Peace Be Still

Read Psalm 4 and Luke 10:38-42*

Sermon:   “Peace, Be Still”

As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  I can almost hear you say “What a minute, Tom, we know this story.  Marth too busy and Mary got the good stuff.” 

Yes, on the surface, that is as good of a summery as any.  But is that all there is to this story?  Can we not learn anything more?

I have heard plenty of sermons asking me to decide if I am a Martha, a person too busy with the cares of the world; or a Mary, the quiet, contemplative, lover of Jesus.  Well, my answer has always been, “Yes”.

Yes, I am each of those things at different times.

However, when I read this passage now, I understand more about what is happening here.  That is one of the marvels of scripture reading, the more you read, them more you see.  Like a flower opening its petals, it slowly opens to your heart and mind.

It all started when Jesus came to Bethany, to visit the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  They had become cherished personal friends of Jesus during His earthly ministry.  He had a profound love for their family, and it’s clear from Luke’s account that Jesus made Himself at home in their house.

Certainly hospitality was a special hallmark of this family.  Martha in particular is portrayed everywhere as a meticulous hostess.  The fact that her name was usually listed first whenever she’s named with her siblings implies strongly that she was the elder sister of Mary and Lazarus.  She as the eldest would have taken on the role of caretaker for her sister and brother.

First of all it appears that it is Martha’s home.  Nowhere in the story does it say that Mary lived there with Martha.  It would have been a common thing for unmarried sisters to live together.  However it would have been equally common that they have separate homes.  I have also heard sermons that say this is their brother Lazareth’s home.  However, when I read John 11:1 we find, “Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived, was sick.” To me, that just says that the sisters and their brother lived in the same town.  So, if indeed this was Martha’s home, it changes the dynamics of the story slightly.

However, whether she owned the home or was just the one who managed the home, it was Martha who invited Jesus into her home.  This was her service to him.  By inviting the Master into her home she had accepted the hosting responsibilities implied in the invitation.

Jesus had come at Martha’s invitation.  She was the one who welcomed Him in, signifying that she was the actual master of ceremonies in this house.  On this occasion, at least, she wasn’t merely filling in as a surrogate hostess for a friend; she was plainly the one in charge of the household.  She fussed over her hostess duties.  She wanted everything to be just right.  She was a conscientious and considerate hostess, and these were admirable traits.  Much in her behavior was commendable.

When I read this passage, I am often reminded of my first mother in law.  She was a loving, giving, Christian woman who had a real gift for giving of herself, her time and everything she owned.  When describing her, I usually say, “She was the type of woman where, if you knocked on her door to sell magazines, she would invite you in.  And the following scene would unfold:  “Here sit down, you look hot and tired.  Would you like some water?  Or I have some pop.  Or I could make coffee.  Would you like a sandwich, I have leftover ham.”

She sounds like a delight doesn’t she?  Amen?  She was.  However, it could be slightly frustrating when you came to visit her.  She was so busy being the hostess, that you couldn’t get her to sit still and talk with you.  I think of Martha in that way.

Martha wasn’t the only that scriptures say gave invited Jesus into their homes.  So perhaps we should take at those times and compare and contrast the other invitations with Martha’s.   In Luke 14:7-11 Jesus attends a banquet in the home of a prominent Pharisee and teaches a lesson about proper guest etiquette.

“Then Jesus noticed how the guests always chose the places of honor. So he used this illustration when he spoke to them:  “When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t take the place of honor. Maybe someone more important than you was invited.  Then your host would say to you, ‘Give this person your place.’ Embarrassed, you would have to take the place of least honor.  So when you’re invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move to a more honorable place.’ Then all the other guests will see how you are honored.  Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who humble themselves will be honored.”

Having now schooled the guests on proper behavior, he does the same for the Pharisee in verses 12-14

“Then he told the man who had invited him, “When you invite people for lunch or dinner, don’t invite only your friends, family, other relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they will return the favor.  Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the handicapped, the lame, and the blind.  Then you will be blessed because they don’t have any way to pay you back. You will be paid back when those who have God’s approval come back to life.”

Now that we have heard Jesus’ teaching, let’s look at what was going on in Martha’s home.  Has she invited those who can return the favor?

No.  She has invited Jesus.  By extension, we can assume that his disciples were also present.  Remember the scriptures says, “As they were traveling along”. Jesus was an itinerant preacher with no permanent home. Luke 9:58 and Matthew 8:20 say, “Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.”  While it is possible that some of the disciples had homes in the area, we must remember that when Jesus called them, they dropped what they were doing and followed.  Even if the disciples weren’t actually homeless, they were without income.  They were living on the charity of others.  So Jesus and his followers were not in a position to repay Martha by inviting her to dine with them. 

Jesus, as the guest was seated in the honored place.  Not because he chose it but because it was offered.

I find it enlightening that the customs of the time held that women’s legal rights were categorized along with Gentiles, minors, deaf-mutes and "undesirables" such as gamblers, the insane, usurers, and pigeon-racers.”  One of these days I want to know more about those sinful pigeon-racers.  But that is a study for another time.

The point is, for Jesus to accept her offer, meant that he was once again breaking the traditions and teachings of the religious leaders of the day.  Just as He did when in Mark 2:14-16  we read, “When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” So Levi got up and followed him.  Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples. When the experts in Moses’ Teachings who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

This, most likely, was Martha’s life.  Everything revolved around caring for the home.  It was both her treasure and her prison because “In those times, respectable women were expected to stay within the confines of the home.  “The woman of the first century did not even do her own shopping, except possibly to go out, accompanied by a slave, to buy material which she would use to construct her own clothing at home! Customarily, even a woman of stature could not engage in commerce and would rarely be seen outside her home. Only a woman in dire economic straits, who was forced to become the family breadwinner, could engage in her own small trade. If a woman was ever in the streets, she was to be heavily veiled and was prohibited from conversing with men. "It is the way of a woman to stay at home and it is the way of a man to go out into the marketplace" (J)

Now we know that Martha had a sister named Mary.  and we know that Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.  It is believed that this is the same event that is described in John 12:1-8.

Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there.  Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.

Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus’ feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked,  “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?” (Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)  Jesus said to Judas, “Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.”

Some scholars believe that Mary was also the woman at the Pharisee’s house in Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and was eating at the table.

A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she took a bottle of perfume and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner.”

Jesus spoke up, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

Simon replied, “Teacher, you’re free to speak.”

So Jesus said, “Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. When they couldn’t pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”

Jesus said to him, “You’re right!”  Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “You see this woman, don’t you? I came into your house. You didn’t wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  You didn’t give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You didn’t put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet.  That’s why I’m telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”  The other guests thought, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!”

If this indeed the same woman, why was she said to be “A woman who lived a sinful life”?  Remember that I said earlier that a woman’s place was in the house … literally.  Respectable women did not leave the house.  Yet Mary is known to have left the house.  The terminology used in that day for a prostitute was “one who goes abroad”.

After their brother, Lazareth had died, Martha went to Jesus to tell him not to bother because it was too late.  Jesus has this to say in John 11:25-40 Jesus said to (Martha), “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?”

27 Martha said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was expected to come into the world.”

28 After Martha had said this, she went back home and whispered to her sister Mary, “The teacher is here, and he is calling for you.”

Several things catch my attention here that shed more light on the differences and similarities with the sisters.  Martha is the one who goes to Jesus and tells him that Lazareth is already dead.   It was her responsibility as the head of the house.  After all, she was the one who had sent the message asking Jesus to come and heal her brother.  As the eldest, she could have told Mary to go and give the bad news that Lazareth had died.   Instead she made the journey herself.   Then after Jesus hears her confession that she believes He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was expected to come into the world, she goes home and tells Mary to go.

29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Jesus. 30 (Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still where Martha had met him.) 31 The Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave. So they followed her. They thought that she was going to the tomb to cry.

Mary had stayed behind at the house with the mourners and then went running out.  It is helpful to understand the traditional rituals and observances at the time of a Jewish death. 

“Traditionally, a person is buried the same day as his or her death, followed by seven days of mourning. A special meal of condolence is provided after the burial. Mourners remain in the house of mourning with friends and family throughout the week. Prayers are offered, and readings from the Torah are shared. Memorial candles are often lit. Traditional grooming stops, as do marital relations, entertainment, and regular study. In some cases, mourners wait 30 days before cutting their hair.

The New Testament speaks of mourners’ loud wailing. For example, when Jesus came to the home of the synagogue ruler whose daughter had died, He “saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly” (Mark 5:38). This took place on the same day as the girl’s death, as her body was still inside the home.

Mourning sometimes included shaving one’s head or putting ashes or dust on the head, in addition to rending garments. These actions communicated to everyone that the person was in mourning. Jeremiah 25:34 mentions the actions of a mourner in a judgment on evil rulers: “Weep and wail, you shepherds; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For your time to be slaughtered has come.”(g)

So Mary has run from the house of mourning and gone to Jesus.

32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Notice how strongly she believes in Jesus power.

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who were crying with her, he was deeply moved and troubled.

34 So Jesus asked, “Where did you put Lazarus?”

They answered him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus cried. 36 The Jews said, “See how much Jesus loved him.” 37 But some of the Jews asked, “Couldn’t this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying?”

38 Deeply moved again, Jesus went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone covering the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Take the stone away.”

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Jesus, “Lord, there must already be a stench. He’s been dead for four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see God’s glory?”

From these glimpses into the lives of these two women it is easy to see that they both loved the Lord.  Each in their own way honored him.  It is also easy to see the differences.  Martha was a thinker and a doer.  Mary was ruled more by her heart and more emotional.

It was these differences that are in play here when we read, “But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

Notice in the next verse how gently Jesus answers Martha.  It is not a condemnation for her service to him.  It is a reminder that time with Him is more important than all the busy work.  Listen, “The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things.  “But of the few things worth worrying about, there is only one thing you need.”  Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”

I have to admit that sometimes the “busy work” of preparing sermons, picking the worship music, and typing the bulletins; keeps me from actually spending time in communion with my Lord.

If you, like me, let the day to day things of life, even those things that are in service to the Lord, keep you from the peaceful refreshment of time spent at the feet of Jesus, listen to his quiet voice.  He will answer when you call upon Him.  He can free you of your troubles for he has pity on you.

Then along with the psalmist I say, “Think about this on your bed and remain quiet.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness by trusting the Lord.  Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your presence shine on us, O Lord.  You put more joy in my heart than when their grain and new wine increase.  I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely.”  Amen.

All scripture quotes are from GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

( a) “Jesus and the Role of Women” by Zhava Glaser

(J) Found on the “Jews for Jesus” webpage.

(g) found on “GotQuestions.org”

*Psalm 4 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness.  You have freed me from my troubles. Have pity on me, and  hear my prayer!  You important people, how long are you going to insult my honor?  How long are you going to love what is empty and seek what is a lie?

Know that the Lord singles out godly people for himself.  The Lord hears me when I call to him.  Tremble and do not sin.  Think about this on your bed and remain quiet.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness by trusting the Lord.  Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your presence shine on us, O Lord.

You put more joy in my heart than when their grain and new wine increase.

I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely.

 

Luke 10:38-42  As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.

But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things.  “But of the few things worth worrying about, there is only one thing you need.”  Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”

“The Lord is My Inheritance”

Read:  Psalm 16, Colossians 1:13-23, and John 14:1-11

Sermon: “The Lord is My Inheritance”

God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom, where the morning is bright and the Lamb is the light, and the night is as bright as the day.  Praise be to God that we have nothing to fear from the outer darkness (see Matt. 22:13) which is separation from God.

Hear this from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 “Be Ready for the Day of the Lord.  Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. (Matthew 24:36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.)

You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them.  It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape.  But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark.  That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would.  You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark.”

The day of the Lord will come suddenly when least expected.  So we must be ready at all times.  In Matthew 25:1-8 Jesus tell a story about Ten Bridesmaids, some are ready for the darkness and some are not.
“When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn’t take any extra oil. The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps.  Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight someone shouted, ‘The groom is here! Come to meet him!’ Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
“The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’
“But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘We can’t do that. There won’t be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.’
“While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.
“Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us!’
“But he answered them, ‘I don’t even know who you are!’
“So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”

What can we expect when the Lord comes?  What will He look like? 

God can’t be seen directly.  We can see his creation and his works everywhere.  Romans 1:19-20 “What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them. From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse.”

God is visible in his creation.  However, He does not want to be worshiped “through” that which He has created. The third of the Ten Commandments is, “Never have any other god.  Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water.  Never worship them or serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals.”

In Deuteronomy 4:15-18 it says this about God, “You didn’t see the Lord the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Horeb. So be very careful that you don’t become corrupt and make your own carved idols. Don’t make statues that represent men or women, any animal on earth, any creature with wings that flies, any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the water.  Don’t let yourselves be tempted to worship and serve what you see in the sky—the sun, the moon, the stars, or anything else.”

Jesus, in John 4:23-26 declares, “Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him.  God is a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” (Messiah is the one called Christ.)

Jesus told her, “I am he, and I am speaking to you now.”

So, God the Father is a Spirit.  And how do we go about “seeing” God?  Our scripture says, Colossians 1:15 “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God.” and Colossians 1:19 “God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ.”  When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus said to him in John 14:9, “The person who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Jesus is the visible portion of the triune God.  God in three persons and yet one God.  I have given this illustration of my understanding of how God can be One and Three at the same time. 

I picture God the Father as liquid water, every living thing on Earth contains water and without water there is no life.

Jesus, I equate to ice.  He is the visible, tangible portion of the Godhead.

The Holy Spirit is steam, that invisible and yet powerful force.

Just as water, ice, and steam are identical … that is H2O … two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom …, so God is God, without changing His nature, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning the Word (that is Jesus) already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity.”

Colossians 1:17 “Jesus existed before everything and holds everything together.  He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers—everything has been created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:19 “God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.”

Colossians 1:21 “Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.” 

John 14:1-4 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?  If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

That is why I’ll Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place. And, Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away! To a home on God’s celestial shore I’ll fly away!

That is why you and I can say with the Psalm 16:5-6, “The Lord is my inheritance and my cup.  You (God) are the one who determines my destiny.  Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me. Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.”  There’ll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see. There will be peace in the valley for you and for me.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 11:23 “This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains.

Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay. .Onward to the prize before us!  Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.

All scripture quotes are from GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

*Psalm 16
Protect me, O God, because I take refuge in you. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord.  Without you, I have nothing good.”  Those who lead holy lives on earth are the noble ones who fill me with joy. Those who quickly chase after other gods multiply their sorrows.  I will not  pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood or use my lips to speak their names. The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny. Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.  Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful. I will praise the Lord, who advises me.  My conscience warns me at night. I always keep the Lord in front of me. When he is by my side, I cannot be moved. That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.  My body rests securely  because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay. You make the path of life known to me.  Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever.

*Colossians 1:13-23

God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves.  His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven.  

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers—everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything and holds everything together.  He is also the head of the church,which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that
he would have first place in everything. God was pleased to have all of himself
live in Christ.  God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.

Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.  This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.

* John 14:1-11

“Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?  If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.  If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him through me and have seen him in me.”

Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.”

Jesus replied, “I have been with all of you for a long time. Don’t you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of the things I do.

The Lord is my inheritance

Read Psalm 16, Colossians 1:13-23, and John 14:1-11

Sermon: “The Lord is My Inheritance”

God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom, where the morning is bright and the Lamb is the light, and the night is as bright as the day.  Praise be to God that we have nothing to fear from the outer darkness (see Matt. 22:13) which is separation from God.

Hear this from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 “Be Ready for the Day of the Lord.  Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. (Matthew 24:36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.)

You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them.  It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape.  But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark.  That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would.  You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark.”

The day of the Lord will come suddenly when least expected.  So we must be ready at all times.  In Matthew 25:1-8 Jesus tell a story about Ten Bridesmaids, some are ready for the darkness and some are not.
“When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn’t take any extra oil. 4 The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps.  Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight someone shouted, ‘The groom is here! Come to meet him!’ Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
“The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’
“But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘We can’t do that. There won’t be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.’
“While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.
“Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us!’
“But he answered them, ‘I don’t even know who you are!’
“So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”

What can we expect when the Lord comes?  What will He look like? 

God can’t be seen directly.  We can see his creation and his works everywhere.  Romans 1:19-20 “What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them. From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse.”

God is visible in his creation.  However, He does not want to be worshiped “through” that which He has created. The third of the Ten Commandments is, “Never have any other god.  Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water.  Never worship them or serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals.”

In Deuteronomy 4:15-18 it says this about God, “You didn’t see the Lord the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Horeb. So be very careful that you don’t become corrupt and make your own carved idols. Don’t make statues that represent men or women, any animal on earth, any creature with wings that flies, any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the water.  Don’t let yourselves be tempted to worship and serve what you see in the sky—the sun, the moon, the stars, or anything else.”

Jesus, in John 4:23-26 declares, “Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him.  God is a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” (Messiah is the one called Christ.)

Jesus told her, “I am he, and I am speaking to you now.”

So, God the Father is a Spirit.  And how do we go about “seeing” God?  Our scripture says, Colossians 1:15 “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God.” and Colossians 1:19 “God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ.”  When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus said to him in John 14:9, “The person who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Jesus is the visible portion of the triune God.  God in three persons and yet one God.  I have given this illustration of my understanding of how God can be One and Three at the same time. 

• I picture God the Father as liquid water, every living thing on Earth contains water and without water there is no life.

• Jesus, I equate to ice.  He is the visible, tangible portion of the Godhead.

• The Holy Spirit is steam, that invisible and yet powerful force.

Just as water, ice, and steam are identical … that is H2O … two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom …, so God is God, without changing His nature, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning the Word (that is Jesus) already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity.”

Colossians 1:17 “Jesus existed before everything and holds everything together.  He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers—everything has been created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:19 “God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.”

Colossians 1:21 “Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.” 

John 14:1-4 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?  If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

That is why I’ll Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place. And, Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away! To a home on God’s celestial shore I’ll fly away!

That is why you and I can say with the Psalm 16:5-6, “The Lord is my inheritance and my cup.  You (God) are the one who determines my destiny.  Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me. Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.”  There’ll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see. There will be peace in the valley for you and for me.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 11:23 “This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains.

Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay. .Onward to the prize before us!  Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.

Amen.

All scripture quotes are from GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Psalm 16
Protect me, O God, because I take refuge in you.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord.  Without you, I have nothing good.”

Those who lead holy lives on earth are the noble ones who fill me with joy.

Those who quickly chase after other gods multiply their sorrows.  I will not  pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood or use my lips to speak their names.

The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny. 

Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.  Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.

I will praise the Lord, who advises me.  My conscience warns me at night.

I always keep the Lord in front of me. When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.

That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.  My body rests securely  because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.

You make the path of life known to me.  Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever.

…

New Testament Reading:  Colossians 1:13-23

God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves.  His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven. 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers—everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything and holds everything together.  He is also the head of the church,which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that
he would have first place in everything. God was pleased to have all of himself
live in Christ.  God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.

Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.  This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.

…

Gospel Reading: John 14:1-11

“Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?  If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.  If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him through me and have seen him in me.”

Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.”

Jesus replied, “I have been with all of you for a long time. Don’t you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of the things I do.

Sing a Song of Jesus

 

Read Psalm 2*

Sermon: “Sing a Song of Jesus”

As I read Psalm 2, I realized that is a ‘Song of Jesus’.  Let us examine it a verse at a time.

1 Why do the nations gather together?  My first thought of Nations coming together made me think of the United Nations.  Here is the opening wording of the UN Charter:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

And then I thought of the European Union.  Here is the statement of purpose of that union:

The peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values.

Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.

The Union contributes to the preservation and to the development of these common values while respecting the diversity of the cultures and traditions of the peoples of Europe as well as the national identities of the Member States and the organization of their public authorities at national, regional and local levels; it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable development and ensures free movement of persons, services, goods and capital, and the freedom of establishment.

I didn’t hear anything that sounded even close to “Hear O Israel, our God is one God.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your.”  Did you?  Nothing where these gatherings of nations professed their allegiance to the Living God in the same way Israel did and still does.

Our American Declaration of Independence at least recognizes “the Creator” as it includes the line, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our rights are not given by Man but by God.  They are unalienable which means that they cannot be taken away by Man.

Why do the nations come together?  The answer is, out of fear, because they don’t trust each other.  They want to establish some form of human protection for themselves. Because they fear a common enemy. They also want to set common goals.

The psalmist wants to know why the nations (that is all the earth) reject God?  Why do they make plans that differ from the plan of God? 

The answer is that any contract, covenant, or agreement that doesn’t take into consideration God’s plan, is a useless plan. God never breaks a covenant. History demonstrates that Man will eventually break every agreement.

Do you remember the story of the tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1-9?  Here the people of earth gathered together to build a tower capable of reaching Heaven. Up until this point in the Bible, the whole world had one language - one common speech for all people. The people of the earth became skilled in construction and decided to build a city with a tower that would reach to heaven. By building the tower they wanted to make a name for themselves and also prevent their city from being scattered.

The story is about Mankind pitting its will against the will of God. And it didn’t turn out well for mankind.  Imagine that!

In the New Testament book of Acts (4:25-28) Luke quotes from this psalm

You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor), ‘Why do the nations act arrogantly? Why do their people devise useless plots?  Kings take their stand.  Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’

Luke then goes on to point out how the prophecy in this psalm points to Jesus as the Messiah.

“In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 

Jewish and non-jewish people banding together to try and combat God’s will.  Trying to make plans against “Jesus, whom you anointed.”   Remember that line about Jesus being anointed by God, we’ll get back to it.

The psalmist continues: Kings take their stands.  Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah by saying,  “Let’s break apart their chains and shake off their ropes.”

I find it frightening that our own nation is headed toward or is already at that point where we say, “Let’s break apart their (that is God the Father and His Messiah, Jesus) chains and shake off their ropes.”

This is contrary to the teachings of Jesus who said, “Take My yoke upon you.”  The meaning here is to shake off our old yoke of sin and disobedience and be bound together with God because, he said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Make no mistake, there is work to be done.  We can continue in our own way and our own will, just as the Kings and Rulers of the psalm did.  Or we can be bound together with God and let him do the “heavy lifting.” 

We are to be bound together in Christian love also.  We are commanded, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus didn’t just stop at saying, “Love one another.”  He added this condition, “As I have loved you.”  That is an all encompassing love.  A love that is given freely with no reservations, no conditions, and no strings attached.  We are to love those who love us and those who hate us.  We are commanded to love those like us and those different from us.  I figured out a rule of thumb here: If God created them, we are to love them.  So the only people outside the group I am to love would be … … … 

Being bound together reminds me of the hymn, “Bind us together, Lord.” Bind us together, Lord.  Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken. Bind us together in Love. There is only one God, There is only one King, There is only one Body.

Next the psalm writer gives God’s reaction to Man’s plans.

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.  The Lord makes fun of them.

I have to say that this verse took me aback a bit.  Even though I know it is a psalm, a song, a poem and some poetic license is allowed, the idea of God laughing at Man’s vain attempts to go our own way was disturbing to me.  Then I also read Psalm 37:12-13 which says, “The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him because he has seen that his time is coming.”  Okay, I guess, if I try to see it through the eyes of God,  I can see the comedic action here.  Do you remember the old silent films with the Keystone Cops?   They were a bunch of misfit cops who ran around getting in each other’s way and creating chaos instead of apprehending the “bad guys”.  Whatever they tried never seemed to work out well for them.  I imagine from God’s point of view, we must seem like that a great deal of the time.

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger.  In his burning anger he terrifies them.

There are plenty of scriptures (mostly Old Testament) that speak about God’s anger toward individuals and nations.  I have a little trouble reconciling what I know of God’s love and God’s mercy with God’s “burning anger.”  Then I found the following posted on the web by an unnamed author.  I found it helpful.  I hope you do also.

“If the Lord is always merciful to everyone, then He can never be angry and vengeful. In God Himself there is "no variation nor shadow of turning." (James 1:17) Yet He appears in a variety of ways according to the spiritual state of the individual. "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd." (2 Samuel 22:20; Psalm 18:25)

It almost seems as if God's actions towards each of us depend on our actions toward God and others. If you forgive others, He will forgive you; if you do not forgive others, He will not forgive you. (Matthew 6:15; 18:35) If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) If you forget Him, He will forget you. (Hosea 4:6) If you forsake Him, He will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2) And apparently, when people act with vengeance, they can expect vengeance from God. (Ezekiel 25:15,16)

It is as if each kind of person looks at God through differently tinted glasses. A person wearing blue glasses will see everything blue. "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled." (Titus 1:15) A person who is himself vicious and vengeful will tend to see others, including God, as vicious and vengeful. "The children of your people say, `The way of the Lord is not fair.' But it is their way that is not fair!" (Ezekiel 33:17; 18:25)”

In 2 Peter 3:9 it is summed up this way, “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.”

Verse 6 of our psalm reads “I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.”  Clearly, the psalmist is declaring that God himself will place a king over Israel.  The prophet Samuel, at God’s command, anointed the first two human kings of Israel.  I said human kings because, remember that until that time, Israel was a theocracy.  It was different from all other earthly nations in that it was ruled by God alone.  The “business” of the nation was overseen by judges chosen by God.  The people begged to become like other nations and have a king.  Here is the story from first Samuel chapter eight.

“Samuel considered it wrong for them to request a king to judge them. So Samuel prayed to the Lord.  The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me. They’re doing just what they’ve done since I took them out of Egypt—leaving me and serving other gods.  Listen to them now, but be sure to warn them and tell them about the rights of a king.”

Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything the Lord had said.  Samuel said, “These are the rights of a king:  He will draft your sons, make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots.  He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.  He will take your daughters and have them make perfumes, cook, and bake.  He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials.  He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials.  He will take your male and female slaves, your best cattle, and your donkeys for his own use.  He will take a tenth of your flocks.  In addition, you will be his servants.”

That sounds like a pretty fair description of an earthly ruler to me.  However the really important part of this passage is when God tells Samuel, “They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me.”

Now, in verse seven we learn who God will appoint as the new king

I will announce the Lord’s decree.  He said to me: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.

Here are some important verses about Christ the King.

Hebrews 1:5-6  “God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”  And God never said to any of his angels, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”  When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said, “All of God’s angels must worship him.”

Luke 1:31-33  God, speaking through his angel, said to Mary, “You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Matthew 3:16-17  “After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love—my Son with whom I am pleased.”

Jesus had this to say about himself in John 9:35-37, “Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out of the synagogue. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  The man replied, “Sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in him.”  Jesus told him, “You’ve seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you.”

Jesus was recognized as the new king when he rode into Jerusalem.  John 12:12-13 records it this way, “On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!”

In verse eight of the psalm God makes this promise to His King, “Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.”

Now hear Jesus’ response in John 17:4-24 “On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do.  Now, Father, give me glory in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed.

“I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them. Now they know that everything you gave me comes from you, because I gave them the message that you gave me. They have accepted this message, and they know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.

“I pray for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours.  Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine. I have been given glory by the people you have given me.  I won’t be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I’m coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours.  While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me. I watched over them, and none of them, except one person, became lost. So Scripture came true.

“But now, Father, I’m coming back to you. I say these things while I’m still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have.  I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.  They don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

“Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.  I have sent them into the world the same way you sent me into the world. 1I’m dedicating myself to this holy work I’m doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.

“I’m not praying only for them. I’m also praying for those who will believe in me through their message. I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are.  I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.

9 You will break them (the disobedient nations) with an iron scepter. You will smash them to pieces like pottery.” Our reading from Matthew’s gospel verses 41-43 gives us an insight into verse 9 of the psalm, “Then the king will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn’t give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t take care of me.’”

10 Now, you kings, act wisely.  Be warned, you rulers of the earth! For thousands of years before Christ’s earthly incarnation and for thousands of years since, you…we have been warned. We have repeatedly been told that a time will come when God will no longer strive with men. There will be a time of judgement. The book of 2^nd Peter eminds us, “God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment. God didn’t spare the ancient world either. He brought the flood on the world of ungodly people, but he protected Noah and seven other people. Noah was his messenger who told people about the kind of life that has God’s approval.

Verse 11 tells us to, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

In 1 Corinthians 15: 22b-25 we learn the fate of those who belong to Christ as well as those that do not belong to him. “In Christ all will be made alive.  But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”

The last verse in this psalm reads, “Kiss the Son, or he will become angry and you will die on your way because his anger will burst into flames.  Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.”

John 3:36 echoes the last line of the psalm by saying, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God’s constant anger.”

The choice seems clear to me. I will echo what was said by Joshua in Joshua chapter 24, “Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord.  But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the Lord.”

As for me and my family, we will server the Lord.

 

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations gather together?  Why do their people devise useless plots?

2  Kings take their stands.  Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah by saying,

3  “Let’s break apart their chains and shake off their ropes.”

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.  The Lord makes fun of them.

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger.  In his burning anger he terrifies them by saying,

6 “I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will announce the Lord’s decree.  He said to me: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.

8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.

9 You will break them with an iron scepter. You will smash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Now, you kings, act wisely.  Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, or he will become angry and you will die on your way because his anger will burst into flames.  Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.