Contentions

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, in the archives, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Friday, July 3, 2009
Devotions: Ps 141-43; 1 Sam 13:19-14:15; Acts 9:1-9; Lk 23:26-31

YHWH, I call to You: come to me; hear my prayers; set a guard over my mouth, Lord. Guide me away from sin and into Your holiness. Help me shun evil. Let a good man rebuke me, but keep me from the praise of the wicked. My attention is on You, Lord God. Let the wicked fall into their own nets while I escape. You are my Refuge, Lord. Deliver me from my persecutors, and let me see the triumph of the godly. Answer me in Your righteousness, O Lord. I know I am a sinner, but You have redeemed me. I keep before me all Your wondrous deeds of grace and power. I long for You like our parched land longs for rain. Let me hear of Your steadfast love this very morning. Teach me the way I should go. Deliver me from all enemies; teach me to do Your will and let Your Spirit lead me on a godly path. Preserve my life and cut off my enemies, for I am Your servant, YHWH.

In the days of Saul’s kingship, there were no smiths in Israel; Philistia had a monopoly on metalwork, and every Israelite had to travel there to sharpen his tools—plowshares, mattocks, axes or scythes. Consequently, when battle came, the Philistines had swords and spears, but except for Saul and Jonathan, the Israelites had none. One day, Jonathan and his armor-bearer went out and approached a steep place; at the top was a Philistine garrison. Jonathan told his companion, ‘We’ll let them see us. If they tell us to wait while they come down to fight, we won’t go up. But if they tell us to come up to them, we’ll take that as a sign that YHWH has given them into our hands.' The Philistines mocked the two Israelites and dared them to come up for a skirmish. So Jonathan and his armor-bearer scaled the heights up to the Philistines, and the enemies fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer finished them off, following the prince. They killed about twenty Philistines, and very great panic spread throughout the Philistine encampment.

Saul of Tarsus went to the Jewish high priest in Jerusalem and obtained letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found men or women belonging to the Way, Christ’s followers, Saul might bring them in custody to Jerusalem. But as he journeyed toward Damascus, he was suddenly dazzled by a light from heaven. Saul fell to the ground, and heard a voice: ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are you, lord?’ Saul answered. ‘I Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting; now rise and enter the city, and you will be told what to do.’ Saul’s traveling companions heard the voice, but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days, he neither ate nor drank, and remained blind.

As the mob took Jesus away from Pilate to crucify Him, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was just coming in from the country; they laid the cross on Simon and forced him to carry it behind Jesus. A great multitude followed along, including many women who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus addressed them: ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for Me—weep for yourselves and for your children. Days are coming when it will be said, “Blessed are the barren and wombs that never bore and the breasts that nursed.” They’ll say to the mountains, “Fall on us” and to the hills “Cover us!” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’