Today please be in prayer for:
Kinsley
Lewis
Dodge City District
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Bucklin
Dodge City District
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15th Sunday after: Pentecost/in Kingdomtide – Green
This Week's Lectionary Scriptures:
Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Psalm 78
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
Scripture Text:
Exodus 16:1-3 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt, the whole company of Israel moved on from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. The Israelites said, “Why didn’t God let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You’ve brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!”
4-5 God said to Moses, “I’m going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day’s ration. I’m going to test them to see if they’ll live according to my Teaching or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as their daily ration.”
6-7 Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, “This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he’s listened to your complaints against him. You haven’t been complaining against us, you know, but against God.”
8 Moses said, “Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it’s God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven’t been complaining to us—you’ve been complaining to God!”
9 Moses instructed Aaron: “Tell the whole company of Israel: ‘Come near to God. He’s heard your complaints.’”
10 When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.
11-12 God spoke to Moses, “I’ve listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: ‘At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you’ll eat your fill of bread; and you’ll realize that I am God, your God.’”
13-15 That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp. When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was.
15-16 So Moses told them, “It’s the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God’s instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’”
Psalm 105:1-6 Hallelujah!
Thank God! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
translate his wonders into music!
Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
you who seek God. Live a happy life!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence.
Remember the world of wonders he has made,
his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—
O seed of Abraham, his servant,
O child of Jacob, his chosen.
23-42 Then Israel entered Egypt,
Jacob immigrated to the Land of Ham.
God gave his people lots of babies;
soon their numbers alarmed their foes.
He turned the Egyptians against his people;
they abused and cheated God’s servants.
Then he sent his servant Moses,
and Aaron, whom he also chose.
They worked marvels in that spiritual wasteland,
miracles in the Land of Ham.
He spoke, “Darkness!” and it turned dark—
they couldn’t see what they were doing.
He turned all their water to blood
so that all their fish died;
He made frogs swarm through the land,
even into the king’s bedroom;
He gave the word and flies swarmed,
gnats filled the air.
He substituted hail for rain,
he stabbed their land with lightning;
He wasted their vines and fig trees,
smashed their groves of trees to splinters;
With a word he brought in locusts,
millions of locusts, armies of locusts;
They consumed every blade of grass in the country
and picked the ground clean of produce;
He struck down every firstborn in the land,
the first fruits of their virile powers.
He led Israel out, their arms filled with loot,
and not one among his tribes even stumbled.
Egypt was glad to have them go—
they were scared to death of them.
God spread a cloud to keep them cool through the day
and a fire to light their way through the night;
They prayed and he brought quail,
filled them with the bread of heaven;
He opened the rock and water poured out;
it flowed like a river through that desert—
All because he remembered his Covenant,
his promise to Abraham, his servant.
43-45 Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;
his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!
He made them a gift of the country they entered,
helped them seize the wealth of the nations
So they could do everything he told them—
could follow his instructions to the letter.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 78: An Asaph Psalm
1-4 Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth,
bend your ears to what I tell you.
I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb;
I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths,
Stories we heard from our fathers,
counsel we learned at our mother’s knee.
We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
we’re passing it along to the next generation—
God’s fame and fortune,
the marvelous things he has done.
5-8 He planted a witness in Jacob,
set his Word firmly in Israel,
Then commanded our parents
to teach it to their children
So the next generation would know,
and all the generations to come—
Know the truth and tell the stories
so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
but keep his commands to the letter.
Heaven forbid they should be like their parents,
bullheaded and bad,
A fickle and faithless bunch
who never stayed true to God.
9-16 The Ephraimites, armed to the teeth,
ran off when the battle began.
They were cowards to God’s Covenant,
refused to walk by his Word.
They forgot what he had done—
marvels he’d done right before their eyes.
He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents
in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan.
He split the Sea and they walked right through it;
he piled the waters to the right and the left.
He led them by day with a cloud,
led them all the night long with a fiery torch.
He split rocks in the wilderness,
gave them all they could drink from underground springs;
He made creeks flow out from sheer rock,
and water pour out like a river.
17-20 All they did was sin even more,
rebel in the desert against the High God.
They tried to get their own way with God,
clamored for favors, for special attention.
They whined like spoiled children,
“Why can’t God give us a decent meal in this desert?
Sure, he struck the rock and the water flowed,
creeks cascaded from the rock.
But how about some fresh-baked bread?
How about a nice cut of meat?”
21-31 When God heard that, he was furious—
his anger flared against Jacob,
he lost his temper with Israel.
It was clear they didn’t believe God,
had no intention of trusting in his help.
But God helped them anyway, commanded the clouds
and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven.
He rained down showers of manna to eat,
he gave them the Bread of Heaven.
They ate the bread of the mighty angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let East Wind break loose from the skies,
gave a strong push to South Wind.
This time it was birds that rained down—
succulent birds, an abundance of birds.
He aimed them right for the center of their camp;
all round their tents there were birds.
They ate and had their fill;
he handed them everything they craved on a platter.
But their greed knew no bounds;
they stuffed their mouths with more and more.
Finally, God was fed up, his anger erupted—
he cut down their brightest and best,
he laid low Israel’s finest young men.
32-37 And—can you believe it?—they kept right on sinning;
all those wonders and they still wouldn’t believe!
So their lives dribbled off to nothing—
nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town.
When he cut them down, they came running for help;
they turned and pled for mercy.
They gave witness that God was their rock,
that High God was their redeemer,
But they didn’t mean a word of it;
they lied through their teeth the whole time.
They could not have cared less about him,
wanted nothing to do with his Covenant.
38-55 And God? Compassionate!
Forgave the sin! Didn’t destroy!
Over and over he reined in his anger,
restrained his considerable wrath.
He knew what they were made of;
he knew there wasn’t much to them,
How often in the desert they had spurned him,
tried his patience in those wilderness years.
Time and again they pushed him to the limit,
provoked Israel’s Holy God.
How quickly they forgot what he’d done,
forgot their day of rescue from the enemy,
When he did miracles in Egypt,
wonders on the plain of Zoan.
He turned the River and its streams to blood—
not a drop of water fit to drink.
He sent flies, which ate them alive,
and frogs, which bedeviled them.
He turned their harvest over to caterpillars,
everything they had worked for to the locusts.
He flattened their grapevines with hail;
a killing frost ruined their orchards.
He pounded their cattle with hail,
let thunderbolts loose on their herds.
His anger flared,
a wild firestorm of havoc,
An advance guard of disease-carrying angels
to clear the ground, preparing the way before him.
He didn’t spare those people,
he let the plague rage through their lives.
He killed all the Egyptian firstborns,
lusty infants, offspring of Ham’s virility.
Then he led his people out like sheep,
took his flock safely through the wilderness.
He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear.
The Sea took care of their enemies for good.
He brought them into his holy land,
this mountain he claimed for his own.
He scattered everyone who got in their way;
he staked out an inheritance for them—
the tribes of Israel all had their own places.
56-64 But they kept on giving him a hard time,
rebelled against God, the High God,
refused to do anything he told them.
They were worse, if that’s possible, than their parents:
traitors—crooked as a corkscrew.
Their pagan orgies provoked God’s anger,
their obscene idolatries broke his heart.
When God heard their carryings-on, he was furious;
he posted a huge No over Israel.
He walked off and left Shiloh empty,
abandoned the shrine where he had met with Israel.
He let his pride and joy go to the dogs,
turned his back on the pride of his life.
He turned them loose on fields of battle;
angry, he let them fend for themselves.
Their young men went to war and never came back;
their young women waited in vain.
Their priests were massacred,
and their widows never shed a tear.
65-72 Suddenly the Lord was up on his feet
like someone roused from deep sleep,
shouting like a drunken warrior.
He hit his enemies hard, sent them running,
yelping, not daring to look back.
He disqualified Joseph as leader,
told Ephraim he didn’t have what it takes,
And chose the Tribe of Judah instead,
Mount Zion, which he loves so much.
He built his sanctuary there, resplendent,
solid and lasting as the earth itself.
Then he chose David, his servant,
handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens.
One day he was caring for the ewes and their lambs,
the next day God had him shepherding Jacob,
his people Israel, his prize possession.
His good heart made him a good shepherd;
he guided the people wisely and well.
Philippians 1:18-21 So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!
And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.
22-26 As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.
27-30 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.
Matthew 20: A Story About Workers
1-2 “God’s kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.
3-5 “Later, about nine o’clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went.
5-6 “He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o’clock. At five o’clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’
7 “They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“He told them to go to work in his vineyard.
8 “When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’
9-12 “Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’
13-15 “He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’
16 “Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”
John Wesley Notes-Commentary:
Exodus 16:2-15
Verse 2
[2] And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
Then the whole congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron — God's viceregents among them.
Verse 3
[3] And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
They so undervalue their deliverance, that they wish, they had died in Egypt, nay, and died by the hand of the Lord too. That is, by some of the plagues which cut off the Egyptians; as if it were not the hand of the Lord, but of Moses only, that brought them into this wilderness. 'Tis common for people to say of that pain, or sickness, which they see not second causes of, It is what pleaseth God, as if that were not so likewise which comes by the hand of man, or some visible accident. We cannot suppose they had any great plenty in Egypt, how largely soever they now talk of the flesh-pots, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness while they had their flocks and herds with them; but discontent magnifies what is past, and vilifies what is present, without regard to truth or reason. None talk more absurdly than murmurers.
Verse 4
[4] Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Man being made out of the earth, his Maker has wisely ordered him food out of the earth, Psalms 104:14. But the people of Israel typifying the church of the first-born that are written in heaven, receiving their charters, laws and commissions from heaven, from heaven also they received their food. See what God designed in making this provision for them, that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no - Whether they will trust me, and whether they would serve him, and be ever faithful to so good a master.
Verse 5
[5] And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
They shall prepare — Lay up, grind, bake or boil.
Verse 6
[6] And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
The Lord — And not we, (as you suggest) by our own counsel.
Verse 10
[10] And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
The glory of the Lord — An extra-ordinary and sudden brightness.
Verse 12
[12] I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
And ye shall know that I am the Lord your God — This gave proof of his power as the Lord, and his particular favour to them as their God; when God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know that he is the Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know that he was their God.
Verse 13
[13] And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
The quails came up, and covered the camp — So tame that they might take up as many of them as they pleased. Next morning he rained manna upon them, which was to be continued to them for their daily bread.
Verse 15
[15] And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
What is this? Manna descended from the clouds. It came down in dew melted, and yet was itself of such a consistency as to serve for nourishing strengthening food, without any thing else: It was pleasant food; the Jews say it was palatable to all, according as their tastes were. It was wholesome food, light of digestion. By this spare and plain diet we are all taught a lesson of temperance, and forbidden to desire dainties and varieties.
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Verse 3
[3] Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Glory — Glory in the God whom you serve, as the only true God.
Verse 4
[4] Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Seek — The Lord in his strength, in his sanctuary, or before the ark, which is called God's strength.
Face — His gracious presence.
Verse 5
[5] Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Judgments — The punishments which he brought upon Egypt by his mere word.
Verse 6
[6] O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Of Jacob — The only branch of Abraham's seed to whom the following blessings belong.
Verse 37
[37] He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Feeble — Diseased or unable for his journey: which in so vast a body, and in a people who had been so dreadfully oppressed, was wonderful.
Verse 39
[39] He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
Covering — To protect them from the heat of the sun.
Verse 40
[40] The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
Quails — He speaks of the first giving of quails, Exodus 16:13, which God gave them as a refreshment, notwithstanding their sin in desiring them, which he graciously pardoned.
Bread — With manna which came out of the air, commonly called heaven.
Verse 41
[41] He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
River — They flowed in channels which God provided for them, and followed the Israelites in their march.
Verse 44
[44] And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
Labour — The fruits of their labour; their cities, vineyards, olive-yards.
Psalm 78
Verse 1
[1] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
My law — The doctrine which I am about to deliver.
Verse 2
[2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Parable — Weighty sentences.
Dark sayings — Not that the words are hard to be understood, but the things, God's transcendent goodness, their unparallel'd ingratitude; and their stupid ignorance and insensibleness, under such excellent teachings of God's word and works, are prodigious and hard to be believed.
Of old — Of things done in ancient times.
Verse 5
[5] For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Established — This is justly put in first place, as the chief of all his mercies.
A testimony — His law, called a testimony, because it is a witness between God and men, declaring the duties which God expects from man, and the blessings which man may expect from God.
Verse 9
[9] The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Ephraim — That Ephraim is here put for all Israel seems evident from the following verses, wherein the sins, upon which this overthrow is charged, are manifestly the sins of all the children of Israel, and they who are here called Ephraim are called Jacob and Israel, verse 21, and this passage may refer to that dreadful overthrow related, 1 Samuel 4:10,11, which is particularly named, because as the ark, so the flight was in that tribe. And the psalmist having related this amazing providence, falls into a large discourse of the causes of it, namely, the manifold sins of that and the former generations, which having prosecuted from hence to verse 60, he there returns to this history, and relates the sad consequence of that disaster, the captivity of the ark, and God's forsaking of Shiloh and Ephraim, and removing thence to the tribe of Judah and mount Zion. Bows - These are put for all arms.
Verse 12
[12] Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Field — In the territory.
Zoan — An ancient and eminent city of Egypt.
Verse 15
[15] He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
Wilderness — In Rephidim, and again in Kadesh.
Verse 16
[16] He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Streams — Which miraculously followed them in all their travels, even to the borders of Canaan.
Verse 17
[17] And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Wilderness — Where they had such singular obligations to obedience. This was a great aggravation of their sins.
Verse 18
[18] And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
Tempted — Desired a proof of God's power.
Lust — Not for their necessary subsistence, but out of an inordinate and luxurious appetite.
Verse 22
[22] Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
Trusted not — That he both could, and would save them from the famine which they feared.
Verse 23
[23] Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Heaven — Which he compares to a store-house, whereof God shuts or opens the doors, as he sees fit.
Verse 25
[25] Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
Angels food — Manna, so called, because it was made by the ministry of angels.
Verse 26
[26] He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
South wind — First an eastern, and afterwards a southern wind.
Verse 27
[27] He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
Fowl — But God took away from them the use of their wings, and made them to fall into the hands of the Israelites.
Verse 31
[31] The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Mightiest — The most healthy and strong, who probably were most desirous of this food, and fed most eagerly upon it.
Verse 33
[33] Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Vanity — In tedious and fruitless marches hither and thither.
Trouble — In manifold diseases, dangers, and perplexities.
Verse 34
[34] When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
Returned — From their idols.
Enquired — Speedily sought to God for ease and safety.
Verse 35
[35] And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Redeemer — That God alone had preserved them in all their former exigencies, and that he only could help them.
Verse 36
[36] Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Lied — They made but false protestations of their sincere resolutions of future obedience.
Verse 42
[42] They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Hand — The glorious works of his hand.
Enemy — That remarkable day, in which God delivered them from their greatest enemy, Pharaoh.
Verse 45
[45] He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Flies — These flies were doubtless extraordinary in their nature, and hurtful qualities. And the like is to be thought concerning the frogs.
Verse 46
[46] He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
Labour — The herbs which were come up by their care and labour.
Verse 47
[47] He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
Sycamore-trees — Under these and the vines, all other trees are comprehended. This hail and frost destroyed the fruit of the trees, and sometimes the trees themselves.
Verse 49
[49] He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Evil angels — Whom God employed in producing these plagues.
Verse 51
[51] And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Ham — Of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham, the cursed children of a cursed parent.
Verse 54
[54] And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
Holy place — The land of Canaan, separated by God from all other lands.
Mountain — The mountainous country of Canaan; the word mountain is often used in scripture for a mountainous country.
Verse 57
[57] But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Deceitful bow — Which either breaks when it is drawn, or shoots awry, and frustrates the archer's expectation.
Verse 59
[59] When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
Heard — Perceived or understood, it is spoken of God after the manner of men.
Verse 60
[60] So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Shiloh — Which was placed in Shiloh.
Among men — Whereby he insinuates both God's wonderful condescension, and their stupendous folly in despising so glorious a privilege.
Verse 61
[61] And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
His strength — The ark, called God's strength, 1 Chronicles 16:11, because it was the sign and pledge of his strength put forth on his people's behalf.
Glory — So the ark is called, as being the monument and seat of God's glorious presence.
Enemies — The Philistines.
Verse 64
[64] Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
Priests — Hophni and Phinehas.
No lamentation — No funeral solemnities; either because they were prevented by their own death, as the wife of Phinehas was, or disturbed by the invasion of the enemy.
Verse 66
[66] And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Smote — Them with the piles.
Reproach — He caused them to perpetuate their own reproach by sending back the ark of God with their golden emrods, the lasting monuments of their shame.
Verse 67
[67] Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
Refused — He would not have his ark to abide any longer in the tabernacle of Shiloh, which was in the tribe of Joseph or Ephraim.
Verse 68
[68] But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
Chose — For the seat of the ark and of God's worship.
Verse 69
[69] And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
Sanctuary — The temple of Solomon.
Palaces — Magnificent and gloriously.
Established — Not now to be moved from place to place, as the tabernacle was, but as a fixed place for the ark's perpetual residence.
Philippians 1:21-30
Verse 21
[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
To me to live is Christ — To know, to love, to follow Christ, is my life, my glory, my joy.
Verse 22
[22] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Here he begins to treat of the former clause of the preceding verse. Of the latter he treats, Philippians 2:17.
But if I am to live is the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour — This is the fruit of my living longer, that I can labour more. Glorious labour! desirable fruit! in this view, long life is indeed a blessing.
And what I should choose I know not — That is, if it were left to my choice.
Verse 23
[23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
To depart — Out of bonds, flesh, the world.
And to be with Christ — In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to depart; it is far better to be with Christ.
Verse 25
[25] And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
I know — By a prophetic notice given him while he was writing this. That I shall continue some time longer with you - And doubtless he did see them after this confinement.
Verse 27
[27] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Only — Be careful for this, and nothing else.
Stand fast in one spirit — With the most perfect unanimity.
Striving together — With united strength and endeavours.
For the faith of the gospel — For all the blessings revealed and promised therein.
Verse 28
[28] And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Which — Namely, their being adversaries to the word of God, and to you the messengers of God.
Is an evident token — That they are in the high road to perdition; and you, in the way of salvation.
Verse 29
[29] For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
For to you it is given — As a special token of God's love, and of your being in the way of salvation.
Verse 30
[30] Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Having the same kind of conflict with your adversaries, which ye saw in me - When I was with you, Acts 16:12,19, etc.
Matthew 20:1-16
Verse 2
[2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
The Roman penny was about seven pence halfpenny. [About thirteen and three quarter cents, American.] This was then the usual price of a day's labour.
Verse 6
[6] And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
About the eleventh hour — That is, very late; long after the rest were called.
Verse 8
[8] So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
In the evening — Of life; or of the world.
Verse 9
[9] And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Who were hired about the eleventh hour — Either the Gentiles, who were called long after the Jews into the vineyard of the Church of Christ; or those in every age who did not hear, or at least understand the Gospel call, till their day of life was drawing to a period. Some circumstances of the parable seem best to suit the former, some the latter of these senses.
Verse 10
[10] But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
The first supposed they should have received more — Probably the first here may mean the Jews, who supposed they should always be preferred before the Gentiles.
Verse 12
[12] Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Thou hast made them equal to us — So St. Peter expressly, Acts 15:9. God-hath put no difference between us (Jews) and them, (Gentiles,) purifying their hearts by faith. And those who were equally holy here, whenever they were called, will be equally happy hereafter.
Verse 14
[14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
It is my will to give to this last called among the heathens even as to the first called among the Jews: yea, and to the late converted publicans and sinners, even as to those who, were called long before.
Verse 15
[15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? — Yea, doubtless, to give either to Jew or Gentile a reward infinitely greater than he deserves. But can it be inferred from hence, that it is lawful, or possible, for the merciful Father of spirits to "Consign an unborn soul to hell? Or damn him from his mother's womb?" Is thine eye evil because I am good - Art thou envious, because I am gracious? Here is an evident reference to that malignant aspect, which is generally the attendant of a selfish and envious temper.
Verse 16
[16] So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
So the last shall be first, and the first last — Not only with regard to the Jews and Gentiles, but in a thousand other instances.
For many are called — All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen - Only those who obey it. Matthew 19:30; 22:14.
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Today’s Devotion:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Broken but Forgiven" for Saturday, 27 September 2014 - Read Colossians 1:9-12 Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
[God has] brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.(Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV))
One summer, my husband and I arrived home from a road trip to find large cracks in a window of our apartment. We learned that while playing with friends in the nearby courtyard, a young neighbor had kicked a ball that broke the window.
The boy was usually playing outside with other children, but now he was nowhere to be seen. We went to his home where he hesitantly came to the door, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped.
“We heard about the ball. It was an accident; it could happen to anybody,” we said.“ We forgive you.”The boy straightened. His eyes came up to meet ours, and he smiled.
When we make mistakes it’s easy to wrestle with shame and withdraw from our world. We may feel like we don’t deserve to be loved by God or anyone else. We sometimes have the sense that our faults are so big that they can’t be forgiven.
But God sent Jesus Christ to die for us and redeem us. This grace covers us. We can hold our heads up high and meet the future with confidence and the certainty that even in our brokenness, God forgives us.
Read more from the author.
"Rise Above It"
At 5:30 on a clear-as-blue-glass-sky June morning, photographers hailed tethered hot air balloons preparing to launch at the Tigard, Oregon Festival of Balloons. The seventeen heaven-bound balloons beamed at us, every color of the rainbow. Soon, the red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, and gold orbs lit up the morning sky.Spiritual parallel: Gas heats air inside the balloon to 212°. The hot air inside, lighter and less dense than the cool air that surrounds it, lifts the balloon. Likewise, as we let go of offenses, with a warmer, less dense attitude of forgiveness, we become buoyant.
God invites us to pray from heaven to earth. Instead of looking at circumstances with our own limited feet-on-the-ground view, the Holy Spirit inspires us to perceive, think, and speak as God does—from above. When we’re tempted to be discouraged with those who let us down, we can reframe the situation by praying: Holy Spirit, what’s going on? What must I shift in my thinking to see him or her like You do?
In what area are you able to gain a godly perspective with the upward lift of the Holy Spirit? When you pray from above, what do you gain? What do others gain?
The 45th Parallel is a series of blog posts that explores spiritual parallels in everyday sights. I invite you to email a photo you’ve taken and tell how it illustrates overcoming; forgiving; encouraging; or our relationship with God. It may be featured in an upcoming blog post!(Lynn Hare)
Lynn Hare,, author and teacher, enthusiastically writes about overcoming, forgiving, encouraging, and discovering spiritual parallels in everyday life. A member of Oregon Christian Writers, she lives in Portland with her husband, Tim, of thirty-three years. Her inspirational pieces appear in numerous Christian periodicals. You can find Lynn’s messages at www.lynnhare.com or on Facebook.
The Author
Lynn Hare (Oregon)
Thought for the Day:
God’s mercy precedes our mistakes.
Prayer: Dear God, when we are feeling discouraged with our shortcomings and doubts, thank you for believing in us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those who struggle with shame
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