Today’s Reflection:
Questions
What is my calling?
Is there something specific I’ve been called to do?
Which path do I take?
There are so many choices.
Which one do I choose?
Is there really One who can guide me,
help me make the right choice?
If God is really out there calling me,
why can’t I hear that voice?
When will I be given a sign?
How do I know when to take a chance?
Can that serenity be mine?
When do I let go, let my heart dance?[Courtney Thompson, age 20]
Prayer: God, there are so many choices in front of me and so many decisions to make! May I feel assurance that you are with me and will guide my path. Amen.[Kara Lassen Oliver, Stepping Out on Your Own]
From page 44 of Stepping Out on Your Own: Devotions for High School Graduates, introduced and compiled by Kara Lassen Oliver. Copyright © 2010 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s prayer. Prayer: God, there are so many choices in front of me and so many decisions to make! May I feel assurance that you are with me and will guide my path. Amen.
Today’s Scripture:
A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.[Luke 7:2-3, NRSV]
This Week: pray for those who are marginalized from their communities.
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Did You Know?
devozine is celebrating 20 years of faith stories written by teens for teens! And to kick off the next 20, we are launching devozinemag.org, a digital version of the 20th anniversary issue, with the hope that many more teens around the world will be encouraged by the voices of their peers to grow closer to God, to live out their beliefs, and to share their own faith stories. Be sure to share the news with the young people in your life!
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Saints, Inc.:This week we remember: Rita of Cascia (May 22).
Rita of Cascia
May 22
Although Rita Lotti (1377-1457) wanted to be a nun from the time she was young, her parents had her married at the age of twelve. Eighteen years later, her husband was murdered in a vendetta. When her two sons swore revenge, Rita talked them out of it. The sons died within a year. Left alone, Rita devoted herself to prayer and good works. She sought to join the Augustinian Nuns of Cascia, but they repeatedly turned her down because she was a widow. In 1413, the nuns of the Monastery of Mary Magdalene finally allowed her to join them as an Augustinian nun.
Now known as Rita of Cascia, she spent long hours meditating on the Passion of Christ. It is said that after twenty-five years as a nun, a wound appeared on her forehead such as a crown of thorns would make; she lived with this wound until her death fifteen years later. She gained a reputation as a mystic.
Rita died of tuberculosis on May 22, 1457. She is the patron saint of desperate cases.
If Rita had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Mystic. Rita of Cascia is remembered on May 22.
Image is from Wikipedia.-------
Lectionary Readings
Sunday, 29 May 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
1 Kings 18:20-39
Psalm 96
Galatians 1:1-12
Luke 7:1-10-------
Scripture Texts for 1 Kings 18:20 Ach’av sent word to all the people of Isra’el and assembled the prophets together on Mount Karmel. 21 Eliyahu stepped forward before all the people and said, “How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Adonai is God, follow him; but if it’s Ba‘al, follow him!” The people answered him not a word. 22 Then Eliyahu said to the people, “I, I alone, am the only prophet of Adonai who is left, while Ba‘al’s prophets number 450. 23 Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it. 24 Then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of Adonai; and the God who answers with fire, let him be God!” All the people answered, “Good idea! Agreed!”
25 Then Eliyahu said to the prophets of Ba‘al, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare it first; because there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 They took the bull that was given to them, prepared it and called on the name of Ba‘al from morning till noon — “Ba‘al! Answer us!” But no voice was heard; and no one answered, as they jumped around on the altar they had made. 27 Around noon Eliyahu began ridiculing them: “Shout louder! After all, he’s a god, isn’t he? Maybe he’s daydreaming, or he’s on the potty, or he’s away on a trip. Maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and knives, as their custom was, until blood gushed out all over them. 29 By now it was afternoon, and they went on ranting and raving until it was time for the evening offering. But no voice came, no one answered, no one paid any attention.
30 Then Eliyahu said to all the people, “Come here to me.” All the people came up to him, as he set about repairing the altar of Adonai that had been broken down. 31 Eliyahu took twelve stones, in keeping with the number of tribes of the sons of Ya‘akov, to whom the word of Adonai had come, saying, “Your name is to be Isra’el.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Adonai. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough for half a bushel of grain. 33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull and laid it on the wood. 34 Then he said, “Fill four pots with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” They did it. “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time. 35 By now the water was flowing around the altar, and it had filled the trench. 36 Then, when it came time for offering the evening offering, Eliyahu the prophet approached and said, “Adonai, God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Isra’el, let it be known today that you are God in Isra’el, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, Adonai, hear me, so that this people may know that you, Adonai, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back to you.”
38 Then the fire of Adonai fell. It consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “Adonai is God! Adonai is God!”
Psalm 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
4 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
6 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his sanctuary, strength and splendor.
7 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
8 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and enter his courtyards.
9 Worship Adonai in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
The world is firmly established, immovable.
He will judge the peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and everything in it;
12 let the fields exult and all that is in them.
Then all the trees in the forest will sing
13 before Adonai, because he has come,
he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly
and the peoples with his faithfulness.
Galatians 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary — I received my commission not from human beings or through human mediation but through Yeshua the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — also from all the brothers with me
2 To: The Messianic communities in Galatia:
3 Grace and shalom to you from God our Father and from the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 4 who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father. 5 To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
6 I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah’s grace, and turn to some other supposedly “Good News,” 7 which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. 8 But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called “Good News” contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! 9 We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces “Good News” contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!
10 Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? No! I want God’s approval! Or that I’m trying to cater to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.
11 Furthermore, let me make clear to you, brothers, that the Good News as I proclaim it is not a human product; 12 because neither did I receive it from someone else nor was I taught it — it came through a direct revelation from Yeshua the Messiah.
Luke 7:1 When Yeshua had finished speaking to the people, he went back to K’far-Nachum. 2 A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death. 3 Hearing about Yeshua, the officer sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Yeshua and pleaded earnestly with him, “He really deserves to have you do this, 5 for he loves our people — in fact, he built the synagogue for us!” 6 So Yeshua went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof — 7 this is why I didn’t presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover. 8 For I too am a man set under authority. I have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Yeshua was astonished at him when he heard this; and he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Isra’el have I found such trust!” 10 When the messengers got back to the officer’s house, they found the servant in good health.
Did You Know?
devozine is celebrating 20 years of faith stories written by teens for teens! And to kick off the next 20, we are launching devozinemag.org, a digital version of the 20th anniversary issue, with the hope that many more teens around the world will be encouraged by the voices of their peers to grow closer to God, to live out their beliefs, and to share their own faith stories. Be sure to share the news with the young people in your life!
-------Saints, Inc.:This week we remember: Rita of Cascia (May 22).
Rita of Cascia
May 22
Although Rita Lotti (1377-1457) wanted to be a nun from the time she was young, her parents had her married at the age of twelve. Eighteen years later, her husband was murdered in a vendetta. When her two sons swore revenge, Rita talked them out of it. The sons died within a year. Left alone, Rita devoted herself to prayer and good works. She sought to join the Augustinian Nuns of Cascia, but they repeatedly turned her down because she was a widow. In 1413, the nuns of the Monastery of Mary Magdalene finally allowed her to join them as an Augustinian nun.
Now known as Rita of Cascia, she spent long hours meditating on the Passion of Christ. It is said that after twenty-five years as a nun, a wound appeared on her forehead such as a crown of thorns would make; she lived with this wound until her death fifteen years later. She gained a reputation as a mystic.
Rita died of tuberculosis on May 22, 1457. She is the patron saint of desperate cases.
If Rita had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Mystic. Rita of Cascia is remembered on May 22.
Image is from Wikipedia.-------
Lectionary Readings
Sunday, 29 May 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
1 Kings 18:20-39
Psalm 96
Galatians 1:1-12
Luke 7:1-10-------
Scripture Texts for 1 Kings 18:20 Ach’av sent word to all the people of Isra’el and assembled the prophets together on Mount Karmel. 21 Eliyahu stepped forward before all the people and said, “How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Adonai is God, follow him; but if it’s Ba‘al, follow him!” The people answered him not a word. 22 Then Eliyahu said to the people, “I, I alone, am the only prophet of Adonai who is left, while Ba‘al’s prophets number 450. 23 Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it. 24 Then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of Adonai; and the God who answers with fire, let him be God!” All the people answered, “Good idea! Agreed!”
25 Then Eliyahu said to the prophets of Ba‘al, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare it first; because there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 They took the bull that was given to them, prepared it and called on the name of Ba‘al from morning till noon — “Ba‘al! Answer us!” But no voice was heard; and no one answered, as they jumped around on the altar they had made. 27 Around noon Eliyahu began ridiculing them: “Shout louder! After all, he’s a god, isn’t he? Maybe he’s daydreaming, or he’s on the potty, or he’s away on a trip. Maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and knives, as their custom was, until blood gushed out all over them. 29 By now it was afternoon, and they went on ranting and raving until it was time for the evening offering. But no voice came, no one answered, no one paid any attention.
30 Then Eliyahu said to all the people, “Come here to me.” All the people came up to him, as he set about repairing the altar of Adonai that had been broken down. 31 Eliyahu took twelve stones, in keeping with the number of tribes of the sons of Ya‘akov, to whom the word of Adonai had come, saying, “Your name is to be Isra’el.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Adonai. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough for half a bushel of grain. 33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull and laid it on the wood. 34 Then he said, “Fill four pots with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” They did it. “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time. 35 By now the water was flowing around the altar, and it had filled the trench. 36 Then, when it came time for offering the evening offering, Eliyahu the prophet approached and said, “Adonai, God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Isra’el, let it be known today that you are God in Isra’el, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, Adonai, hear me, so that this people may know that you, Adonai, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back to you.”
38 Then the fire of Adonai fell. It consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “Adonai is God! Adonai is God!”
Psalm 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
4 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
6 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his sanctuary, strength and splendor.
7 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
8 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and enter his courtyards.
9 Worship Adonai in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
The world is firmly established, immovable.
He will judge the peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and everything in it;
12 let the fields exult and all that is in them.
Then all the trees in the forest will sing
13 before Adonai, because he has come,
he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly
and the peoples with his faithfulness.
Galatians 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary — I received my commission not from human beings or through human mediation but through Yeshua the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — also from all the brothers with me
2 To: The Messianic communities in Galatia:
3 Grace and shalom to you from God our Father and from the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 4 who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father. 5 To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
6 I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah’s grace, and turn to some other supposedly “Good News,” 7 which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. 8 But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called “Good News” contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! 9 We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces “Good News” contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!
10 Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? No! I want God’s approval! Or that I’m trying to cater to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.
11 Furthermore, let me make clear to you, brothers, that the Good News as I proclaim it is not a human product; 12 because neither did I receive it from someone else nor was I taught it — it came through a direct revelation from Yeshua the Messiah.
Luke 7:1 When Yeshua had finished speaking to the people, he went back to K’far-Nachum. 2 A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death. 3 Hearing about Yeshua, the officer sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Yeshua and pleaded earnestly with him, “He really deserves to have you do this, 5 for he loves our people — in fact, he built the synagogue for us!” 6 So Yeshua went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof — 7 this is why I didn’t presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover. 8 For I too am a man set under authority. I have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Yeshua was astonished at him when he heard this; and he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Isra’el have I found such trust!” 10 When the messengers got back to the officer’s house, they found the servant in good health.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for 1 Kings 18:20-39
Verse 20
[20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
Ahab sent — He complied with Elijah's motion; because the urgency of the present distress made him willing to try all means to remove it; from a curiosity of seeing some extraordinary events; and principally, because God inclined his heart.
Verse 21
[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
And said — Why do you walk so lamely and unevenly, being so unsteady in your opinions and practices, and doubting whether it is better to worship God or Baal? If the Lord - Whom you pretend to worship.
Follow — Worship him, and him only, and that in such place and manner as he hath commanded you.
If Baal — If Baal can prove himself to be the true God.
Answered not — Being convinced of the reasonableness of his proposition.
Verse 22
[22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
I only — Here present, to own the cause of God. As far the other prophets of the Lord, many of them were slain, others banished, or hid in caves.
Verse 23
[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
Let then, … — To put this controversy to a short issue.
Verse 24
[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
By Fire — That shall consume the sacrifice by fire sent from heaven; which the people knew the true God used to do. It was a great condescension in God, that he would permit Baal to be a competitor with him. But thus God would have every mouth to be stopped, and all flesh become silent before him. And Elijah doubtless had a special commission from God, or he durst not have put it to this issue. But the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use not only then, but in all ages. Elijah does not say, The God that answers by water, tho' that was the thing the country needed, but that answers by fire, let him be God; because the atonement was to be made, before the judgment could be removed. The God therefore that has power to pardon sin, and to signify that by consuming the sin-offering, must needs be the God that can relieve us against the calamity.
Verse 25
[25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
Dress it first — And I am willing to give you the precedency. This he did, because if he had first offered, and God had answered by fire, Baal's priests would have desisted from making the trial on their part; and because the disappointment of the priests of Baal, of which he was well assured, would prepare the way for the people's attention to his words, and cause them to entertain his success with more affection; and this coming last would leave the greater impression upon their hearts. And this they accepted, because they might think, that if Baal answered them first, which they presumed he would, the people would be so confirmed and heightened in their opinion of Baal, that they might murder Elijah before he came to his experiment.
Verse 26
[26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Dressed — Cut it in pieces, and laid the parts upon the wood.
From morning — From the time of the morning sacrifice; which advantage Elijah suffered them to take.
They leapt upon — Or, beside the altar: or, before it. They used some superstitious and disorderly gestures, either pretending to be acted by the spirit of their god, and to be in a kind of religious extasy; or, in way of devotion to their god.
Verse 27
[27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Mocked them — Derided them and their gods, which had now proved themselves to be ridiculous and contemptible things.
Verse 28
[28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Cut themselves — Mingling their own blood with their sacrifices; as knowing by experience, that nothing was more acceptable to their Baal (who was indeed the devil) than human blood; and hoping thereby to move their god to help them. And this indeed was the practice of divers Heathens in the worship of their false gods.
Verse 29
[29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
Prophesied — That is, prayed to, and worshipped their god.
Verse 30
[30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
The altar — This had been built by some of their ancestors for the offering of sacrifice to the God of Israel, which was frequently done in high places.
Broken down — By some of the Baalites, out of their enmity to the true God, whose temple, because they could not reach, they shewed their malignity in destroying his altars.
Verse 31
[31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
Twelve stones — This he did, to renew the covenant between God and all the tribes, as Moses did, Exodus 24:4, to shew, that he prayed and acted in the name, and for the service of the God of all the Patriarchs, and of all the tribes of Israel, and for their good: and, to teach the people, that though the tribes were divided as to their civil government, they ought all to be united in the worship of the same God.
Israel — Jacob was graciously answered by God when he prayed to him, and was honoured with the glorious title of Israel, which noted his prevalency with God and men. And I, calling upon the same God, doubt not of a like gracious answer; and if ever you mean to have your prayers granted, you must seek to the God of Jacob.
Verse 33
[33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
With water — This they could quickly fetch, either from the river Kishon; or, if that was dried up, from the sea; both were at the foot of the mountain. This he did to make the miracle more glorious, and more unquestionable.
Verse 36
[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
The evening sacrifice — This time he chose, that he might unite his prayers with the prayers of the godly Jews at Jerusalem, who at that time assembled together to pray.
Lord God of, … — Hereby he shews faith in God's ancient covenant, and also reminds the people, of their relation both to God and to the patriarchs.
Done these things — Brought this famine, gathered the people hither, and done what I have done, or am doing here; not in compliance with my own passions, but in obedience to thy command.
Verse 37
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Hast turned — Let them feel so powerful a change in their hearts, that they may know it is thy work.
Back again — Unto thee, from whom they have revolted.
Verse 38
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Consumed — Solomon's altar was consecrated by fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used.
Verse 39
[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
They fell — In acknowledgment of the true God.
He is God — He alone; and Baal is a senseless idol. And they double the words, to note their abundant satisfaction and assurance of the truth of their assertion.
Psalm 96
Verse 1
[1] O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
O sing — Upon this new and great occasion, not the removal of the ark, but the coming of the Messiah.
Verse 4
[4] For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Gods — The gods of the nations, as the next verse expounds it.
Verse 6
[6] Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Before him — In his presence.
Verse 9
[9] O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Beauty — Cloathed with all the gifts and graces, which are necessary in God's worship.
Verse 10
[10] Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Reigneth — God hath now set up his kingdom in the world.
Established — The nations of the world shall by the means of it enjoy an established and lasting peace.
Verse 13
[13] Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Before — At the presence and approach of their Lord and Maker.
Cometh — To set up his throne among all the nations of the earth.
Galatians 1:1-12
Verse 1
[1] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Paul, an apostle — Here it was necessary for St. Paul to assert his authority; otherwise he is very modest in the use of this title. He seldom mentions it when he mentions others in the salutations with himself, as in the Epistles to the Philippians and Thessalonians; or when he writes about secular affairs, as in that to Philemon; nor yet in writing to the Hebrews because he was not properly their apostle.
Not of men — Not commissioned from them, but from God the Father.
Neither by man — Neither by any man as an instrument, but by Jesus Christ.
Who raised him from the dead — Of which it was the peculiar business of an apostle to bear witness.
Verse 2
[2] And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
And all the brethren — Who agree with me in what I now write.
Verse 4
[4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
That he might deliver us from the present evil world — From the guilt, wickedness, and misery wherein it is involved, and from its vain and foolish customs and pleasures.
According to the will of God — Without any merit of ours. St. Paul begins most of his epistles with thanksgiving; but, writing to the Galatians, he alters his style, and first sets down his main proposition, That by the merits of Christ alone, giving himself for our sins, we are justified: neither does he term them, as he does others, either saints," elect," or churches of God."
Verse 5
[5] To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
To whom be glory — For this his gracious will.
Verse 6
[6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
I marvel that ye are removed so soon — After my leaving you.
From him who called you by the grace of Christ — His gracious gospel, and his gracious power.
Verse 7
[7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Which, indeed, is not properly another gospel. For what ye have now received is no gospel at all; it is not glad, but heavy, tidings, as setting your acceptance with God upon terms impossible to be performed.
But there are some that trouble you — The same word occurs, Acts 15:24.
And would — If they were able. Subvert or overthrow the gospel of Christ - The better to effect which, they suggest, that the other apostles, yea, and I myself, insist upon the observance of the law.
Verse 8
[8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
But if we — I and all the apostles.
Or an angel from heaven — If it were possible.
Preach another gospel, let him be accursed — Cut off from Christ and God.
Verse 9
[9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
As — He speaks upon mature deliberation; after pausing, it seems, between the two verses.
We — I and the brethren who are with me.
Have said before — Many times, in effect, if not in terms.
So I say — All those brethren knew the truth of the gospel. St. Paul knew the Galatians had received the true gospel.
Verse 10
[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
For — He adds the reason why he speaks so confidently.
Do I now satisfy men — Is this what I aim at in preaching or writing? If I still - Since I was an apostle.
Pleased men — Studied to please them; if this were my motive of action; nay, if I did in fact please the men who know not God.
I should not be the servant of Christ — Hear this, all ye who vainly hope to keep in favour both with God and with the world!
Verse 11
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
But I certify you, brethren — He does not till now give them even this appellation. That the gospel which was preached by me among you is not according to man - Not from man, not by man, not suited to the taste of man.
Verse 12
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For neither did I receive it — At once.
Nor was I taught it — Slowly and gradually, by any man.
But by the revelation of Jesus Christ — Our Lord revealed to him at first, his resurrection, ascension, and the calling of the gentiles, and his own apostleship; and told him then, there were other things for which he would appear to him.
Luke 7:1-10
Verse 3
[3] And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Hearing of Jesus — Of his miracles, and of his arrival at Capernaum.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for 1 Kings 18:20-39
Verse 20
[20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
Ahab sent — He complied with Elijah's motion; because the urgency of the present distress made him willing to try all means to remove it; from a curiosity of seeing some extraordinary events; and principally, because God inclined his heart.
Verse 21
[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
And said — Why do you walk so lamely and unevenly, being so unsteady in your opinions and practices, and doubting whether it is better to worship God or Baal? If the Lord - Whom you pretend to worship.
Follow — Worship him, and him only, and that in such place and manner as he hath commanded you.
If Baal — If Baal can prove himself to be the true God.
Answered not — Being convinced of the reasonableness of his proposition.
Verse 22
[22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
I only — Here present, to own the cause of God. As far the other prophets of the Lord, many of them were slain, others banished, or hid in caves.
Verse 23
[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
Let then, … — To put this controversy to a short issue.
Verse 24
[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
By Fire — That shall consume the sacrifice by fire sent from heaven; which the people knew the true God used to do. It was a great condescension in God, that he would permit Baal to be a competitor with him. But thus God would have every mouth to be stopped, and all flesh become silent before him. And Elijah doubtless had a special commission from God, or he durst not have put it to this issue. But the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use not only then, but in all ages. Elijah does not say, The God that answers by water, tho' that was the thing the country needed, but that answers by fire, let him be God; because the atonement was to be made, before the judgment could be removed. The God therefore that has power to pardon sin, and to signify that by consuming the sin-offering, must needs be the God that can relieve us against the calamity.
Verse 25
[25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
Dress it first — And I am willing to give you the precedency. This he did, because if he had first offered, and God had answered by fire, Baal's priests would have desisted from making the trial on their part; and because the disappointment of the priests of Baal, of which he was well assured, would prepare the way for the people's attention to his words, and cause them to entertain his success with more affection; and this coming last would leave the greater impression upon their hearts. And this they accepted, because they might think, that if Baal answered them first, which they presumed he would, the people would be so confirmed and heightened in their opinion of Baal, that they might murder Elijah before he came to his experiment.
Verse 26
[26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Dressed — Cut it in pieces, and laid the parts upon the wood.
From morning — From the time of the morning sacrifice; which advantage Elijah suffered them to take.
They leapt upon — Or, beside the altar: or, before it. They used some superstitious and disorderly gestures, either pretending to be acted by the spirit of their god, and to be in a kind of religious extasy; or, in way of devotion to their god.
Verse 27
[27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Mocked them — Derided them and their gods, which had now proved themselves to be ridiculous and contemptible things.
Verse 28
[28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Cut themselves — Mingling their own blood with their sacrifices; as knowing by experience, that nothing was more acceptable to their Baal (who was indeed the devil) than human blood; and hoping thereby to move their god to help them. And this indeed was the practice of divers Heathens in the worship of their false gods.
Verse 29
[29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
Prophesied — That is, prayed to, and worshipped their god.
Verse 30
[30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
The altar — This had been built by some of their ancestors for the offering of sacrifice to the God of Israel, which was frequently done in high places.
Broken down — By some of the Baalites, out of their enmity to the true God, whose temple, because they could not reach, they shewed their malignity in destroying his altars.
Verse 31
[31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
Twelve stones — This he did, to renew the covenant between God and all the tribes, as Moses did, Exodus 24:4, to shew, that he prayed and acted in the name, and for the service of the God of all the Patriarchs, and of all the tribes of Israel, and for their good: and, to teach the people, that though the tribes were divided as to their civil government, they ought all to be united in the worship of the same God.
Israel — Jacob was graciously answered by God when he prayed to him, and was honoured with the glorious title of Israel, which noted his prevalency with God and men. And I, calling upon the same God, doubt not of a like gracious answer; and if ever you mean to have your prayers granted, you must seek to the God of Jacob.
Verse 33
[33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
With water — This they could quickly fetch, either from the river Kishon; or, if that was dried up, from the sea; both were at the foot of the mountain. This he did to make the miracle more glorious, and more unquestionable.
Verse 36
[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
The evening sacrifice — This time he chose, that he might unite his prayers with the prayers of the godly Jews at Jerusalem, who at that time assembled together to pray.
Lord God of, … — Hereby he shews faith in God's ancient covenant, and also reminds the people, of their relation both to God and to the patriarchs.
Done these things — Brought this famine, gathered the people hither, and done what I have done, or am doing here; not in compliance with my own passions, but in obedience to thy command.
Verse 37
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Hast turned — Let them feel so powerful a change in their hearts, that they may know it is thy work.
Back again — Unto thee, from whom they have revolted.
Verse 38
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Consumed — Solomon's altar was consecrated by fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used.
Verse 39
[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
They fell — In acknowledgment of the true God.
He is God — He alone; and Baal is a senseless idol. And they double the words, to note their abundant satisfaction and assurance of the truth of their assertion.
Psalm 96
Verse 1
[1] O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
O sing — Upon this new and great occasion, not the removal of the ark, but the coming of the Messiah.
Verse 4
[4] For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Gods — The gods of the nations, as the next verse expounds it.
Verse 6
[6] Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Before him — In his presence.
Verse 9
[9] O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Beauty — Cloathed with all the gifts and graces, which are necessary in God's worship.
Verse 10
[10] Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Reigneth — God hath now set up his kingdom in the world.
Established — The nations of the world shall by the means of it enjoy an established and lasting peace.
Verse 13
[13] Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Before — At the presence and approach of their Lord and Maker.
Cometh — To set up his throne among all the nations of the earth.
Galatians 1:1-12
Verse 1
[1] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Paul, an apostle — Here it was necessary for St. Paul to assert his authority; otherwise he is very modest in the use of this title. He seldom mentions it when he mentions others in the salutations with himself, as in the Epistles to the Philippians and Thessalonians; or when he writes about secular affairs, as in that to Philemon; nor yet in writing to the Hebrews because he was not properly their apostle.
Not of men — Not commissioned from them, but from God the Father.
Neither by man — Neither by any man as an instrument, but by Jesus Christ.
Who raised him from the dead — Of which it was the peculiar business of an apostle to bear witness.
Verse 2
[2] And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
And all the brethren — Who agree with me in what I now write.
Verse 4
[4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
That he might deliver us from the present evil world — From the guilt, wickedness, and misery wherein it is involved, and from its vain and foolish customs and pleasures.
According to the will of God — Without any merit of ours. St. Paul begins most of his epistles with thanksgiving; but, writing to the Galatians, he alters his style, and first sets down his main proposition, That by the merits of Christ alone, giving himself for our sins, we are justified: neither does he term them, as he does others, either saints," elect," or churches of God."
Verse 5
[5] To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
To whom be glory — For this his gracious will.
Verse 6
[6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
I marvel that ye are removed so soon — After my leaving you.
From him who called you by the grace of Christ — His gracious gospel, and his gracious power.
Verse 7
[7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Which, indeed, is not properly another gospel. For what ye have now received is no gospel at all; it is not glad, but heavy, tidings, as setting your acceptance with God upon terms impossible to be performed.
But there are some that trouble you — The same word occurs, Acts 15:24.
And would — If they were able. Subvert or overthrow the gospel of Christ - The better to effect which, they suggest, that the other apostles, yea, and I myself, insist upon the observance of the law.
Verse 8
[8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
But if we — I and all the apostles.
Or an angel from heaven — If it were possible.
Preach another gospel, let him be accursed — Cut off from Christ and God.
Verse 9
[9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
As — He speaks upon mature deliberation; after pausing, it seems, between the two verses.
We — I and the brethren who are with me.
Have said before — Many times, in effect, if not in terms.
So I say — All those brethren knew the truth of the gospel. St. Paul knew the Galatians had received the true gospel.
Verse 10
[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
For — He adds the reason why he speaks so confidently.
Do I now satisfy men — Is this what I aim at in preaching or writing? If I still - Since I was an apostle.
Pleased men — Studied to please them; if this were my motive of action; nay, if I did in fact please the men who know not God.
I should not be the servant of Christ — Hear this, all ye who vainly hope to keep in favour both with God and with the world!
Verse 11
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
But I certify you, brethren — He does not till now give them even this appellation. That the gospel which was preached by me among you is not according to man - Not from man, not by man, not suited to the taste of man.
Verse 12
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For neither did I receive it — At once.
Nor was I taught it — Slowly and gradually, by any man.
But by the revelation of Jesus Christ — Our Lord revealed to him at first, his resurrection, ascension, and the calling of the gentiles, and his own apostleship; and told him then, there were other things for which he would appear to him.
Luke 7:1-10
Verse 3
[3] And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Hearing of Jesus — Of his miracles, and of his arrival at Capernaum.
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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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