Rebekah - Daughter of Bethuel

Though I haven’t posted in a while thought I’d share a quick link for the Bible Reading Plan - Original Order.

Today’s reading was Genesis 22-24.

When Abraham tells his servant to go find Isaac a wife (Genesis 24) – and the servant meets Rebekah she meets the fleece test (see Judges 6).

Verse 29 says her brother’s name is Laban – stop.  Go back, wait, what?!?!?!

Gen 22:20-24 just gave the genealogy, and I didn’t remember seeing Laban and totally missed Bethuel as Nahor’s son.

Somehow, I assumed Bethuel was the mother (Gen 24:50-55).

Well, wouldn’t the words born and begat be a clue?  Not necessarily, born and begat, at least in this passage share the same Hebrew word (H3205 - yaw-lad').

Genealogy matters.  Have you been begotten by the Father into His eternal family?

I cried…

I cried…

Reading through the Bible, in the time frame of David’s rising as the future king and Saul’s decline and his persecution of David.

“I cried” (or some variation thereof) was echoed again and again…when trials and tribulations beset us, we can, as David did, cry unto the Lord.

As just a phrase, in Psalms it is record 14 times:

Psa_3:4  I cried (H7121) unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Psa_30:2  O LORD my God, I cried (H7768) unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Psa_30:8  I cried (H7121) to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

Psa_31:22  For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried (H7768)  unto thee.

Psa_66:17  I cried (H7121) unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

Psa_77:1  To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried (H6817) unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

Psa_88:13  But unto thee have I cried (H7768), O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

Psa_119:145  KOPH. I cried (H7121) with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

Psa_119:146  I cried (H7121) unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

Psa_120:1  A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried (H7121) unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Psa_130:1  A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried (H7121) unto thee, O LORD.

Psa_138:3  In the day when I cried (H7121) thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

Psa_142:1  Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried (H2199) unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

Psa_142:5  I cried (H2199) unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

H7121 - qârâ' - kaw-raw' -A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.  Used 737x in 691 verses, 56 in Psalms.

H7768 - shâva‛ - shaw-vah' - A primitive root; properly to be free; but used only causatively and reflexively to halloo (for help, that is, freedom from some trouble): - cry (aloud, out), shout.  Used 21x in 21 verses, 9 in Psalms.

H6817 - tsâ‛aq - tsaw-ak' - A primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly): -    X at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together).  Used 55x in 53 verses, 5 in Psalms.

H2199 - zâ‛aq - zaw-ak' - A primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly: - assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed.  Used 73x in 73 verses, 5 in Psalms

The Hebrew word most often used is:  H7121; however, both H2199 and H6187 are used 5x in the Psalms.

H2199:

Psa 22:5  They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 

Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

H6187:

Psa 34:17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psa 88:1  A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 

Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 

Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

The Evil Tongue - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

The heart of man is not one of the many objects upon which God turns His all seeing eye, but it is one which He singles out for investigation: “I search the heart.”

Not a moment of our life but His pure, calm, searching eye has been gazing on the inmost recesses of our hearts. From childhood to old age His eye rests on us.

Many a deed that is applauded by men, is abominable in the sight of God, who searches the heart.

Oh, flee to the Lord Jesus Christ for shelter—for blood to blot out past sins, and righteousness to cover you. “See, God our shield” (Psa 84:9).

Spurgeon - The Evil Tongue

Snippets from The Evil Tongue (Chapel Library) - Charles Spurgeon

"They [who is they?] say that silence is a fine jewel for a woman, but it is very little worn. Is it so? Is it true that a woman only conceals what she does not know?Are women’s tongues like lambs’ tails, always wagging? They say foxes are all tail, and women all tongue. Is this false or not?"

"What a pity that there is not a tax upon words: what an income would come from it; but, alas, talking pays no toll! And if lies paid double, the government might pay off the national debt; but who could collect the money?"

"Silence seldom makes mischief; but talking is a plague to the parish. Silence is wisdom. By this rule, wise men and wise women are scarce. Still waters are the deepest; but the shallowest brooks brawl the most; this shows how plentiful fools must be. An open mouth shows an empty head."

"Gossips of both genders, give up the shameful trade of talebearing; don’t be the Devil’s bellows to blow up the fire of strife. Leave off setting people by the ears."

Link: http://www.chapellibrary.org/book/etonfg/evil-tongue-the

Ridiculous?

Ridiculous

I heard a parent tell a young child (somewhere between 5-7) years old, “you’re being ridiculous” – the word grated upon my ear.

How do you say something like that to a child?  Did I ever say things like that to my children – probably so, O Lord forgive me.  Have I said, or even thought it, about someone?  O Lord forgive me.

What was the child doing which caused such censure?

First define the word, maybe, just maybe it doesn’t mean what I think…

ri-dic-u-lous – an adjective – deserving or inviting derision or mockery, absurd.

So, what was the child doing to deserve, or worse inviting, derision or mockery.

The parent wanted to take a picture in them in their rain boots, the child didn’t want to comply.  Disobedience?

Maybe, but I’m guessing the reason for the picture was meant to be posted on social media – for the purpose of?

Look at me

Look at my children

Acknowledge me

Affirm me

RELEASE THE DOPAMINE!

Which of course meant I had to research how accurate my ‘perception’ of social media seeking thrills.

Dopamine, Smartphones & You: A Battle For Your Time

Ouch – I’m not on social media, in fact, I’d withdrawn from even posting on this blog because I didn’t want to do it for the ‘oh look at me’ or ‘affirm me’ or ‘oh  look how many views I’ve had’ (guilty as charged).

However, as I read the article, I realized I’m still guilty!  Grief!  My phone has become an extension of my hand!  I spend W-A-Y too much time looking at my phone!

Here are just a few highlights – but really read the article (even on your smartphone!) or research it further and pray about it, pray for your loved ones, pray for me!

…adults in the US spend an average of 2-4 hours per day tapping, typing, and swiping on their devices.

…the social structures in which we thrive tend to contain about 150 individuals. This number is orders of magnitude smaller than the 2 billion potential connections we carry around in our pockets today.

Although not as intense as hit of cocaine, positive social stimuli will similarly result in a release of dopamine, reinforcing whatever behavior preceded it.

This neurological feature is something casino owners have used to their advantage for years. 

Other examples highlight a more deliberate effort to monopolize your time.

Smartphones and social media apps aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it is up to us as the users to decide how much of our time we want to dedicate to them.

So the next time you pick up your phone to check Facebook, you might ask yourself, “Is this really worth my time?”

Lord, help us to see ourselves as You see us, to remember we are slaves, Your servants.  Help us to use the resources You give in a way which brings You honor and glory.  Help us to be good stewards of the time You’ve allowed us on this side of glory.

July 2018 – Read through the Bible

1-Jul	Psalms 26-31	Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah)
2-Jul	Psalms 32-35
3-Jul	Psalms 36-39
4-Jul	Psalms 40-45
5-Jul	Psalms 46-50
6-Jul	Psalms 51-57
7-Jul	Psalms 58-65
8-Jul	Psalms 66-69
9-Jul	Psalms 70-73
10-Jul	Psalms 74-77
11-Jul	Psalms 78-79
12-Jul	Psalms 80-85
13-Jul	Psalms 86-89
14-Jul	Psalms 90-95
15-Jul	Psalms 96-102
16-Jul	Psalms 103-105
17-Jul	Psalms 106-107
18-Jul	Psalms 108-114
19-Jul	Psalms 115-118
20-Jul	Psalm 119:1-88
21-Jul	Psalm 119:89-176
22-Jul	Psalms 120-132
23-Jul	Psalms 133-139
24-Jul	Psalms 140-145
25-Jul	Psalms 146-150
26-Jul	Proverbs 1-3
27-Jul	Proverbs 4-6
28-Jul	Proverbs 7-9
29-Jul	Proverbs 10-12
30-Jul	Proverbs 13-15
31-Jul	Proverbs 16-18

June 2018

I confess, I'd gotten lazy...and just went back to June 2017 to use the read through schedule.  However, wanted to encourage another saint to read through and said I'd send a link for the current schedule (have you found a Bible buddy?)  Without further ado....drum roll please....here it is:

1-Jun	Ezekiel 8-10	Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)
2-Jun	Ezekiel 11-12
3-Jun	Ezekiel 13-15
4-Jun	Ezekiel 16-17
5-Jun	Ezekiel 18-20
6-Jun	Ezekiel 21-23
7-Jun	Ezekiel 24-27
8-Jun	Ezekiel 28-31
9-Jun	Ezekiel 32-34
10-Jun	Ezekiel 35-38
11-Jun	Ezekiel 39-41
12-Jun	Ezekiel 42-43
13-Jun	Ezekiel 44-45
14-Jun	Ezekiel 46-48
15-Jun	Hosea 1-7	Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) 1 Book/12 Prophets
16-Jun	Hosea 8-14
17-Jun	Joel 1-3
18-Jun	Amos 1-5
19-Jun	Amos 6-9
20-Jun	Obadiah; Jonah 1-4
21-Jun	Micah 1-7
22-Jun	Nahum 1-3; Habakkuk 1-3
23-Jun	Zephaniah 1-3; Haggai 1-2
24-Jun	Zechariah 1-7
25-Jun	Zechariah 8-14
26-Jun	Malachi 1-4
27-Jun	Psalms 1-8	Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah)
28-Jun	Psalms 9-16
29-Jun	Psalms 17-20
30-Jun	Psalms 21-25

As an FYI if you're looking for January, February, March, April and/or May (click on the month).