Ecclesiastes 12
It’s interesting, isn’t it? Solomon traveled the world, tasted every delight, sampled every pleasure, and denied himself nothing. And at the end of it all, he was left to conclude that all was empty and meaningless, except for this: “Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.” (vs 13)
Psalm 137
This is a very sad psalm. Not only was it written when the Israelites were in Babylonian exile, but you can almost feel their despair as they are mocked by their captors: “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’” (vs 1-3)
Psalm 113
Can I shout it from the rooftops today? Our God is limited by nothing! Are you poor? Are you needy? Are you depressed? Discouraged? Childless? Afraid? Sick? Unemployed? Suicidal? Spouseless? There is good news for YOU! No matter your circumstances, your situation is not so impossible that God can’t turn it all around. He specializes in turning what’s “bad” on its head!
Job 28
If you watch much TV, I'm sure you're familiar with the premier MasterCard commercials from a few years ago, featuring the "priceless" slogan. For instance, one featured a woman going on a blind date: "Haircut and style—seventy dollars. Spa manicure—fifty dollars. Stunning black dress—one hundred thirty dollars. Your blind date complaining about picking up the sixty dollar tab—priceless. There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard."
1 Chronicles 2
Okay, ready for genealogy lesson number two? In this chapter, we revisit the genealogy of the twelve tribes of Israel. In it, we find the story of Er and Onan (the sons of Judah) and Tamar. Tamar was married to Er, but before they could have children, Er died. As Er’s brother, Onan was supposed to marry Tamar and continue the family line. He refused, and he died. Tamar appealed to Judah regarding her situation, but even he was unsympathetic.
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God
promised
Abraham
Canaan, the land,
as a gift to him and his descendants.
Years passed with no fulfillment of the vow,
but Abraham
had learned to
trust in
God.
When
Sarah
passed away,
he bought a grave,
and laid her there to rest in promised land.
Israel's first piece of Canaan was a
burial plot,
a wager
on God's
word.
*Tetractys: A poetic form consisting of at least 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10 syllables, respectively. Tetractys can be written with more than one verse, but each must follow suit with an inverted syllable count.
EXODUS 2
So, when was the last time you worried about anything? Think God is too unconcerned with you to worry about the details of your life? Think He is too small and impotent to work out your circumstances? Consider this verse from today’s reading: "Pharaoh’s daughter said, 'Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.'" (vs 9)
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As soon as eyes were opened, there was shame,
And fig's-leaf clothing could not quell the fear.
In bushes, hiding, fear gave way to blame
That promised to unravel all things dear.
To lose our paradise would be our gain,
Since sin destroys if it is left unchecked.
But we could not perceive the gift in pain:
God drove us out in order to protect,
While promising we'd one day see that Tree
Within a heav'nly garden where we'd thrive.
And this, his brilliant plan to make us free:
Another firstborn Adam would arrive
To fight the snake—to love, to bleed, to cry,
So we could be reclaimed and never die.
Sonnet: A poem consisting of 14 lines with a particular rhyming scheme.
Photo © shutterstock.com/Petar Paunchev
"I feel like dirt."
These words we use to confess
regret
worthlessness
despair
When they should forecast
expectation
possibility
hope
Or have we forgotten what
God Almighty
does with dirt
