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.

     Today’s passage recounts more on the descendants of Judah and lists descendants of Simeon, Reuben and Gad. The only thing in this passage that is not just a dry recounting of lineage and historical information is the prayer of Jabez. We are told that he was more honorable than his brothers and that he prayed this prayer, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” We are told that God granted his request. A book was written about this prayer suggesting that Christians pray it daily. While the interpretation given in the book is not bad, I believe a large part of its popularity was due to this prayer readily lending itself to a “prosperity gospel” interpretation. Personally, I think that the Lord’s prayer given by Jesus to His disciples as a model prayer is a much better prayer for Christians to try and say every day.

     This passage tells us what happened when the governor who was in charge when Paul was arrested was replaced by Festus. When Festus visits Jerusalem shortly after arriving, the Jewish leaders request that he transfer Paul to Jerusalem. Festus refuses since Paul is in Caesarea, where Festus will be returning shortly. Festus tells the Jewish leaders that they can make their accusations against Paul before him there. When the Jewish leaders make their case against Paul before Festus, they are unable to support any of their charges. Festus attempts to get Paul to agree to a transfer of his trial to Jerusalem. Paul refuses and appeals to Caesar. Before he appeals to Caesar, Paul points out that Festus has found him guilty of nothing worthy of death and that if he is sent to Jerusalem, he will be killed. When King Agrippa comes to visit with Festus, Festus discusses the case with him. Festus implies that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he might go free. However, this is contrary to the evidence since Paul has been in prison for over two years at this point and neither Felix nor Festus has found him guilty of anything despite both holding trials for him. It is clear that the Roman governors are not going to let Paul go free (unless, perhaps, he bribes them).
     King Agrippa expressed an interest in hearing Paul speak, so Festus agreed to arrange for it the following day. The next day, King Agrippa and his sister came to the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by an escort of military officers and important functionaries. It is not clear from the passage who was the intended audience of this pomp, whether it was Festus or Paul. I suspect it was a little bit of both.

     The psalmist declares that each morning he brings his requests to the Lord in prayer and then waits expectantly for God’s reply. He asks God to make His way for him to follow. I echo that. I struggle with a tendency to take the easy path, if God does not make His way clear, I will follow the path of least resistance. If we follow the Lord’s guidance, we will find safety from those who seek to harm us and victory over the wicked.

     Today’s proverb tells us how damaging an argument can be to friendship. I have seen several of my friends destroy friendships of long standing because they were unwilling to apologize for hurtful things that they said. The hurtful things were true, but they could have been said more gently and perhaps would have led to a positive change in the person they were directed at if they had been said that way. As it is, friendships of long standing were destroyed and souls were hardened even further against Christ.