Readings for: 
Tuesday, July 30: Isaiah 9 – 12

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9: 2-7

Definitely a feel good text. Makes me want to break out a few Christmas Carols, as we wait to greet the Christ Child.

If that wasn’t enough, chapter 11 holds its own little treasure . . . the prayer used for confirming the faith of our youth.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him (or her), the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 
Isaiah 11:2

May God’s Spirit rest always upon you!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Wednesday, July 31: Isaiah 13 – 17
Thursday, August 1: Isaiah 18 – 22
Friday, August 2: Isaiah 23 – 27
Saturday, August 3: Isaiah 28 – 30

Readings for: 
Sunday, July 28: Isaiah 1 – 4 
Monday, July 29: Isaiah 5 – 8 

Our Year of Scripture moves from the Historical Literature of Ancient Israel and Wisdom Writings of the Old Testament into the Prophets. From Isaiah to Malachi, the next 17 books (with the exception of Lamentations) will take us through the messages (often referred to as “Oracles”) given from God to the Prophet and then directed to either the king or the people. On Sunday morning many of these same readings are coming up in our Semi-Continuous reading of the Old Testament. I’ve given this warning to those here, “these are often dark, harsh, odd texts” but we have to remember this was dark time for the nation of Israel. Kings were corrupt, people were falling further and further away from God, and the message from the prophets reflected all of that. As we turn the page into Isaiah, we will find that his message is no different.

Isaiah’s writings take us to the Southern Kingdom, and the nation of Judah during the time of King Uzziah (2 Kings 15), Ahaz (2 Kings 16) and Hezekaiah (2 Kings 18). Along with speaking directly to the king and the people, Isaiah’s words speak future forward to the coming of Christ. With this, we find a bit of good news and hope in the midst of our daily reading. Take for instance, my reading through chapters 1 – 4 left me asking “did you get all that?” and the simple answer was “no”. Then, starting day 210, I said, “ah!”

“My beloved had a vineyard . . .” (Chapter 5) A familiar text, a familiar story. Even though the vineyard is practically destroyed, I rejoiced knowing the Jesus becomes the new vine grower and that we are all grafted into the vine of God!

“Holy, Holy, Holy . . . ” (Chapter 6) Isaiah’s vision of the throne of God and his encounter with the live coal that touched his lips. What a moment that must have been for Isaiah to take in the splendor of God. For me, I read this an am transported back to my days in college, making toast on the top of a gas range. Seeing a tasty crumb left on the fork after I had toasted my bread, I decided to eat it, yet failed to think of how hot that fork might have been. With a quick sear, the fork left tine marks in my upper and lower lips, with nice blisters in between. Ouch! Isaiah’s coal, might have done the same, and purified him to speak the holiness of God.

“A virgin, shall bear a child and you shall name in Immanuel . . . ” (Chapter 7) God is with us! The future forecasting of Mary and her conception by the Holy Spirit is told for all to hear. Good news is on the way!

Lastly, before I close for today, how about a quick look at the BibleProject.com and as we listen to their break down on the rest of Isaiah.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Tuesday, July 30: Isaiah 9 – 12
Wednesday, July 31: Isaiah 13 – 17
Thursday, August 1: Isaiah 18 – 22
Friday, August 2: Isaiah 23 – 27

Readings for: 
Saturday, July 27: Song of Solomon 

My NRSV Study Bible gives this introduction to Son of Solomon:

“Song of Solomon consists of a series of loves poems between two lovers. The poems don’t tell a story that has a ending, but move back and forth in a celebrate of physical love and desire. The lovers express delight in each others body when they are together. They long for each other when they are apart. They tease and admire each other and boast to others of their love’s charms. Each er lover uses sensuous images from nature and the human world to describe the other’s body. The book concludes with claims about the power and value of love.”
Lutheran Study Bible, NRSV, Copyright 2009, pg. 1076

While reading through, we are witnessing to young, flirtatious, individuals who are head over heals in love. Some odd descriptions are used to describe each other’s body. Not sure I’d get away with describing my wife as being like the “clusters of the vine” (7:8), and for my own safety, I won’t suggest that when I get home. Regardless of how strange the book may read, for the time, it certainly was beautiful imagery that made these too lovers oogle over each other all the more.

One oddity that I noticed, but didn’t dig into too much was the second encounter our fair maiden had with the city guards. (5:6-8) After searching for her loved one, she finds her way to the city streets where she is “beat” and “wounded.” According to the NRSV, her “mantle” is even “taken away.” Was this fair young maiden raped? I read it as she may have been, and graciously, her lover still takes her in without question, without disregard, without any disrespect. This is huge! Especially for the time and place. Had she been “unfaithful” even though it would not have been her own doing, he would have had every right to deny her, have her stoned, or simply walk way leaving her forever shamed. This is a powerful moment and a wonderful example of God’s eternal and unfailing love for us! Without question of our past, we are still loved!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:  
Sunday, July 28: Isaiah 1 – 4 
Monday, July 29: Isaiah 5 – 8 
Tuesday, July 30: Isaiah 9 – 12
Wednesday, July 31: Isaiah 13 – 17

Readings for: 
Friday, July 26: Ecclesiastes 9 – 12

Our quick reading through Ecclesiastes comes to a close, and we take a slight shift from everything being “meaningless” and talk of death to love.

“Enjoy life with the wife whom you love.”
Ecclesiastes 9:9

I nudged my wife as we sat and this phrase together. Life is to short not to share in the company of someone you love. So treat them right, and love them often!

This also makes a great transition for us as we move to Song of Solomon. It’s the love story of the Bible, and our reading for the next day. If you haven’t read it before, fair warning, it’s a bit juicy!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Saturday, July 27: Song of Solomon
Sunday, July 28: Isaiah 1 – 4
Monday, July 29: Isaiah 5 – 8
Tuesday, July 30: Isaiah 9 – 12

Readings for: 
Thursday, July 25: Ecclesiastes 5 – 8

Our reading through Ecclesiastes takes a bit of a darker turn. From the continual plea of everything being “meaningless” our teacher reminds us plainly of why everything is “meaningless.” And why would that be? Because we all die.

Death . . . it is the one guarantee that we all have in live. We all will face it. We all will experience it. Some sooner than others. Some more painful than others. Some long after we thought death would actually greet us. Regardless of time or place, death will come, making everything we experience in life “meaningless.”

While that may have been true for our teacher, I would challenge us to live life to the fullest. Every day is a gift, and is a opportunity to shape and impact the life of someone around us. For I heard a “proverb” once on the radio, wish I can remember who said it or what the context was but it was quiet powerful. It said something like this:

Death . . .
You actually die twice.
Once when your heart stops beating.
Once when people stop remembering who you were.

I pray that you might find enough meaning in your life, to change the lives of others, so that you may be remembered (for the right reasons) long after you first die.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Friday, July 26: Ecclesiastes 9 – 12
Saturday, July 27: Song of Solomon
Sunday, July 28: Isaiah 1 – 4
Monday, July 29: Isaiah 5 – 8

Readings for: 
Wednesday, July 24: Ecclesiastes 1 – 4

We turn the page to the next book of the Bible, the Book of Ecclesiastes. Some what to attribute this to King Solomon, others a follower of Solomon, or another King of Judah. Either way, it is a piece of “wisdom” literature, much like Proverbs. However, it take on a bit darker tone that that of our last book, Proverbs.

To start with we have to ask the question what is “Hevel.” You might not have read that in your translation, and our friends at theBibleProject.com have a pretty good explanation for us to consider. You can find their video at the end of today’s post. However, as “Hevel” weaves its way in and out of the story, translation is one of those things that makes a huge difference in our understanding. Take for instance the following differences in translating Ecclesiastes 1:2b:

• Vanity of vanities! All is vanity (NRSV)
• Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless! (NIV)
• Perfectly pointless! Everything is perfectly pointless! (CEB)
• Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense! (CEV)
• Smoke, nothing but smoke! There is nothing to anything – it’s all smoke! (MSG)

While these are all similar, there is a pretty big difference between vanity, meaningless, and smoke. After watching the video, perhaps the clearest translation is “smoke”, but then we want definition to give us something to hold on to. Maybe its something like, “nothing has any weight, importance, or meaning . . . its all temporary . . . so why bother?” Together we’ll wrestle with this as we continue reading for the next few days.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Thursday, July 25: Ecclesiastes 5 – 8
Friday, July 26: Ecclesiastes 9 – 12
Saturday, July 27: Song of Solomon
Sunday, July 28: Isaiah 1 – 4

Readings for: 
Monday, July 22: Proverbs 27 – 29 
Tuesday, July 23: Proverbs 30 – 31

As our journey through the Book of Proverbs comes to a close I think I found my favorite Proverb. Its a great one that we should all remember to live by!

“Just as water reflects the face,
so one human heart reflects another. “
Proverbs 27:19

Readings for the next few days: 
Wednesday, July 24: Ecclesiastes 1 – 4
Thursday, July 25: Ecclesiastes 5 – 8
Friday, July 26: Ecclesiastes 9 – 12
Saturday, July 27: Song of Solomon

Readings for: 
Saturday, July 20: Proverbs 22 – 23 
Sunday, July 21: Proverbs 24 – 26

I’d reiterate again, it’s hard to make a connection and comment on most of the readings through Proverbs, as many of the Proverbs speak for themselves. I did note however, one particular Proverb that caught my attention as I read on Sunday.

“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
For it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. “
Proverbs 25:6-7a

Reading these two verses I was transported to the feet of Jesus as I heard him say it in these words:

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath . . . he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(Luke 14:1, 7 – 14)

A humbling reminder! All too many of us think to highly of ourselves, and believe that we have a right to sit at a place of honor. In God’s eyes this can’t be farther from the truth. In God’s eyes, because of our sinful nature, we shouldn’t even be allowed in the doors let alone a place of honor. Thanks be to God that Jesus has interceded on our behalf, and has invited us as a guest in his presence. At his invitation, we are invited forward, through his outstretched hands on the cross. Because he took our place, we need to remember our own place, and live accordingly. Therefore be humble in all you do, in all you say, and where you might sit when invited to the table!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Monday, July 22: Proverbs 27 – 29 
Tuesday, July 23: Proverbs 30 – 31
Wednesday, July 24: Ecclesiastes 1 – 4
Thursday, July 25: Ecclesiastes 5 – 8

Readings for 
Friday, July 19: Proverbs 19 – 21

One quick proverb that made me chuckle as I journeyed through today’s reading. I won’t dwell on it too long. And as a word of caution, I wouldn’t recommend dwelling on it either, as it may give grounds for a divorce!

“A wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain”
(Proverbs 19:13b)

Blessings,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Saturday, July 20: Proverbs 22 – 23 
Sunday, July 21: Proverbs 24 – 26
Monday, July 22: Proverbs 27 – 29
Tuesday, July 23: Proverbs 30 – 31

Readings for: 
Wednesday, July 17: Proverbs 13 – 15 
Thursday, July 18: Proverbs 16 – 18

As much as I am enjoying our read through Proverbs, I’ve come to realize how hard it is to share a reflection, especially when each Proverb makes such a great statement on its own. It doesn’t leave much to say. Here a just a few extra thoughts from the past few days:

“Spare the rod, spoil the child” . . . we find its roots in Proverbs 13:24: “Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.”

For all of those with a few (or a whole bunch) of gray hair, find comfort in Proverbs 16:31, which states: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. “

And one that reminded me of a ‘proverb’ that I remember as a child growing up on Lake Erie. Proverbs 16:9 states: “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” Which, in my opinion, sounds an awful lot like “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”

Peace and stay cool on these hot summer days!
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days: 
Friday, July 19: Proverbs 19 – 21
Saturday, July 20: Proverbs 22 – 23
Sunday, July 21: Proverbs 24 – 26
Monday, July 22: Proverbs 27 – 29