Of such is the Kingdom of God

Friday 2021.10.15

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week, tie up all loose ends, and prepare to rest for the Seventh Day Shabbat beginning at sunset this evening.

This afternoon my NT reading covered Mark chapters 9 and 10.

Mark chapter 10 contains an account of our Lord Iesou becoming much displeased with his disciples for rebuking some parents who brought their children to be touched by the Lord, telling his disciples that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will not enter into it. This passage contains the well known words of our Lord, "Suffer little children to come unto me . . . ".

About forty-five years ago, some time in 1977, I heard these words being sung in a song during Sunday Service in Wesley Methodist Church Kuala Lumpur. I would like to learn to sing that song again.

Mark 10:13 - 16 KJV

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

In April last year, I wrote a poem using these words of our Lord, "Suffer little children", in my poetry blog, link below:

• Suffer Little Children

Ye leave the commandment of God, hold fast the tradition of men

Thursday 2021.10.14

Today, in the NT, I read the Gospel of Mark chapters 7 and 8 from the American Standard Version.

Mark chapter 7 verses 1 to 8 records the account of the Pharisees and scribes questioning our Lord about the failure of his disciples to adhere to their strict tradition of washing hands before meals, one of many other such traditions of bathing, and washing cups, pots and bronze vessels. In their view, failure to observe any of these "tradition of the elders" results in being defiled.

In verses 6 to 8, our Lord Iesous quoted Isaiah 29:13 (Esaias 29:13) from the Septuagint and rebuked them for leaving the commandment of God and instead adhering to the tradition of men.

Mark 7:1 - 8 ASV

1 And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,
2 and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.
3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
4 and when they come from the market-place, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)
5 And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?
6 And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.
7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.
8 Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.

Esaias 29:13 LXX Brenton

And the Lord has said, This people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and they honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men.

The good man

Tuesday 2021.10.12

Today, in my reading of Psalms 111 to 118, I came across a not-so-well-known passage in Psalm 112 telling us that a good man shows favour and lends to others, and he will not be afraid of evil tidings because his heart is fixed upon trusting Yehovah.

Psalm 112 verse 9 in particular tells us that the good man disperses his wealth and gives to the poor, and his righteousness endures forever. This verse is quoted by the Apostle in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 9 in his urging the believers in Corinth to give cheerfully.

Psalm 112:5 - 10 KJV

5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:
- he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever:
- the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:
- his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,
- until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed,
- he hath given to the poor;
his righteousness endureth for ever;
- his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;
- he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:
- - the desire of the wicked shall perish.

2 Corinthians 9:7 - 10 KJV

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Brothers and Sisters in Christos the Anointed One, let us endeavour to give to the poor and needy, that our righteousness may endure forever, and that God will grant us sufficiency in all things, enabling us to abound in all good work.

A Priest forever, after the Order of Melchizedek

Monday 2021.10.11

This afternoon, as I read through Psalm 107 to 110 for my OT reading, I am reminded of the promise of Yehovah in Psalm 110 verse 4, an unchangeable promise made with an oath, that He will make our Messiah a priest forever, belonging to the Order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4 KJV

The LORD hath sworn,
and will not repent,
Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Over the years, I have written several devotions and discussions on the teachings of scripture about this chosen Priest. The following are some of the links to my blog posts:

• 26Apr2010 : Jesus Our Mediator
• 05Mar2010 : Immanuel, God With Us
• 05Jul2012 : Adoni, the Anointed King
• 30Nov2012 : The Priest of God
• 23Nov2013 : Judah - the tribe chosen by YeHoVah
• 02Dec2013 : Son of the Most High, Prophet of the Most High
• 12Jul2014 : Although he was a Son, he learned obedience

He departed to a solitary place, and there prayed

Monday 2021.10.11

My NT reading today covers Mark chapters 1 and 2.

I am reminded from Mark 1 verse 35 that our Lord Iesou the Anointed One has set us an example of rising early in the morning, "a great while before day", to pray in a quiet place. I learned to do this during my secondary school days, and sometimes during my university years, by getting up at about five o'clock in the morning to pray and to read the Scriptures at my study table, all by myself. Perhaps I should return to this habit again.

Mark 1:35 KJV

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Two beautiful songs of praise

Saturday 2021.10.09

Shabbat Shalom.

This morning during my Bible Reading time, I came across two short passages from the Psalms that are used in two well known songs of praise.

This first is Psalm 86 verses 10 to 12, used as lyrics in the song "For Thou Art Great". The second passage is Psalm 89 verses 1 and 2, in the lyrics of "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD".

Psalm 86:10 - 12 KJV

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Psalm 89:1 - 2 KJV

1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

No good thing will He withhold from the upright

Saturday 2021.10.09

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work according to the Fourth Commandment.

This morning for my OT reading, I finished reading Psalms 78 to 89, which are the last twelve Psalms in Book II (Psalm 73 - 89).

Psalm 84 contains a passage which I had memorised before back in 1978, about forty-three years ago. It tells us that spending time in prayer before God, "in thy courts" is far better than spending our time elsewhere. And God does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly before Him.

Psalm 84:8 KJV

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

9

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.