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. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     When Josiah died he was succeeded by his son, Jehoahaz. Pharaoh Neco replaced Jehoahaz with his brother Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim was succeeded by his son, Jehoiachin. King Nebuchadnezzar replaced Jehoiachin with his uncle, Zedekiah. All of these kings failed to follow the example of Josiah. Instead, they did evil in the sight of God. When Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. At that time, Nebuchadnezzar transported a large number of the people of Judah to Babylon as prisoners. He appointed Gedaliah as governor over those he left.
     The remaining army officers approached Gedaliah and he swore an oath that the king of Babylon meant them no harm as long as they served him. However, one of the officers returned a few months later and killed Gedaliah and all of those with him. The remaining people of Judah fled to Egypt out of fear of how the king of Babylon would respond to this attack.

     Paul continued his testimony about how God convicted him to become a follower of Christ, continuing to talk about how God led him to preach to the Gentiles. When Paul mentioned the Gentiles the crowd erupted in anger to the point that the commander ordered Paul taken into the barracks and flogged. As they were about to flog him, Paul asked the officer overseeing his flogging if it was lawful to flog a Roman citizen without a trial. The officer told the commander, who then questioned Paul as to his citizenship.
     The commander was frightened because he had ordered a Roman citizen flogged without a trial. He ordered the Sanhedrin to convene the next day and brought Paul before them. Paul opened by telling the Sanhedrin that he had fulfilled his duty to God in all good conscience up to that day. The high priest ordered someone standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Paul responded by calling the high priest a hypocrite for ordering him struck in violation of the law. When those standing near him reprimanded him for insulting God’s high priest Paul apologized, saying that he had not realized he was the high priest. Paul continued by saying that it was wrong to speak evil of one’s rulers.
     Paul says something similar in his letters and such passages are a struggle for me. I find it difficult to not speak badly of those who do things which I think are dishonest or otherwise wrong. I have attempted to limit my comments on political issues to pointing out logic flaws in the reasoning of individuals discussing those topics while avoiding comments on actual political issues, but I find that a difficult discipline to maintain. All too often, as time goes on I find myself openly calling into question the character of political figures who repeatedly take positions on issues that I find offensive. It is passages like this one that form the basis of my understanding that Christians are called to stay out of politics (although there are many other passages that go into that understanding).
     After this incident, Paul realized that the Sanhedrin was composed of a mixed group of Sadducees, who held in contempt those who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Pharisees, who vehemently believed that God would resurrect the righteous. Therefore, Paul loudly proclaimed that he was on trial for holding on to the hope of the resurrection of the dead. This led to violent argument among the members of the Sanhedrin. The argument became so heated and violent that the Roman commander was afraid that the two parties would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his men to go in and take Paul out by force back to the fortress.

     Today’s psalm tells us of the futility of governments which attempt to free themselves from following God’s commands. It reminds me of what I have seen in the news over the last week or so. In so many places I have seen governments declare that they are not bound to follow God’s law. It can be frightening when one sees how the government is rebelling against God and then read what this psalm says about such governments. However, this psalm ends with a statement of hope, even in that situation: “But what joy for all who take refuge in him!”
     While God will bring judgment on all who rebel against Him, He will provide protection and blessing for those who take refuge in Him!

     Speaking about an issue before you know the facts is foolish and will often lead to shame.