Mark Watson

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After having read all of Luke which is relevent, exciting, thought provoking, and emotional, we are thrown into mind-numbing Chronicles.  Man, that was tough.

This week’s readings came from 1 Chronicles 1 – 20, Song of Songs 4-8, and Psalm 95.  Highlights are as follows:

1.  We’re given Israel’s family tree in the first eight chapters.  Yes. I read all of it.

2.  By Chapter 9, we get to rehash some of Saul and David’s history.  Some detail is given to David’s Mighty Men.

3.  There is a retelling of the story of David bringing back the Chest of God.  The one where Uzzah was killed when he touched it.  David calls off the parade and leaves it with Obed-Edom for three months.  God blesses that family and everthing around him.

4.  David tries again with the Chest.  This time with orders that no one but the Levites will carry it.  He is successful this time, and celebrates by dancing ecstatically.  His wife, Micah (Saul’s daughter), isn’t too happy about this.

5.  David wants to build a house for the Chest of God.  He is told that he cannot, but his son, Solomon, will.

6.  The Man and Woman of Song of Songs are equally appreciative of each other’s body parts.

Mark continues to put in seven days a week at work with minimum 12 hour days.  I’ll continue to do the posts until this lets up.  Let’s hope it’s soon! 

This week’s readings came from Luke 16-24, Amos 1 – 9, Ecclesiastes 10 – 12, and Song of Songs 1 – 3.  Highlights are as follows:

1.  The parable of the persistent widow hits home about now.  She was granted justice all due to persistantly asking for it from a despicable judge.  How much more will a loving God work justice for his people when they cry out for help?

2.  Zacchaeus was delighted to take Jesus home with him.  Wouldn’t you be?

3.  The high priests, religion scholars, and leaders just can’t trap him.  He’s too smart.  “Give Caesar what is his and give God what is His.”  Too smart.

4.  He spent his days in the Temple teaching, his nights on the mountain called Olives.  Preparing.

5.  A criminal joins him in paradise.  The temple curtain is split down the middle.  Darkness lasting three hours.  Christ breathed his last.

6.  He appears before the apostles.  They thought they were seeing a ghost.  They are to wait in the city until they are equipped with power from on high.

7.  Amos tells of coming judgements against Israel and gives reasons for it.

8.  What to say about Song of Solomon?  These people were crazy about each other. 

9.  The Quester sums it up:  “Fear God.  Do what He tells you.”

It’s early on this hot, humid Sunday morning, and my husband left for work several hours ago.  Even with his ridiculous schedule, he’s keeping up with these readings.  I’m posting again so he’ll have at least one thing off his plate. 

The readings for this week came from 2 Kings 22-25, Ecclesiastes 4-9, and Luke 1-15.  Here are the highlights:

1.  Finally!  We get a king that knows what’s what!  Josiah was just 8 years old when he came to power.  He smashed every idol he could find everywhere.  Josiah kept straight on the path of God stepping neither to the right or left.

2.  Luke gives us a more detailed account of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.  I like the part where the babe in Elizabeth’s womb jumps when he hears Mary’s voice.

3.  Jesus gives this simple rule to live by:  Ask yourself what you want people to do for you…then do it for them!

4.  The story of the harlot coming to Jesus with expensive perfume, weeping at His feet, letting her hair down to dry them, kissing them, anointing them with perfume…her gratitude towards the Savior is humbling.

5.  A woman touching the hem of his robe…healed…a man afflicted with a mob of demons…healed…food for 5000 with only two fish and five loaves of bread…

6.  He gives the Pharisees a tongue lashing.  They can’t believe what they’re hearing…”Teacher, do you know you’re insulting us?”  “Yes, and I can be more explicit…” 

7.  He gives several parables on the lost being found and the rejoicing that takes place afterwards…the story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

8.  There’s one fate for everybody on this earth…death.  Understand what’s important while you’re here.

Mark needed one less thing to do (seriously) so I offered to post this week.  We sure went through a lot of kings who did evil in God’s sight.  These same kings consulted Him occasionally when they were in a real bind.  And whatever the prophets foretold…came to pass.  You’d think this would turn an evil king around, but no, not the case.  This makes me think that perhaps I’ve missed some signs along the way and went in a direction that He didn’t send me.  The good news is…He still loves me even when I fail.

This week’s readings were taken from 2 Kings 1-21, Psalms 92-94, and Ecclesiastes 1-3.  The highlights were as follows:

1.  God takes Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind while Elisha watches which seals the deal on Elisha becoming a holy man like Elijah.

2.  Elisha raises a boy from the dead (like Elijah), and Elisha heals Naaman of his skin disease by asking him to dip seven times in the Jordan river.

3.  Good kings were far and few between.  Joash was one of the good ones, but he didn’t get rid of certain fertility shrines.  Hezekiah was another good one.  He held fast to God, never loosening his grip.

4.  Ecclesiastes is an odd book.  All smoke and spitting in the wind.  I can’t help it…every time he uses one of those phrases…I smile. 

5.  There’s a time to cry and another to laugh…to destroy and construct…hold on and let go…to kill and heal…to be born and to die…

Another tough week at work made the readings hard to squeeze in.  I’m staying on-site at my facility in Mississippi through the week.  To top off a tough work week, the readings in Kings were a little tedious too.

The readings this week were taken from I Kings 13-22, Jonah 1-4, Philemon, and Psalms 87-91.  The highlights were as follows:

• The kingship of Jeroboam and Rehoboam, Kings of Israel and Judah
• The various kings that followed each of them and their commitment or lack thereof to God.
• When the Kings followed God, their kingship was blessed.  When they veered off that path, God cursed their reign.
• Some great stories of Elijah.  I love how God feeds him by ravens delivering his food!
• The story of Naboth’s vineyard and the corruption of Jezebel and Ahab.
• Jonah foolishly runs from God.  Repents.  Preaches to Ninevah.  Ninevah repents and Jonah sulks.
• Paul writes to Philemon about his servant Onesimus and how he is now a Christian.
• More Psalms praising God’s glory but at the same time questioning His absence in their time of need.