Our lives are in God's hands

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, August 18, 2009
Devotions: Ps 121-26; 2 Sam 18:9-18; Acts 23:12-24; Mk 11:27-12:12

I lift my gaze to the heights; my help comes from YHWH, Maker of everything! He is always vigilant, and He is my Caregiver. He will watch over me forever. I am always glad when someone suggests that we should go to God’s house and worship. And I love Jerusalem, His special place. I pray, Lord, for the peace of Jerusalem and all her people. May they prosper who love You and love your city. May peace abide there, for the sake of Your household. I focus my attention on God; Lord, have mercy on me, Your servant and creature. I have been targeted with contempt of the proud, and if You had not protected me, I would have perished. Blessed is YHWH, Who has saved and blessed me! Lord, Your steadfast love surrounds me as the mountains surround Jerusalem; I praise my God and pray for the blessing and peace of all His people. God has done great things for us, and we are glad! May we who sow in tears now reap with cries of joy; let us bring in God’s harvest, to His glory.

Absalom was riding his mule through the forest of Ephraim. His hair and head got caught in an overhanging oak tree, and he was left hanging between sky and earth. This was reported to Joab, and he and his armor-bearers killed Absalom. Joab recalled David’s forces, and they buried Absalom under a heap of stones, near a pillar Absalom had erected to himself in the King’s Valley.

More than forty Jews opposing Paul constructed a plot to kill him, vowing to take neither food nor drink until they accomplished Paul’s death. The conspirators communicated this to the chief priests and elders; they asked the Jewish leaders to persuade the Romans to transport Paul, so they could murder him. The son of Paul’s sister got wind of the plot; he sought out his uncle in the Roman barracks, and told him of the plan to kill him. Paul had a centurion conduct his nephew to the tribune, and the boy told the Roman commander what he had learned. The tribune charged Paul’s nephew to keep the news to himself. Then he made arrangements to have Paul transported in safety. Between 9 and 10 PM, seventy cavalrymen and 200 foot soldiers, led by two centurions, took Paul on horseback to Felix the governor at Caesarea.

As He walked in the temple, Jesus was accosted by the chief priests, scribes and elders. They asked Him by what authority He was acting and speaking. Jesus replied, ‘I will ask you a question; answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism from heaven, or from men?’ The Jewish authorities realized that no answer would serve their purposes, so they told Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ So He said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’ Jesus began to teach the people in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard with a hedge around it, installed a wine press and built a tower, then rented it out to tenants while he traveled abroad. When harvest time came, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect the owner’s share of the harvest. But the tenants beat the owner’s messenger and sent him away empty handed. The owner persisted, but time after time his emissaries were either beaten or killed, and no rent was paid. Finally, he sent his beloved son, believing the tenants would show respect for him. But the tenants agreed to kill the son, thinking they would then be owners of the vineyard and its facilities. Now, what will the owner do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. As you have read, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; this was YHWH’s doing, and it is marvelous to us!”’ The Jewish leaders sought to arrest Jesus; they knew His parable spoke against them. But they feared the multitude, so they left Jesus alone and went away.