I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     I had never really noticed before that Jacob moved back to Bethel just after his sons Simeon and Levi had slaughtered all of the men of the town of Shechem because the son of the ruler had raped their sister. When Jacob learned what they had done, he was afraid that the people of the region would join together to take revenge on them by wiping out his entire family. God reminded Jacob that he had appeared to him once before when he was afraid for his life. Jacob packed up his family and moved to where God had appeared to him on that occasion.
     Jacob gathered his family and ordered them to make a clean breast of things. They were to get rid of all of their idols and all of their objects of worship of gods other than God. He took all of these goods and buried them under a tree near Shechem then they all traveled to Bethel. When they arrived, Jacob built an altar and renewed his relationship with God. Sometimes we need to do things like this. Put aside all of the things which distract us from God and go to a place where God had appeared to us before so that we can renew our relationship with Him. Jacob had named the town where he saw the stairway to heaven “Bethel”, which means the House of God. Where is the place that you think of as the House of God? Is it time for you to visit there once more?

     In this passage Jesus quotes Hosea, “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” This was in response to an accusation that His disciples had broken Sabbath Laws. This is followed by a story where the religious leaders are angry because Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath. The point of the two stories in today’s passage about the Sabbath is that God’s Laws are meant to encourage us to do good to those around us not to prevent us from meeting our own basic needs or caring for those in need.
     As an example of how I apply this passage: I avoid shopping on Sundays because I realized a few years ago that the only reason I did so was because I found it convenient to do so. There were times when I did not get my shopping done on Saturday because I figured I could do it on Sunday and there were other things (sometimes just being lazy) that I wanted to do on Saturday. I realized that this took away from my ability to do things related to worshiping God on Sunday, so I made the decision to stop doing so. I do not make this a rule I cannot break. I just plan my week so that I can get my shopping done on the other six days. This is a decision which I have reached and I recognize that others have schedules and needs which may make it necessary for them to shop on Sunday.

     The psalmist gives us a list of characteristics we should desire to make ours:

• live blamelessly

This means not to do the wrong thing.

• do what is right

However, not doing the wrong thing is not enough, we need to do the right thing.

• speak the truth

This is more than just “don’t lie.”

• refuse to gossip

This is often more difficult than it sounds.

• refuse to harm our neighbor

Considering what Jesus says about who are neighbors are, this is pretty comprehensive.

• refuse to speak evil of friends

I don’t think I need to elaborate on this.

• despise vile persons

These are the people who revel in doing nasty things to others

• honour the faithful

This is the flip side of the previous one. All too many despise the faithful and honour the vile.

• keep promises, even when it hurts

Sometimes it is inconvenient to do what you said you would do, do it anyway.

• lend to the poor for no gain

Helping the poor without making them dependent

• refuse bribes to tell lies

It is interesting that it does not just say “refuse bribes.” It appears to suggest that it is OK to accept a bribe to be honest and upright.

     If you want to live a life without fear, always think about what is the wise course of action and seek to understand what is going on around you. As we keep our eyes on God’s wisdom we will not be afraid of sudden disaster, nor ruin. As we seek course that reflects God’s wisdom, we will find ourselves under God’s protection.