God's providence

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.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Devotions: Ps 61. 62, 68; 2 Sam 3:6-21; Acts 16:6-15; Mk 6:30-46

YHWH, hear and answer my cry to You; lead me to a high, safe place. Let me abide in Your shelter forever! I wait patiently for You, my Rock and my Savior. My life and honor are entrusted to You, my God. We mortals have a choice: trust God or perish. So I accept God and Your steadfast love and endless power. Rise, Lord, scatter Your enemies like smoke in a whirlwind. I sing praises to God, the Father of orphans, Husband of widows, Master of all. Nature, too, obeys Your authority. Blessed is YHWH, Who daily bears me up, my Savior and my Life!

Abner strengthened his position during the war between David and the surviving house of Saul. Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s surviving son, accused Abner of having sex with one of Saul’s concubines, and Abner took great offense and swore to Ish-Bosheth that Abner would work to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul to David, so that David would rule ‘from Dan to Beer Sheba.’ Abner offered this proposal to David, and David accepted, on condition that Abner return David’s wife Michal to him. Ish-Bosheth had Michal taken from her current husband, Paltiel, and had her turned over to David. The people of Israel and Benjamin listened to Abner and put transferred their loyalty to David. Abner left David in peace.

Paul, Silas and their companions continued their journey through Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit forbade them to proceed into Asia or Bithynia, so they continued to Troas. There, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian entreating him to ‘come over and help us.’ So, Paul’s party, not including Luke the physician, crossed into Macedonia, bringing the gospel into Europe for the first time. They hastened to Philippi, and remained there for some days. On the Sabbath, they sought a place where the devout might pray, and went to the riverside. They spoke with the women gathered there. Among them was Lydia, a seller of purple goods, and a worshiper of God. She and her household accepted Paul’s message and were baptized, and then opened her home in hospitality to Paul and his companions.

When the apostles returned and shared with Jesus what they had experienced, done and taught, He invited them to come away with Him to a solitary place to rest. But as they departed, the crowds noticed and they ran ahead from all the towns. When Jesus and His companions landed, a great throng was waiting for them. Jesus had mercy and began to teach them many things. As the day waned, the disciples said to Jesus, ‘This is a lonely place, and it’s getting late. Send the people away, so they can find food.’ But He replied, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They were astonished, and said they didn’t have nearly enough money to feed such a crowd. Jesus asked them to find out how much food was immediately available. They discovered five barley loaves and two small fish. So Jesus directed that the crowd be seated on the grass, in groups of about fifty. Taking the food, Jesus looked into heaven, blessed and broke the bread and fish, and divided them so that the apostles could serve all the people. They all ate and were satisfied: five thousand men, plus women and children. After the crowd had eaten, the apostles took up twelve baskets full of leftovers! Then Jesus had His followers return to their boats and begin the voyage across to Bethsaida; He dismissed the crowd, then ascended the mountain alone to pray.