Isaiah 4 - Chapters and Verses

Today's reading from chapter four of Isaiah reminds me that the Holy Bible did not always have chapters and verses. The breakdown we have today makes for an easier way to reference scripture and was actually instituted in the 13th century A.D.. Verse 1, "In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”" seems to fit much better with the woes of chapter three than the promises found in the rest of chapter four. It is a good reminder, while we're reading the Bible, one chapter at a time, that we have to remember the whole context of what we are reading. Yes, it can be fun to "proof-text" and "dig" into one verse. But, we should remember that "scripture validates scripture." If our interpretation of scripture (one of two verses) cannot be validated by the rest of scripture, then we are probably interpreting it from our own bias.

In chapter four, we begin with what appears to be the end of the woes to Judah, Jerusalem, and ourselves if we do not turn to the LORD and trust Him; if we put material things and even ourselves before God. But, we also have the promise of the Branch of the LORD, who will be the pride and the glory of those who survive the woes and continue to live in Zion. God will be their glory. This is amazing and wonderful Good News as Jesus is the branch that is beautiful and glorious and with and in Christ, we live and dwell in the Kingdom of God, even now.

He is our shelter and refuge! (vs 6)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 119 - Martin Luther and Studying Theology

Wow! I am thinking that if you have read Psalm 119 this morning, as is the plan, that is probably enough for a devotional reading for one morning... Only two chapters after the shortest chapter in the Bible, we have the longest chapter with 176 verses. That is a lot of word to take in and to try to comprehend for one sitting.

As I was going through it, I was imagining using it for one Sunday when Keith (cantor) gets back from vacation. I'm pretty sure that he would tell us that we would have to read it - forget the chanting.

Martin Luther said that he loved Psalm 119 so much, that he would not take the whole world in exchange for one leaf of it. According to Martin, if you wanted to learn how to study theology 119 teaches us three rules to follow when studying the Word. They are prayer (oratio), meditation (meditatio), and testing (tentatio).
This is a blog and to cover chapter 119, it would take way too many of my words for a blog. Martin's are much better than mine. So, if you like to learn how to study theology click on the link: How to Study Theology by Martin Luther

Have a blessed day!

God's Peace - Pr. J

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (vs. 105 KJV, my personal favorite from chapter 119)

Psalm 117 - Short Psalm

"Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever." (Psalm 117 NIV)

For those of you who are not reading your Bible daily along with these blogs, that is the entire Psalm. To satisfy your desire (or maybe mine) for trivia: Psalm 117 is not only the shortest the Psalm in the Bible, it is also the shortest chapter in the Bible. It goes to show a lot can be conveyed with just a few words.

This Psalm speaks to me words of joy, maybe even the ecstasy, of knowing that God loves us and His faithfulness to us will never end. While the love and faithfulness we desire can be quite fleeting in this world, we can count on the love and faithfulness of God for us to be there always.

Praise the LORD!

God's Peace - Pr. J.