Sat 090906 pm Psa 97

Psalm 97 Anon.; 12 vrs.; 97.7--Hebrews 1.6

Rejoicing in the Lord of the earth who is above all gods.

97.7 It is interesting that the gods are told to worship the Lord of all the earth.

97.11 Light and joy go together. A worthwhile thing to contemplate.

Fri 090904 am Ezra 10 & Col

Ezra 10

10.2 Shecaniah... same as The father of Shemaiah, who repaired the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 3:29)? http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/shecaniah.html

10.3 all put away these wives... Interesting in light of NT teaching on divorce.

10.9 and because of the heavy rain... :o)

10.13 nor is this a task for one day or two... wise words.

10.15 An interesting distiction between Jonathan and Jahzeiah,who opposed the plan, and Meshullam and Shabbethai, who supported them in their opposition.

10.16 to examine the matter... I wonder what was being examined. Who was really foreign, making sure nobody was overlooked, what?

10.19 guilt offering... another offering to check out. Why the mention of the rams?

10.20-43 Another long list of names. Why? I also wonder if there are any repeats from earlier lists.

Colossians quick read

1.6 heard and knew... Not just heard. epiginōskō to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly

1.16 heaven, earth, visible, invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities, powers... Seems to be making a point.

1.21 So did the wicked works affect the mind?

1.29 striving according to His working... Interesting thing to meditate on. My part and God's "part."

2.8 cheat you... a thought provoking choice of words. sylagōgeō--to carry off booty

2.11 circumcision made without hands... God's part.

2.12 raised with Him though faith... "My" part.

3.5 I like the old JKV, mortify.

3.15 called to peace, pretty sweet.

4.2 vigilant and thanksgiving are not two works I expect to see in the same sentence.

4.12 This is an interesting verse to think about. Laboring with Paul in Rome to make the saints in Philippians perfect and complete in the will of God.

4.18 remember... I can think of a few ways this might have been meant.

Thurs 090903 pm Ezra 7-9

Ezra 7

7.1 Back sixteen names to Aaron.

7.6 on him... Who? Ezra or the king?

7.10 set his heart to study, to do it, to teach... This is a great verse.

7.11 compare with verse 6

7.12 the God of heaven... I wondered how much this reference to God was informed by the kings pagan background and what its significance is.

7.14 to make inquiries... What exactly did he want him to do?

7.15 freely offered to God... Why did they give the money and how ordinary was it to do that for a god.

7.19 The vessels that have been given... I wonder what these were since they had already taken the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar took.

7.23 lest his wrath be against the realm of the king... This is a very curious phrase. Was this the the PC thing to say, was he covering his bases with all the gods, or did he acknowledge the great power of God.

7.24 Their version of a 501c organization.

7.27 to beautify the house of the Lord... I had always thought of Ezra's primary ministry as one of spiritual reform.

Ezra 8

8.2-14 I don't really get how these names are grouped.

8.16 men of insight... This is a curious description in this context.

8.18, 22, 31 hand of our God...

8.20 These were all mentioned by name... He makes a point to remind that he had already told the names which seems to indicate that they are important. Why for us?

8.21 humble and then seek. It seems that humble might be an idiom or code word for something.

8.22 ashamed to ask... Ezra was concered about the Lord's honor.

8.31 delivered us from... As in there were no attacks or they were able to repulse the attacks.

8.34 It is interesting that he made such a point about the weighing and measuring. v. 25, 26, 30, & 33

8.35 a burnt offering... Exactly what kind of offering was this?

Ezra 9

9.2 the holy race...

9.2 in this faithlessness the hand of the hand of the officials ... has been foremost. This is a sad state of affairs. God, help be to be ahead of the curve.

9.4 I sat appalled until evening... I don't think anybody sits that long today.

9.6 ashamed and blush... This is a vivid response to the guilt of the nation. It is a response that I have not typically thought of. Godly sorrow, etc... but not embarrassment.

9.8 that God may brighten our eyes... Great description.

9.9 its ruins... It is something that the temple had already come to ruin...

9.9 some reviving... interesting use of this word. Check the Hebrew.

9.12 never seek their peace or prosperity that you may be strong... There are a few things that this could mean. Not unite with them, not help them, passively or actively oppose them?

9.13 less than our iniquities deserve... How true.

9.15 You are just... A stark contrast the the "Why me?" and "It's not fair!" mantra that is so common.

Wed 090902 pm Ezra 3-6

Ezra 3

3.1 seventh month... I didn't notice a begining month. Seventh month of the year or of Cyrus's reign?

3.1 as one man... An interesting expression. It will probably informative to see what the Hebrew is on this.

3.2 Jozadak: Hebrew Strongs #03136: qduwy Yowtsadaq -- Jozadak = "Jehovah is righteous 1) grandson of the high priest Hilkiah; son of the high priest Seraiah; and father of the high priest Joshua; he never attained the office of high priest himself because he was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar

3.2 as it is written... Where?

3.3 fear... I assume the fear of their neighbors not God

3.4 Feast of Booths... background here might help a little

3.5 new moon, appointed feasts, freewilll... Back to the books of the law for these. :o)

3.7 So they gave money ... according to the grant... I assume the money was for the workers and not for the lumber.

3.8 made a beginning... of what?

3.10 sons of Asaph... Asaph -- A Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a “seer” (2 Chr. 29:30). The “sons of Asaph,” mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master. http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/asaph.html

3.10 according to the directions of David king of Israel... I can't think of anywhere in the Bible these are given. Should check on this.

3.11 I can find similar passages, but none that this seems to quote.

Ezra 4

4.2 Esarhaddon: successor of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38)

He ascended the throne about B.C. 681. Nothing further is recorded of him in Scripture, except that he settled certain colonists in Samaria (Ezra 4:2). But from the monuments it appears that he was the most powerful of all the Assyrian monarchs. He built many temples and palaces, the most magnificent of which was the southwest palace at Nimrud, which is said to have been in its general design almost the same as Solomon's palace, only much larger (1 Kings 7:1-12).

In December B.C. 681 Sennacherib was murdered by two of his sons, who, after holding Nineveh for forty-two days, were compelled to fly to Erimenas of Ararat, or Armenia. Their brother Esarhaddon, who had been engaged in a campaign against Armenia, led his army against them. They were utterly overthrown in a battle fought April B.C. 680, near Malatiyeh, and in the following month Esarhaddon was crowned at Nineveh. He restored Babylon, conquered Egypt, and received tribute from Manasseh of Judah. He died in October B.C. 668, while on the march to suppress an Egyptian revolt, and was succeeded by his son Assur-bani-pal, whose younger brother was made viceroy of Babylonia. http://www.christiananswers.net/

4.2 sacrificing to Him... Where and how? Was He a god for them or the God?

4.3 This refusal is food for thought.

4.3 commanded us... instead of gave us permission, etc. What is the Hebrew here?

4.5 bribed... This sounds strong. Bribed or hired?

4.5 How long did Cyrus rule?

4.7 written in Aramaic... Why does that matter?

4.8-9 Bishlam, Methredath, Tabeel, Rehum, Shimshai... Who are these guys and are they significant or just filling in details?

4.12 It would be interesting to know the Hebrew word for wicked.

4.13 royal revenue will be impaired... Were things especially tight or was it the general principle of the thing?

4.14 we eat the salt of the palace... It would be interesting to find the cultural etymology of this expression.

4.16 no possession in the province Beyond the River.... What is meant by this. If Jerusalem rebelled, wouldn't they still have the other cities?

4.23 by force and power... Was this physical force or the force of law.

4.24 until the second year of the reign of Darius... Again, a new king brings a change.

Ezra 5

5.2 arose... Rise up O men of God, be done with lesser things.

5.3 who decreed... I am puzzled by why Cyrus' decree seemed to be such a mystery.

5.10 asked them their names... It seems odd that they did not know the leaders' name.

Ezra 6

6.2 Why was it Echatana, Media?

6.5 which Nebubachadnezzar took out of the temple... Is this recorded as a matter of record or is there some other significance?

6.9 I wonder how ordinary it was for the emperor to pay for temples and temple ceremonies.

6.10 and pray for the life of the king... This is kinda funny.

6.11 Is this hyperbole or did they really do this? I have seen other practices of this era that were this brutal though.

6.14 the Jews built and prospered through the prophesyingg... This is an interesting statement coming right after the decree of Darius and help from the governor, etc...

6.14 by decree of God... What does this mean? Does it mean like God wanted it done, according to what God had planned, or does the decree refer to his power?

6.18 in the book of Moses... Where?

6.21 who had joined them and separated themselves... I wonder who these were.

6.22 Proverbs 21.1

Tues 090901 pm Ezra 1-2

Ezra 1

1.1 first year of Cyrus... This makes it sound like some of this my have been policy changes that come with a new King.

1.1 that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled... What is the reference and the context? "by the mouth" points to the agency of Jeremiah.

1.1 throughout the kingdom... If this was just about Judah, why did it go out throughout all the kingdom?

1.2 The Lord God of heaven... It strikes me as a little odd that a pagan king would refer to God this way.

1.3 his God be with Him... Interesting that he did not say "the" God.

1.3 the God who is in Jerusalem... This seems more local that "God of heaven."

1.4 be assisted by men of his place... Who are these men?

1.8 Sheshbazzar... I wonder who he was and why he would be mentioned?

1.10 What is the point to giving the number of all the vessels?

Ezra 2

2.2 I wonder if any of these guys are mentioned anywhere else.

2.3-34 "people" I wonder if any of these people are mentioned anywhere else. What is the total number? Are the textual variants that would cause some of these numbers to no be absolutely determined.

2.36 sons' of Ela seemed to be the most prolific.

2.36 "priests"

2.40-42 Levites

2.43-54 Temple servants

2.55-57 Solomon's servants

2.58 Do these numbers square with 2.55-57?

2.59-63 "could not prove their fathers' houses

2.66-67 It is interesting that the named the number of animals.

2.69 according to their ability... A good rule of thumb for giving.

Mon 090831 pm Acts 26 & Psa 95-96

Acts 26

26.4 manner of life... Philippians 3.3-6

26.9 opposing... 1 Corinthians 15.9

26.19 I was note disobedient... apeithēs - impersuasible, not compliant, disobedient, contumacious "Disobedient" is not not the word for disobedient in Eph. 6.1. This word means that Paul was compliant and persuaded by the vision and call that God had given him. O that I might be convinced and wholehearted toward the vision God has given.

26.28 Whatever the translation of this verse, it is tragic that Agripa was not persuaded.

Psalm 95 Anon.; 11 vrs.; 95.7-11--Hebrews 3.7-11, 15, 18; 4.1, 3, 5, 7

95.7 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts... A good word for us.

Psalm 96 Anon.; 13 vrs.; --??

Psalm of worship and praise.

96.3, 5, 10, & 13 The "nations" or "peoples" are mentioned six times. God desires praise from all peoples of the earth.

Sun 090830 pm Psa 91-94

Psalm 91 Anon.; 16 vrs.; 91.11&12--Matthew 4.6 & Luke 4.10-11; 91.13--Luke 10.19
The Lord's protection of His own.

91.11-12 The Devil is not the only one who uses verses like these to cause people to exagerate God's protection and tempt people to tempt God.
91.14 he holds fast to Me in love...he knows My name... I like the idea of knowing God's name in a way that makes you hold fast to Him.

Psalm 92 Anon.; 15 vrs.; --??

92.2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. This is a good habit that I am working on, to make a consious prayer thanking God for His mercy and compassion in the morning when I wake up and for His faithfulness as I go to sleep.
92.14 still bear fruit in old age... It may show my age, but this is a prayer of mine.

Psalm 93 Anon.; 5 vrs; --??
The Lord reigns.

Psalm 94 Anon.; 23 vrs.; --??
Prayer for delivery and proclamation of God's faithfulness.

94.19 When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cher my soul. This is a reassuing promise.

Psalm 95 Anon.; 11 vrs.;