36-5-250 (Week 36, Day 5, Year 250)

PSALM 136 (26 verses) PRAISE OF THE LORD WHO CREATED THE WORLD AND ISRAEL. – PRAISE OF GOD, CREATOR AND REDEEMER. “A hymn of praise recounting the acts of God, from creation (5-9) to the Exodus (10-16) to the battles for the possession of the land (17-22).”

“A hymn telling of the creation of the world and of the Exodus and Conquest, the holy people designed to motivate Israel to give praise, and perhaps for God to remember Israel in its “low estate” (v 23) when it is persecuted and suffers from famine (vv 24-25).  Psalm 135 and 136 share vocabulary and a similar view of sacred history, though 136 uniquely preserves the antiphonal reply “for his steadfast love endures forever” (26 times), which was frequently used in ritual in the post exilic period.”

GOD’S WORK IN CREATION AND IN HISTORY “A”

A liturgical poem in which every sentence ends with “for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is important to give thanks to the LORD for the LORD’S steadfast love.

JOHN 4

JOHN 4: 1-42 SUCCESS IN SAMARIA – JESUS AND THE SAMARITANS

JESUS TALKS WITH A WOMAN FRM SAMARIA

THE DISCIPLES JOIN JESUS AGAIN      

MANY SAMARITANS BELIEVE IN JESUS

JOHN 4: 43-54 PROGRESS OF THE PROPHET – HEALING OF THE OFFICIAL’S SON                             

This is an astounding story of belief in the Samaritans of which the Jews had rejected. These are people who believed Jesus was the Messiah.

JOHN 4:54 “Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.”

JESUS HEALS THE OFFICIALS SON-Second sign

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

IT’S HARVEST TIME-A healing is the second sign

ISAIAH 43-44

ISAIAH 44: 1-5 A WORD OF ASSURANCE AND SALVATION addressed to the people as the LORD’S servant.  An oracle of salvation for Israel

ISAIAH 44: 6-8 A summary

ISAIAH 44: 9-20 POLEMIC AGAINST IDOLS “A lengthy and satirical prose polemic against idolatry.”

THE LORD CHOOSES ISRAEL

WORSHIP THE LORD, NOT OTHER GODS

PEOPLE WILL LIVE IN JERUSALEM AGAIN

ISAIAH 44: 21-22 “Conclusion of the oracle in vv 6-8

ISAIAH 44:23  “Hymnic conclusion”

ISAIAH 44: 24- ISAIAH 48:22 THE LORD WILL USE CYRUS FOR THE RESTORATION OF ZION

ISAIAH 44: 24- ISAIAH 45:8 THE LORD’S ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING CYRUS

ISAIAH 44:24-28 “Reiterations of the divine qualities and roles previously articulated”

WHEN YOU’RE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.  God will deliver us (me). 

YOU DIDN’T EVEN DO THE MINIMUM

PROUD TO BE CALLED ISRAEL: “I pour out my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children.”

LOVER OF EMPTINESS

GALATIANS 6

GALATIANS 5: 13- GALATIANS 6: 10 THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE CALLED IN FREEDOM TO LIVE BY THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS 6: 1-10 PAUL OFFERS THE GALATIANS SEVERAL MAXIMS BY WHICH TO JUDGE THEIR BEHAVIOR  “do not grow weary” also can be translated “do not lose heart.”

GALATIANS 6: 11-18 POSTSCRIPT

DO GOOD TO EVERYONE

THE CREATION OF A NEW NATURE

NOTHING BUT THE CROSS