thy enemies, and not be able to escape their sword: or three days to have the sword of the Lord, and pestilence in the land…

David to God: I am on every side in a great strait: but it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are many, than into the hands of men.

So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

David to God: Am not I he that commanded the people to be numbered? It is I that have sinned: it is I that have done the evil: but as for the flock, what hath it deserved? O Lord my God, let thy hand be turned, I beseech thee, upon me, and upon my father’s house: and let not thy people be destroyed.

And the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David, to go up, and build an altar to the Lord God in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And he built there an altar to the Lord: and he offered holocausts, and peace offerings, and he called upon the Lord, and he heard him by sending fire from heaven upon the altar of holocaust.

And David… was seized with an exceedingly great fear, seeing the sword of the angel of the Lord.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 22: David gathers materials for the Temple; David instructs Solomon; David orders the princes to help Solomon.

David to his son Solomon: My son, it was my desire to have built a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou hast shed much blood, and fought many battles, so thou canst not build a house to my name, after shedding so much blood before me. The son, that shall be born to thee… shall be called Peaceable: and I will give peace and quietness to Israel all his days. He shall build a house to my name, and he shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him: and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

David to the Princes: Give therefore your hearts and your souls to seek the Lord your God: and arise, and build a sanctuary to the Lord God, that the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and the vessels consecrated to the Lord, may be brought into the house, which is built to the name of the Lord.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 23: David appoints Solomon king; Offices of the Levites; Family of Gerson; Family of Caath; Family of Meeerari; Duties of the Levites.

And David being old and full of days, made Solomon his son king over Israel.

And the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years, and upwards: and there were found of them thirty-eight thousand men. Of these twenty-four thousand were chosen, and distributed unto the ministry of the house of the Lord…

And Lebeth was the first, Ziza the second: but Jaus and Baria had not many children, and therefore they were counted in one family, and in one house.

And Aaron was separated to minister in the holy of holies, he and his sons for ever, and to burn incense before the Lord, according to his ceremonies, and to bless his name for ever.

The sons, also of Moses, the man of God, were numbered in the tribe of Levi.

For David said: The Lord, the God of Israel, hath given rest to his people, and a habitation in Jerusalem for ever. And it shall not be the office of the Levites to carry any more the tabernacle, and all the vessels for the service thereof… the sons of Levi are to be numbered from twenty years old and upward. And they are to be under the hand of the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 24: Division of the priests; Levites divided by lot.

Now these were the divisions of the sons of Aaron… according to their courses and ministry… for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God…

These are their courses according to their ministries, to come into the house of the Lord, and according to their manner under the hand of Aaron their father: as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.

Now of the rest of the sons of Levi…

And they also cast lots over against their brethren, the sons of Aaron, before King David… and the princes of the priestly and Levitical families, both the elder and the younger. The lot divided all equally.

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

Paul Grieves for the Jews:

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sadness and continuous sorrow in my heart. For I could wish to be anathema myself from Christ for the sake of my brethren, who are my kinsman according to the flesh; who are Israelites, who have adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the legislation and the worship and the promises; who have the fathers, and from who is the Christ according to the flesh, who is, over all things, God blessed forever, amen.

God’s Election Depends on His Free Choice:

It is not that the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israelites who are sprung from Israel; nor because they are the descendants of Abraham, are they all his children; but “Through Isaac shall thy posterity bear thy name.” That is to say, they are not sons of God who are the children of the flesh, but it is the children of promise who are reckoned as posterity. For this is a word of promise: “About this time I will come and Sara shall have a son.” And not she only; but also Rebecca, who conceived by one man, Isaac our father; for before the children had yet been born, or had done aught of good or evil, in order that the selective process of God might stand, depending not on deeds, but on his who calls, it was said to her, “The elder shall serve the younger;” as it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

God is Not Unjust:

What then shall we say? Is there injustice in God? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will show pity to whom I will show pity.” So then there is question not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God showing mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharoah, “For this very purpose I have raised thee up that I may show in thee my power, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore he has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.

 

His Power and Glory:

Thou sayest to me: Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? O man, art thou to reply to God? Does the object moulded say to him who moulded it: Why hast thou made me thus? Or is it not the potter master of is clay, to make from the same mass one vessel for honorable, another for ignoble use? But what if God, wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, ready for destruction, that he might show the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory—even us whom he has called not only from among the Jews buy also from among the Gentiles?

Witness of the Old Testament:

As he says in Osee, “A people not mine I will call my people, and an unbeloved, beloved, and her who had not obtained mercy, one who has obtained mercy. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them: you are not my people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.” And Isaias cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of children of Israel are as the sands of the sea, the remnant shall be saved. For the Lord fulfills his word speedily in justice, because a speedy word will the Lord accomplish on earth.” And as Isaias foretold, “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us a posterity, we should have become as Sodom and should have been like Gomorrah.”

Jesus’ Refusal to Believe:

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who were not pursuing justice have secured justice, but a justice that is from faith; but Israel, by pursuing a law of justice, has not attained to the law of justice. And why? Because they sought it not from faith, but as it were from works. For they stumbled at the stumbling-stone, as it is written, “Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of scandal: and whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.”

Ignorance of the Justice of God:

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is in their behalf unto their salvation. For I bear witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge; for, ignorance of the justice of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the justice of God. For Christ is consummation of the Law unto justice for everyone who believes.

This Justice comes Through Faith:

For Moses wrote that the man who does that justice which is of the Law, shall live by it. But the justice that is of faith says, “Do not say in thy heart: Who shall ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring down Christ); “or, Who shall descend into the abyss?” (that is to bring up Christ from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart” (that is, the word of faith, which we preach). For if thy confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with a heart a man believes unto justice, and with the mouth profession of faith is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord of all, rich towards all who call upon him. “For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Refusal to Believe the Gospel:

How then are they to call upon him in whom they have not believed? But how are they to believe him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear, if no one preaches? And how are men to preach unless they be sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace; of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaias says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Faith then depends on hearing, and hearing on the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, indeed, “Their voice has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” But I say: Has not Israel known? First of all, Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy of those who are not a nation; I will stir you to anger against a senseless nation.” Then Isaias dares to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I appeared openly to those who made no inquiry of me.” But to Israel he says, “All the day long I stretched out my hand to a people unbelieving and contradicting.”

A remnant of the Jews Will Be Saved:

I say then: Has God cast off his people? By no means! For I also am an Israelite of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast off his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scriptures says in the account of Elias, how he lodges complaint with God against Israel? “Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have razed thy altars; and I only am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what does the divine answer say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed their knees to Baal.” Even so, then, at the present time there is a remnant left, selected out of grace. And is out of grace, then not in virtue of works: otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Witness of the Scriptures:

What then? What Israel was seeking after, that it has not obtained; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest have been blinded, as it is written, “God has given them a spirit of stupor until this present day, eyes that they may not see, and ears that they may not hear.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompense unto them: let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and let them bow their backs always.”

Israel’s Fall, the Gentiles’ Salvation:

I say then: have they so stumbled as to fall? By no means! But by their offense salvation has come to the Gentiles, that they may be jealous of them. Now if their offense is the riches of the world, and their decline the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their full number!

 

The Gentiles Must Be Humble:

For I say to you Gentiles: as long, indeed, as I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry, in the hope that I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. For if the rejection of them is the reconciliation of the world, what will the reception of them be but life from the dead? Now if the first handful of the dough is holy, so also is the lump of dough; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. But if some of the branches have been broken off, and if thou, being a wild olive, art grafted in their place, and hast become a partaker of the stem and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if thou dost boast, still it is not thou that supportest the stem, but the stem thee. Thou wilt say, then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” True, but they were broken off because of unbelief, whereas thou by faith standest. Be not high-mined, but fear. For if God has not spared the natural branches, perhaps he may not spare thee either. See, then, the goodness and the severity of God: his severity towards those who have fallen, but the goodness of God towards thee if thou abides in his goodness; otherwise thou also wilt be cut off.

Israel Can Yet Be Saved:

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them back. For if thou hast been cut off from the wild olive tree which is natural to thee, and contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

 

Israel’s Final Conversion:

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits, that a partial blindness only has befallen Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles should enter, and thus all Israel should be saved, as it is written, “There will come out of Sion the deliverer and he will turn away impiety from Jacob (Israel) and this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins,” In view of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but in view of the divine choice, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are without repentance.

Ultimate Triumph of God’s Mercy:

For as you also at one time did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy by reason of their unbelief, so they too have not now believed by reason of the mercy shown you, that they too may obtain mercy. For God has shut up all in unbelief, that he may have mercy upon all.

God’s Ways Unsearchable:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor? Or who has first given to him, that recompense should be made for him?” For from him and through him and unto him are all things. To him be the glory forever, amen.

 

Day 142: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Remnant Will Be Saved; All Israel Should Be Saved!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 9-11.

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 9:  Paul grieves for the Jews; God’s election depends on His free choice; God is not unjust; His power and glory; Witness of the Old Testament; Jesus’ refusal to believe.

Paul Grieves for the Jews:

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sadness and continuous sorrow in my heart. For I could wish to be anathema myself from Christ for the sake of my brethren, who are my kinsman according to the flesh; who are Israelites, who have adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the legislation and the worship and the promises; who have the fathers, and from who is the Christ according to the flesh, who is, over all things, God blessed forever, amen.

Anathema—a person or thing detested or loathed; a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction; a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.

God’s Election Depends on His Free Choice:

It is not that the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israelites who are sprung from Israel; nor because they are the descendants of Abraham, are they all his children; but “Through Isaac shall thy posterity bear thy name.” That is to say, they are not sons of God who are the children of the flesh, but it is the children of promise who are reckoned as posterity. For this is a word of promise: “About this time I will come and Sara shall have a son.” And not she only; but also Rebecca, who conceived by one man, Isaac our father; for before the children had yet been born, or had done aught of good or evil, in order that the selective process of God might stand, depending not on deeds, but on his who calls, it was said to her, “The elder shall serve the younger;” as it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

God is Not Unjust:

What then shall we say? Is there injustice in God? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will show pity to whom I will show pity.” So then there is question not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God showing mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharoah, “For this very purpose I have raised thee up that I may show in thee my power, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore he has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.

His Power and Glory:

Thou sayest to me: Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? O man, art thou to reply to God? Does the object moulded say to him who moulded it: Why hast thou made me thus? Or is it not the potter master of is clay, to make from the same mass one vessel for honorable, another for ignoble use? But what if God, wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, ready for destruction, that he might show the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory—even us whom he has called not only from among the Jews buy also from among the Gentiles?

Witness of the Old Testament:

As he says in Osee, “A people not mine I will call my people, and an unbeloved, beloved, and her who had not obtained mercy, one who has obtained mercy. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them: you are not my people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.” And Isaias cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of children of Israel are as the sands of the sea, the remnant shall be saved. For the Lord fulfills his word speedily in justice, because a speedy word will the Lord accomplish on earth.” And as Isaias foretold, “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us a posterity, we should have become as Sodom and should have been like Gomorrah.”

Jesus’ Refusal to Believe:

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who were not pursuing justice have secured justice, but a justice that is from faith; but Israel, by pursuing a law of justice, has not attained to the law of justice. And why? Because they sought it not from faith, but as it were from works. For they stumbled at the stumbling-stone, as it is written, “Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of scandal: and whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.”

Romans Chapter 10:  Ignorance of the justice of God; This justice comes through faith; Refusal to believe the gospel.

Ignorance of the Justice of God:

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is in their behalf unto their salvation. For I bear witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge; for, ignorance of the justice of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the justice of God. For Christ is consummation of the Law unto justice for everyone who believes.

Consummation—the act of consummating; completion; the state of being consummated; perfection; fulfillment.

This Justice comes Through Faith:

For Moses wrote that the man who does that justice which is of the Law, shall live by it. But the justice that is of faith says, “Do not say in thy heart: Who shall ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring down Christ); “or, Who shall descend into the abyss?” (that is to bring up Christ from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart” (that is, the word of faith, which we preach). For if thy confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with a heart a man believes unto justice, and with the mouth profession of faith is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord of all, rich towards all who call upon him. “For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Refusal to Believe the Gospel:

How then are they to call upon him in whom they have not believed? But how are they to believe him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear, if no one preaches? And how are men to preach unless they be sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace; of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaias says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Faith then depends on hearing, and hearing on the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, indeed, “Their voice has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” But I say: Has not Israel known? First of all, Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy of those who are not a nation; I will stir you to anger against a senseless nation.” Then Isaias dares to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I appeared openly to those who made no inquiry of me.” But to Israel he says, “All the day long I stretched out my hand to a people unbelieving and contradicting.”

Romans Chapter 11:  A remnant of the Jews will be saved; Witness of the Scriptures; Israel’s fall, the Gentiles’ salvation; The Gentiles must be humble; Israel can yet be saved; Israel’s final conversion; Ultimate triumph of God’s mercy; God’s ways unsearchable.

A remnant of the Jews Will Be Saved:

I say then: Has God cast off his people? By no means! For I also am an Israelite of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast off his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scriptures says in the account of Elias, how he lodges complaint with God against Israel? “Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have razed thy altars; and I only am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what does the divine answer say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed their knees to Baal.” Even so, then, at the present time there is a remnant left, selected out of grace. And is out of grace, then not in virtue of works: otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Witness of the Scriptures:

What then? What Israel was seeking after, that it has not obtained; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest have been blinded, as it is written, “God has given them a spirit of stupor until this present day, eyes that they may not see, and ears that they may not hear.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompense unto them: let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and let them bow their backs always.”

Israel’s Fall, the Gentiles’ Salvation:

I say then: have they so stumbled as to fall? By no means! But by their offense salvation has come to the Gentiles, that they may be jealous of them. Now if their offense is the riches of the world, and their decline the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their full number!

The Gentiles Must Be Humble:

For I say to you Gentiles: as long, indeed, as I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry, in the hope that I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. For if the rejection of them is the reconciliation of the world, what will the reception of them be but life from the dead? Now if the first handful of the dough is holy, so also is the lump of dough; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. But if some of the branches have been broken off, and if thou, being a wild olive, art grafted in their place, and hast become a partaker of the stem and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if thou dost boast, still it is not thou that supportest the stem, but the stem thee. Thou wilt say, then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” True, but they were broken off because of unbelief, whereas thou by faith standest. Be not high-mined, but fear. For if God has not spared the natural branches, perhaps he may not spare thee either. See, then, the goodness and the severity of God: his severity towards those who have fallen, but the goodness of God towards thee if thou abides in his goodness; otherwise thou also wilt be cut off.

Israel Can Yet Be Saved:

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them back. For if thou hast been cut off from the wild olive tree which is natural to thee, and contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Israel’s Final Conversion:

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits, that a partial blindness only has befallen Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles should enter, and thus all Israel should be saved, as it is written, “There will come out of Sion the deliverer and he will turn away impiety from Jacob (Israel) and this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins,” In view of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but in view of the divine choice, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are without repentance.

Impiety—lack of piety; lack of reverence for God or sacred things; irreverence; lack of dutifulness or respect; an impious act, practice, etc.

Ultimate Triumph of God’s Mercy:

For as you also at one time did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy by reason of their unbelief, so they too have not now believed by reason of the mercy shown you, that they too may obtain mercy. For God has shut up all in unbelief, that he may have mercy upon all.

God’s Ways Unsearchable:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor? Or who has first given to him, that recompense should be made for him?” For from him and through him and unto him are all things. To him be the glory forever, amen.

 

 

 

Different from King David’s Canticle of Thanksgiving in Second Kings:

Day 111: OT Second Kings C21-24 (END); King David’s Canticle of Thanksgiving to the Lord!

“The Lord is my rock, and my strength, and my savior. God is my strong one, in him I will trust: my shield, and the horn of my salvation: he lifteth me up, and is my refuge: my savior, thou wilt deliver me from Iniquity. I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised: and I shall be saved from my enemies.”

Different from King David’s recent Psalm of Praise in First Paralipomenon:

Day 139: OT 1 Paralipomenon C11-17; David Praises the Lord & Assembles Army of God!

Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations. Sing to him, yes, sing praises to him: and relate all this wondrous works. Praise ye his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the Lord. Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore. 

Here near the end of his life when he appoints his son Solomon to take over the reign of Israel we have once again King David praising the Glory of God with his Thanksgiving Prayer:

Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity.

Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. Thine are riches, and thing is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might; in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. Now therefore, our God, we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise thee all these things? All things are thine: and we have given thee what we received of thy hand. For we are all sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.

O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name, is from thy hand, and all things are thine. I know, my God, that thou provest hearts, and lovest simplicity, where fore I also in the simplicity of my heart, have joyfully offered all these things: and I have seen with great joy thy people, which are here present, offer thee their offerings.

O Lord God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep for ever this will of their heart, and let this mind remain always for the worship of thee. And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, that he may keep thy commandments, thy testimonies; and thy ceremonies, and do all things: and build the house, for which I have provided the charges.

In the notes below are details of the organization of King David with respect to roles and responsibilities of his leadership team. Additionally, are the detailed plans being turned over to his son Solomon with a stern warning to stay focused on pleasing the Lord Our God and making sure the Temple, the House of the Lord is built properly.

Then King David passes after his forty year reign of Israel but not before giving his Thanksgiving Prayer!

Amen! Alleluia!

Day 143: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; King David’s Thanksgiving Prayer!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 25-29 (END)

Bible Notes:

This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 25: Chiefs of the musicians; Divisions of the musicians.

Moreover David and the chief officers of the army separated for the ministry…to prophesy with harps, and with psalteries, and with cymbals according to their number serving in their appointed office… who prophesized with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord… the seer of the king in the words of God, to lift the horn… were distributed to sing in the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, for the services of the house of the Lord… And the number of them with their brethren, that taught the song of the Lord, and the teachers, were two hundred and eighty-eight.

And they cast lots by their courses, the elder equally with the younger, the learned and the unlearned together. And the first lot came forth to… The four and twentieth to…

Psalteries—an ancient musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.

Seer–a person who sees; observer; a person who prophesies future events; prophet; a person endowed with profound moral and spiritual insight or knowledge; a wise person or sage who possesses intuitive powers.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 26: Division of the porters; Gates are assigned by lots; Overseers of the treasures; Judges and rulers.

And the division of the porters… for the Lord had blessed him… for they were men of great valor… most valiant men… most able men for service… the chief (for he had not a firstborn, and therefore his father made him chief)… Among these were the divisions of the porters, so that the chiefs of the wards, as well as their brethren, always ministered in the house of the Lord.

And they cast lots equally, both little and great, by their families for every one of the gates. And the lot of the east fell to…a very wise and learned man, the north gate fell by lot… towards the south: in which part of the house was the council of the ancients… towards the west, by the gate which leadeth to the way of the ascent: ward against ward… towards the east…. Towards the north… towards the south likewise four a day; and where the council was, two and two.

Now Achias was over the treasures of the house of God, and they holy vessels… his brethren over the treasures of the house of the Lord… was chief over the treasures… were over the treasures off the holy things, which King David, and the heads of families, and the captains over thousands and over hundreds, and the captains of the host had dedicated, out of the wars, and the spoils won in battles, which they had consecrated to the building and furniture of the temple of the Lord.

But Chonenias and his sons were over the Isaarites, for the business abroad over Israel, to teach them and judge them…beyond the Jordan westward, in all the works of the Lord, and for the service of the king… they were numbered, and there were found most valiant men… and his brethren of stronger age, two thousand seven hundred chiefs of families. And King David made them rulers over the… for all the service of God, and the king.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 27: Captains for every month; Chiefs of the tribes of Israel; David’s chief officials.

Now the children of Israel according to their number, the heads of the families, captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers, that served the king according to their companies, who came in and went out every month of the year, under every chief were four and twenty thousand. Over the first company the first month… and under him were four and twenty thousand… the twelfth, for the twelfth month was… and in his company were four and twenty thousand.

Now the chiefs over the tribes of Israel were these… over the Ruebens… Simeonotes…Levites…Aaronites… Juda… Issachar… Zabulonites… Nephtalites… Sons of Ephraim… the half tribe of Manasses… the half tribe of Manasses in Galaad… Benjamin… Dan…these were the princes of the children of Israel.

But David would not number them from twenty years old and younger: because the Lord had said that he would multiply Israel like the stars of heaven. Joab… began to number, but he finished not; because upon this there fell wrath upon Israel; and therefore the number of them that were numbered, was not registered in the chronicles of King David.

Google Search: There are about 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe; there were about 100 million stars in the average galaxy; there could be about 10 raised to the 20th power stars in the universe; or 200,000,000,000,000,000,000!

Google Search: Number of Christians in the World: As of the year 2015, Christianity has more than 2.3 billion adherents, out of about 7.5 billion people. Google estimates entire human population ever, all the dead plus the living, equaling some 110 billion people.

And over the king’s treasures was… and over the stores which were in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles was… And over the tillage, and the husbandmen, who tilled the ground, was… And over the dressers of the vineyards… And over the oliveyards and the fig groves, which were in the plains… and over the oil cellars… and over the herds that fed in Saron… and over the oxen in the valleys… and over the camels… and over the asses… and over the sheep… All these were the rulers of the substance of King David. And Jonathan David’s uncle, a counselor, a wise and learned man: he and Jahiel… were the king’s sons… was the king’s counselor… the king’s friend… And the general of the king’s army was Joab.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 28: David assembles the leaders; David names Solomon to succeed him; David tells Solomon to build the Temple; Plans and material for the Temple; David encourages Solomon.

And David assembled all… at Jerusalem…

Hear me, my brethren, and my people… And he (the Lord) said to me: Solomon thy son shall build my house, and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be a father to him. And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he continues to keep my commandments, and my judgments, as at this day.

David: Now then before all the assembly of Israel, in the hearing of our God, keep ye, and seek all the commandments of the Lord our God: that you may possess the good land, and may leave it to your children after you for ever.

David to Solomon: And thou my son Solomon, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the thoughts of minds. If thou seek him, thou shalt find him: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Mot therefore seeing the Lord hath chosen thee to build the house of the sanctuary, take courage, and do it.

And David gave to Solomon his son a description of the porch, and of the temple… which he had thought… and to make the likeness of the chariot of the cherubims spreading their wings, and covering the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. All these things, said he, came to me written by the hand of the Lord, that I might understand all the works of the pattern.

And David said to Solomon his son: Act like a man, and take courage, and do: fear not, and be not dismayed: for the Lord my God will be with thee, and will not leave thee, nor forsake thee, till thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

1 Paralipomenon Chapter 29: David’s offerings for the Temple; Offerings of the people for the Temple; David’s thanksgiving and prayer; Solomon becomes king; Death of David.

And King David said to all the assembly: Solomon, my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is as yet young and tender: and the work is great, for a house is prepared not for man, but for God. And I with all my ability have prepared the expenses for the house of my God… And gold for wheresoever there is need of gold: and silver for wheresoever there is need of silver… now if any man is willing to offer, let him fill his hand to day, and offer what he pleaseth to the Lord.. and they gave for the works of the house of the Lord… And the people rejoiced, when they promised their offerings willingly: because they offered them to the Lord with all their heart and David the king rejoiced also with great joy.

David’s Thanksgiving and Prayer:

Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity.

Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. Thine are riches, and thing is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might; in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. Now therefore, our God, we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise thee all these things? All things are thine: and we have given thee what we received of thy hand. For we are all sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.

O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name, is from thy hand, and all things are thine. I know, my God, that thou provest hearts, and lovest simplicity, where fore I also in the simplicity of my heart, have joyfully offered all these things: and I have seen with great joy thy people, which are here present, offer thee their offerings.

O Lord God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep for ever this will of their heart, and let this mind remain always for the worship of thee. And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, that he may keep thy commandments, thy testimonies; and thy ceremonies, and do all things: and build the house, for which I have provided the charges.

And David commanded all the assembly: Bless ye the Lord our God. And all the assembly blessed the Lord the God of their fathers: and they bowed themselves and worshipped God, and then the king… And they ate, and drank before the Lord that day with great joy. And they anointed the second time Solomon the son of David. And they anointed him to the Lord to be prince, and Sadoc to be high priest. And Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and he pleased all: and all Israel obeyed him… And the Lord magnified Solomon over all Israel: and gave him glory of a reign, such as no king of Israel had before him.

So David, son of Isai reigned over all Israel. And the days that he reigned over Israel, were forty years; in Hebron he reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem three and thirty years. And he died in good age, full of days, and riches, and glory. And Solomon his son reigned in his stead.