For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    I definitely agree with the proverb writer. I would rather live on a diet of bread and water (and stale bread at that) while living in peace than eat the fanciest feast among those who are arguing and agry with each other.

    The beginning of this psalm is a reflection of Israel’s early years of slavery in Egypt. However, it also reflects the experience of the Jewish people through most of history. In my opinion the second part of this psalm represents both the feelings of the psalmist and prophecy/curse. It is worth noting that the word used that is translated “Jerusalem” translates more accurately as “Zion”. Which means when the psalmist refers to those who “hate Jerusalem” he is referring to those who hate Jerusalem as a city of Jews.

    It is worth noting that at the end of his speech Stephen did not sugarcoat his point. He outright accuses those he was speaking to of deliberately disobeying God’s law. I think it is an important reminder to us that we do not always need to strive to avoid offending people. In this case, Stephen very clearly chose to offend those to whom he was speaking. Of course, if we follow Stephen’s example we should be prepared to experience what he experienced as well.
    When I read the story of Philip preaching in Samaria, I am reminded of the Amazing Randi. The Amazing Randi is a former magician(at least, I think he has retired) who took to debunking those claiming supernatural powers. His main point was that, as a magician, he knew how to perform, without any supernatural power, the same feats these people were claiming they used supernatural power to accomplish. When he watched the various shysters he debunked perform their miracles, he could generally tell how they were doing it. In those cases where he was not sure how they did it, it was because he could not tell which of several methods they were using. My point is that Simon was a renowned magician who was thought to have magical powers. He followed Philip around watching him perform miracles. Eventually, Simon believed and was baptized. This tells me that Simon saw what Philip was doing and realized that he could not duplicate it.

    I love Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple. I do not believe that we need to face Jerusalem when we pray in order to be heard by God. However, I do believe that God honours Solomon’s prayer. There is a common theme through much of the prayer, “if they acknowledge God’s name and turn from their sins…” Solomon acknowledged that the Temple could not contain God. He presented the Temple as a visible symbol, turning towards the Temple represented turning towards God. It was not necessary, but we humans sometimes need to move our bodies in order to move our minds.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    This proverb reminds us that it is better to live in poverty with barely enough to eat but at peace with those we live with than it is to have the most sumptuous lifestyle in conflict with those we live with.

    The psalmist tells us that those who hate Jerusalem, who battle against it, will be turned back in defeat. They will dry up and wither away. As log as their hostility remains they will receive no blessings from God, or God’s people.

    When Stephen reached the end of his account of the history of the Jewish people, the common ground he had with his accusers, he pointed out that the crucifixion of Jesus (and indirectly the persecution of himself) were rebellion against God just as much as the making of the golden calf. His audience did not want to hear that they had any sin to repent of. They stoned Stephen to death. Yet while he was being killed, Stephen asked God to forgive them. In doing this Stephen provided us a model for how we should react to those who persecute us today (especially considering that few of us face death for our faith…I have utmost respect for those who live where this is not true).
    The persecution which followed Stephen’s death scattered the believers. Philip went to a city in Samaria and began to preach. Notice that while the persecution scattered the believers, it did not silence them. They still preached the Gospel wherever they went. In Samaria, Simon the Sorcerer had been amazing people with the tricks he could perform. He led people to believe that he was someone great and had gathered quite a following. However, when Philip started preaching in Samaria, the people stopped following Simon and were baptized into the name of Jesus. Simon himself became a believer and followed Philip around listening to him and watching the wonders he performed.

    Solomon prayed as part of dedicating the Temple. He talks about many different situations where people will turn to God in prayer. He asks God to hear their prayers and grant their requests. This is not just a prayer for those of Jewish descent. Solomon specifically mentions foreigners who come to worship God. Let us make ourselves a Temple that honors God in the same way that Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem to honor God. If we do so, God will hear our prayers when we turn to Him and pray. Let us lift up our hearts to God with humble and earnest requests.

     I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. 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. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     Once the Temple and its furnishings were completed Solomon summoned the elders of the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem. During the Festival of Shelters he had the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant from where it had been in Jerusalem to the Temple. During the celebration, Solomon and the other leaders offered too many sacrifices to count. The priests then carried the Ark into the Most Holy Place of the Temple and placed it there. When the priests withdrew from the Most Holy Place after placing the Ark there a thick cloud filled the Temple. The cloud was so thick that the priests were unable to continue with their ceremony.
     Solomon then prayed a prayer of dedication for the Temple. He declared that the highest heavens were not big enough to contain God, let alone this Temple. However, Solomon said that God had declared that His name would be present in the Temple. Solomon asked God to always hear the prayers of His people when they humbly and earnestly prayed towards the Temple. Solomon asked God to hear their prayers and forgive their sins. Solomon extended his prayer to include all the people of the earth who turn to God. When people turn to God, confess their sin and call on Him, He will answer them. He will judge between the accuser and the accused, punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent. When disaster strikes us because of our sins, if we turn back to God and follow His commands once more, He will answer our prayers and deliver us. When Solomon finished his prayer of dedication for the Temple, he turned to the people and addressed them. He told them to praise the Lord and to be faithful to God. In his comments he included this further prayer, “May He give us the desire to do His will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that He gave our ancestors.”

     I wish to echo that: May God give me, and all of those who read this, the desire to do His will in everything and to obey His commands.

     Having gone over the history of God’s actions on behalf of the Jewish people and their repeated rejection of God’s messengers, Stephen condemned the Sanhedrin for stubbornness and resisting the Holy Spirit. He told them that their ancestors had persecuted the prophets, going so far as to kill those who predicted the coming of the Messiah. Then Stephen told them that they had betrayed and killed the Messiah Himself. Those present for his trial reacted with anger and hostility. Stephen however looked to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. Stephen told his accusers and everyone present that he saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man (a term those present would have been aware that Jesus used for Himself) standing at the right hand of God. When they heard Stephen say this, those present covered their ears and started shouting. Then they rushed him, drug him out of the city and began to stone him. While they were doing this they laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul, who, we are told, approved of what they were doing. Stephen cried out to God asking that He receive his spirit and that He not hold this sin against those killing him. In doing this Stephen imitated Jesus when He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. Can I follow this model which Jesus and Stephen have given us of forgiving those who persecute me? They were willing to forgive those who killed them in an extremely painful manner, how much easier it should be for me to forgive those who have done wrong to me.
     After this the believers were scattered because of persecution with almost all of them fleeing Jerusalem. Saul went from house to house dragging out believers, both men and women and throwing them in prison. The believers who left Jerusalem preached the Gospel wherever they went. Philip went to Samaria (one thing I would like to point out, while it is probable that Philip the Evangelist, or Deacon, was a different person than Philip the Apostle, nowhere is that actually spelled out as being the case). In Samaria, Philip performed many signs. He cast out demons, cured the sick and made the lame to walk. This was a source of great joy in the city of Samaria. There was a man in the city of Samaria who had performed magic, amazing the people of Samaria for many years. His name was Simon and he claimed to be someone great. The people of Samaria referred to him as being the Great One of God. The people of Samaria listened to Simon because of the wonders he performed. However, now they believed Philip as he proclaimed the Gospel and many of them were baptized. Simon himself believed and was baptized. He started following Philip around because he was astounded by the signs and miracles Philip performed. Everything I read about Simon suggests that he did the sorts of things that stage magicians today do. How I would love to see some Christian demonstrate the power of God to some well-known and respected magicians today, such as Penn Jillette or James Randi. I doubt even then that they would believe, but I would like to see what impact it might have if the Holy Spirit were to lead one or both of them to start proclaiming the Gospel.

     From the very beginning the people of Israel have been persecuted, but God has released them from bondage. God has sent His Son to release all who believe on Him from bondage to sin and sinners. Those who hate the Jews and God’s people will find themselves ignored and despised. No one will call God’s blessings on them nor bless them themselves.

     Better a basic meal with little flavor, eaten in peace than the finest banquet eaten in the middle of argument and strife.