Monday, August 16

Hey joo guys. Whas goin dahn?

Reading for August 16
Nehemiah 11:1-12:26
Really nothing going on here. After they had prayed and signed that big contract to God, the Israelites then repopulated Jerusalem. They cast lots and one in every ten people got to move into Jerusalem, while the other nine had to continue living in their own town. This sounds like a reality show waiting to happen. "Who Wants to Live in Jerusalem?" Each week, one lucky Israelite will be given a piece of Manna and will still have a shot at becoming Jerusalem's Next Top Citizen. Then Tyra Banks will cry. Then Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav will come out and try to snatch up all the ladies. Then the Real World comes out and starts throwing beer everywhere THEN the Hills comes in and puts really nice clothes on everyone.

Who knows a producer. I'm pitching this idea. Fo Real!

1 Corinthians 10:14-33
This is a very popular idea in the New Testament, and I'm not really sure I understand it:

 ²³"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Verse 24 I get. That is, in my opinion, the overarching goal of Christianity. But verse 23 I don't - particularly what Paul means by "Everything is permissible". That's not true - I don't have permission to kill someone - neither under God's law or state law. I'm really not sure - who out there knows what this means? Hit me up in the comments.

Psalm 34:11-22
This is interesting:

¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Sure, that looks like a really nice verse about how God cares for people who are suffering. But a few nights ago I wrote about how many people only come to God in times of sorrow and suffering. And then, either their problem is solved and they forget about God, or their problem gets worse and they get angry at God and forget him anyway.

This is a theme throughout history with the Israelites. Follow God, screw up, get punished, freak out, pray for mercy, God forgives, follow God, screw up...

I suppose that God does helps people who are suffering because he is merciful. He probably knows that those people will likely abandon him no matter the outcome, but he does it because he loves his people. I suppose we are his priority.

Proverbs 21:14-16
 ¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
       and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
 ¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
       but terror to evildoers.
 ¹⁶ A man who strays from the path of understanding
       comes to rest in the company of the dead.

And goodnight. Off to play Donkey Kong Country...