(Originally written October 14, 2008 in The Journal)
The Artist and His Time (1953) by Albert Camus
The artist accepts his time as it is. He minds his own business.
Word, though perverted, provisionally keep their meaning.
Marxism is religious in nature.
The end of history cannot have any definable significance to us in our present condition. It is only knowable by faith.
Artists have no need to interfere in the affairs of the world, but men do. The artist however does not need to sacrifice his nature to some social preaching.
The ivory tower and the social church are two points of the resignation of life.
The artist must simultaneously serve suffering and beauty.
The artist is to give voice to the sorrows and joys of all.
Art justifies itself by proving it is no one's enemy.
Art gives form, not content to justice and liberty.
Any authentic creation is a gift to the future.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Return to Tipasa (1952)
(Originally Written October 14, 2008 in the Journal)
"To be sure, it is sheer madness, almost always punished, to return to the sites of one's youth" (Camus)
One must recapture the strength to accept what is, when once one has admitted that one cannot change it.
"And in this muddy Tipasa the memory itself was becoming dim" (Camus)
There is no love without a little innocence.
In innocence we do not know of the existence of morality. In knowledge we are guilty of not being able to live up to the standards of morality.
Noting is true that forces one to exclude.
It is bad luck to be unloved, it is a misfortune to be unloving. We are dying of this misfortune today.
Equally welcome what delights and what crushes.
The highest virtue of Camus: a will to live without rejecting anything of life.
"To be sure, it is sheer madness, almost always punished, to return to the sites of one's youth" (Camus)
One must recapture the strength to accept what is, when once one has admitted that one cannot change it.
"And in this muddy Tipasa the memory itself was becoming dim" (Camus)
There is no love without a little innocence.
In innocence we do not know of the existence of morality. In knowledge we are guilty of not being able to live up to the standards of morality.
Noting is true that forces one to exclude.
It is bad luck to be unloved, it is a misfortune to be unloving. We are dying of this misfortune today.
Equally welcome what delights and what crushes.
The highest virtue of Camus: a will to live without rejecting anything of life.
Helen's Exile (1948)
(Originally Written October 14, 2008 in the Journal)
Helen's Exile (1948) by Albert Camus
Despair can be known through the stifling effect of Beauty. Tragedy reaches its fulfillment in stifling beauty.
Greek thought negated nothing, but practiced balance. It never went to extremes. Modern thought negates whatever it does not glorify. It is extreme. It glorifies one thing and leads to the eventual total ruin of reason.
The execution of God has left man only to think of power and history. It has left man to not think of nature, but only what man can or has built.
The artist wishes to remake the world. He aims at freedom. Beauty cannot exist apart from men nor can man exist apart from beauty.
We cannot live hating ourselves. We may dislike our era, but this is our only time.
Admit of ignorance, reject fanaticism, accept the limits of this world and of man, this is the Greek reasoning.
Helen's Exile (1948) by Albert Camus
Despair can be known through the stifling effect of Beauty. Tragedy reaches its fulfillment in stifling beauty.
Greek thought negated nothing, but practiced balance. It never went to extremes. Modern thought negates whatever it does not glorify. It is extreme. It glorifies one thing and leads to the eventual total ruin of reason.
The execution of God has left man only to think of power and history. It has left man to not think of nature, but only what man can or has built.
The artist wishes to remake the world. He aims at freedom. Beauty cannot exist apart from men nor can man exist apart from beauty.
We cannot live hating ourselves. We may dislike our era, but this is our only time.
Admit of ignorance, reject fanaticism, accept the limits of this world and of man, this is the Greek reasoning.
The Minotaur (1939)
(Originally written October 14, 2008 in the Journal)
The Minotaur, by Albert Camus
The citizens of Oran have accepted their fate - being eaten by the Minotaur (boredom) and yet thrive.
Spiritual hunger is fed by the bread of memory. Spiritual hunger (future) is fed by memory (past).
The mind profits from occasionally focusing on something of no importance.
Stone lasts longer than the men who use it.
"Moving things about is the work of men; one must choose doing that or nothing" (Camus)
The world says one thing only; at first this excites man, then bores him. Regardless the world wins. Men die, the world continues on.
The absurd life cannot be shared (explained); it must be lived (experienced).
When the mind recollects itself it is like the Mount of Olives. The sleeping of Apostles is approved, not reproved.
There is a drive in man to be nothingness - but this is futile. One can be neither nothingness nor absolute.
The Minotaur, by Albert Camus
The citizens of Oran have accepted their fate - being eaten by the Minotaur (boredom) and yet thrive.
Spiritual hunger is fed by the bread of memory. Spiritual hunger (future) is fed by memory (past).
The mind profits from occasionally focusing on something of no importance.
Stone lasts longer than the men who use it.
"Moving things about is the work of men; one must choose doing that or nothing" (Camus)
The world says one thing only; at first this excites man, then bores him. Regardless the world wins. Men die, the world continues on.
The absurd life cannot be shared (explained); it must be lived (experienced).
When the mind recollects itself it is like the Mount of Olives. The sleeping of Apostles is approved, not reproved.
There is a drive in man to be nothingness - but this is futile. One can be neither nothingness nor absolute.
Summer in Algiers (1936)
(Originally Written October 14, 2008 in the Journal)
Summer in Algiers (1936)
The openness and abundance of Algiers gives pleasure without remedy and joy without hope. It gives man his splendor and his misery.
Truth carries with it a bitterness.
It is ridiculous not to live by the body. To deny its impulses is to deny it life. Rather, drink when you are thirsty, bed a woman you desire, marry a woman you love and afterwards (as Camus' friend Vincent) say I feel better.
Algiers offers two contrasting pleasures; the abundance of the beach and the silence of the city. The key here is experiencing it, of living it.
Life, as joys, in Algiers are merciless and sudden. Life is not to be built up, but to be burned up.
Virtue is meaningless, but that does not mean that men lack principles.
There is nothing sacred in death; it is abhorred.
"The contrary of a civilized nation is a creative nation" (Camus)
The greatness of man as culture is one cast fully in the present (no past/future) and without myth or solace.
Relative truths are the only truths that stir individual men.
Spirituality is solely confined to this lifetime. Eternity is solely what survives us.
What exalts life increases the absurdity of life.
To sin is to sin against life, which is to elude life in the hope of another one.
Hope is resignation, to live is not to resign oneself.
Summer in Algiers (1936)
The openness and abundance of Algiers gives pleasure without remedy and joy without hope. It gives man his splendor and his misery.
Truth carries with it a bitterness.
It is ridiculous not to live by the body. To deny its impulses is to deny it life. Rather, drink when you are thirsty, bed a woman you desire, marry a woman you love and afterwards (as Camus' friend Vincent) say I feel better.
Algiers offers two contrasting pleasures; the abundance of the beach and the silence of the city. The key here is experiencing it, of living it.
Life, as joys, in Algiers are merciless and sudden. Life is not to be built up, but to be burned up.
Virtue is meaningless, but that does not mean that men lack principles.
There is nothing sacred in death; it is abhorred.
"The contrary of a civilized nation is a creative nation" (Camus)
The greatness of man as culture is one cast fully in the present (no past/future) and without myth or solace.
Relative truths are the only truths that stir individual men.
Spirituality is solely confined to this lifetime. Eternity is solely what survives us.
What exalts life increases the absurdity of life.
To sin is to sin against life, which is to elude life in the hope of another one.
Hope is resignation, to live is not to resign oneself.
Notes on Sisyphus (The Myth of Sisyphus)
(Originally Written October 14, 2008 in the Journal)
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Sisyphus is an absurd hero. He has contempt for the gods and a passion for life.
His punishment was eternal labor to a futile end. "This is the price that must be paid for the passions of this earth" (Camus).
Sisyphus had to push a rock up a hill only to have the rock roll back down when it reached the top. Camus admires Sisyphus on the way down the hill. He leaves the heights and goes back to the valley. He marches to his torment and in that moment, he is stronger than his rock.
The walk to the rock from the top is his conscious moment. To be conscious is to overcome the torment.
Scorn your fate and you overcome the depth of it.
The absurd man is the master of his days.
Appendix
(Hope and the Absurd in the work of Franz Kafka)
The human heart only labels as fate that which crushes it.
It is through humility that hope enters in. (These are detestable to Camus. The philosophers who leap by deifying the absurd, i.e. Kierkegaard, Kafka, or Chestov).
To the philosophers like Kierkegaard, Kafka and Chestov the absurd of their existence assures them of a supernatural reality. The absurd leads them to God.
The Absurd man seeks what is true, not what is universal
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Sisyphus is an absurd hero. He has contempt for the gods and a passion for life.
His punishment was eternal labor to a futile end. "This is the price that must be paid for the passions of this earth" (Camus).
Sisyphus had to push a rock up a hill only to have the rock roll back down when it reached the top. Camus admires Sisyphus on the way down the hill. He leaves the heights and goes back to the valley. He marches to his torment and in that moment, he is stronger than his rock.
The walk to the rock from the top is his conscious moment. To be conscious is to overcome the torment.
Scorn your fate and you overcome the depth of it.
The absurd man is the master of his days.
Appendix
(Hope and the Absurd in the work of Franz Kafka)
The human heart only labels as fate that which crushes it.
It is through humility that hope enters in. (These are detestable to Camus. The philosophers who leap by deifying the absurd, i.e. Kierkegaard, Kafka, or Chestov).
To the philosophers like Kierkegaard, Kafka and Chestov the absurd of their existence assures them of a supernatural reality. The absurd leads them to God.
The Absurd man seeks what is true, not what is universal
Monday, October 13, 2008
Notes on the Absurd Creation (The Myth of Sisyphus)
(Originally written October 13, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus
Absurd Creation
To create is to live doubly. They know to begin with and work to enrich and enlarge through examination of what they know.
The absurd man concerns himself with experiencing and describing - not explaining and solving.
Does the Christian explain and solve? Does he do this as an apologist or as a believer? Or does the Christian resolve the conflict through faith (creating a paradox out of an inconsistency) and merely experience and describe?
The universe is attractive, not for its depth but for its diversity (quantity not quality). Explanation is futile, but sensation (experience) remains.
"The idea of an art detached from its creator is not only outmoded, it is false... the artist commits himself and becomes himself in his work" (Camus)
"The work of art is born of the intelligence's refusal to reason the concrete" (Camus)
Art is carnal.
Thought provokes art but the creation of art is the repudiation of the provoking thought.
Art cannot be the end, the meaning, or the consolation of life.
Art is bad when it tries to explain existence in total. Art is good when it is a slice of experience.
"If the world were clear, art would not exist" and "expression begins where thought ends".
To think is to create a world (or to limit one's world, which is the same thing)
Camus desires to liberate his universe of phantoms and focus on flesh-and-blood truths, of which he cannot deny (This sounds a bit Cartesian).
The heart of man is full of stubborn hope.
Kirilov
In Dostoevsky, existence is either illusionary or eternal.
Dostoevsky is convinced that life is an utter absurdity for anyone without faith in immortality.
The independence which Kirilov gains (Dostoevsky's The Possessed) is the independence of serving God, of being god himself - this is a painful independence for him.
Ivan Karamazov (The Brothers Karamazov), like the great assassain of God, Nietzsche end their lives in madness. Camus praises this: "But this is a risk worth running, and faced with such tragic ends, the essential impulse of the absurd mind is to ask - what does that prove?" (Camus).
All is well, everything is permitted, nothing is hateful, dreadful freedom - these are the mantras of the absurd mind.
Dostoevsky, like Kierkegaard, follows out the absurd logic only to metaphysically reverse at the end (there is a God, necessarily). Thus, hope in the eternal, an abandonment of the temporal.
Dostoevsky's works deal with the absurd problem, but are not absurd works. His works offer a reply (the leap); whereas, true absurd works offer descriptions, not replies.
"It is possible to be Christian and absurd. There are examples of Christians who do not believe in a future life" (Camus). [What? Who? This is a contradiction. The entire thrust of Christianity is the eternal life].
Ephemeral creation
The art and artist are inseparable. The entire body of work by the artist is his one creation. Each piece complements, chastises, or corrects one another. (Experience is emphasized in this, a lifetime of experience infused in a lifetime of work).
"From death, for instance, they (the art) derive their definitive significance. At the moment of death, the succession of his works is but a collection of failures. But if those failures all have the same resonance, the creator has managed to repeat the image of his own conditions to make the air echo with the sterile secret he possesses" (Camus).
Art finds its importance in the demands it makes on the creator and the opportunity it affords him of getting closer to his naked self.
Diversity is the home of art.
There is no barrier between being and appearing.
The illusion of another world binds man; hope binds man.
Notes on Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus
Absurd Creation
To create is to live doubly. They know to begin with and work to enrich and enlarge through examination of what they know.
The absurd man concerns himself with experiencing and describing - not explaining and solving.
Does the Christian explain and solve? Does he do this as an apologist or as a believer? Or does the Christian resolve the conflict through faith (creating a paradox out of an inconsistency) and merely experience and describe?
The universe is attractive, not for its depth but for its diversity (quantity not quality). Explanation is futile, but sensation (experience) remains.
"The idea of an art detached from its creator is not only outmoded, it is false... the artist commits himself and becomes himself in his work" (Camus)
"The work of art is born of the intelligence's refusal to reason the concrete" (Camus)
Art is carnal.
Thought provokes art but the creation of art is the repudiation of the provoking thought.
Art cannot be the end, the meaning, or the consolation of life.
Art is bad when it tries to explain existence in total. Art is good when it is a slice of experience.
"If the world were clear, art would not exist" and "expression begins where thought ends".
To think is to create a world (or to limit one's world, which is the same thing)
Camus desires to liberate his universe of phantoms and focus on flesh-and-blood truths, of which he cannot deny (This sounds a bit Cartesian).
The heart of man is full of stubborn hope.
Kirilov
In Dostoevsky, existence is either illusionary or eternal.
Dostoevsky is convinced that life is an utter absurdity for anyone without faith in immortality.
The independence which Kirilov gains (Dostoevsky's The Possessed) is the independence of serving God, of being god himself - this is a painful independence for him.
Ivan Karamazov (The Brothers Karamazov), like the great assassain of God, Nietzsche end their lives in madness. Camus praises this: "But this is a risk worth running, and faced with such tragic ends, the essential impulse of the absurd mind is to ask - what does that prove?" (Camus).
All is well, everything is permitted, nothing is hateful, dreadful freedom - these are the mantras of the absurd mind.
Dostoevsky, like Kierkegaard, follows out the absurd logic only to metaphysically reverse at the end (there is a God, necessarily). Thus, hope in the eternal, an abandonment of the temporal.
Dostoevsky's works deal with the absurd problem, but are not absurd works. His works offer a reply (the leap); whereas, true absurd works offer descriptions, not replies.
"It is possible to be Christian and absurd. There are examples of Christians who do not believe in a future life" (Camus). [What? Who? This is a contradiction. The entire thrust of Christianity is the eternal life].
Ephemeral creation
The art and artist are inseparable. The entire body of work by the artist is his one creation. Each piece complements, chastises, or corrects one another. (Experience is emphasized in this, a lifetime of experience infused in a lifetime of work).
"From death, for instance, they (the art) derive their definitive significance. At the moment of death, the succession of his works is but a collection of failures. But if those failures all have the same resonance, the creator has managed to repeat the image of his own conditions to make the air echo with the sterile secret he possesses" (Camus).
Art finds its importance in the demands it makes on the creator and the opportunity it affords him of getting closer to his naked self.
Diversity is the home of art.
There is no barrier between being and appearing.
The illusion of another world binds man; hope binds man.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Notes on the Absurd Man (B) (The Myth of Sisyphus)
(Originally Written October 12, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
The Absurd Man
The absurd man is assured of temporally limited freedom.
The absurd man lives his existence in his lifetime.
The absurd man does nothing for the eternal.
The absurd man lives by courage and reasoning.
He is assured of his temporally limited freedom. (Contrast with the Christian who is assured of his absolute freedom in Christ).
"The absurd does not liberate, it binds" (Camus)
"In the absurd world the value of a notion or a life is measured by its sterility" (Camus)
Don Juanism
Genius is intelligence that knows its frontiers.
Those who live on hope are called either a weakling, an idealist or a saint - each insulting.
Ethic is quantitative for the absurd man, the saint sees ethic qualitatively.
Regret is another form of hope.
Love, like that of a passionate wife or a mother necessarily closes its heart to the world. Those who turn away from all personal life through a great love are certainly enriched, but the object of that great love becomes impoverished.
Love can only be defined subjectively based on our experiences. "I do not have the right to cover all those experiences with the same name" (Camus).
Love is noble when it recognizes its short-lived and exceptional nature.
Again, the absurd man quantifies his experiences of love and doesn't base it on any qualitative experience (This is what Camus calls Don Juanism). [This is a truly detestable notion]
A fate is not a punishment - a natural consequence of a consciously chosen act is not a punishment. The absurd man chooses his direction and accepts the reality of his choice.
It is the absurd way to knowledge without illusion.
Drama
The thoughtless man continues to hasten from hope to hope.
There is a profound nobility in indifference. Indifference directs us to the most important concern: the immediate.
"Preferring oneself to eternity or losing oneself in God is the age-old tragedy in which each much play his part" (Camus). Obviously, the absurd man chooses oneself over losing oneself in any way - especially to something atemporal or eternal. (The absurd man lives in time, his adventure lasts from birth until death).
Conquest
The conqueror can thoroughly define what they believe. Beware of those who say 'I know this too well to express it' because they either do not know it or were too lazy to pursue it. (This is a condemnation of mysticism).
Given the choice between history or eternal Camus chooses history because it is certain and he likes certainties.
A proud heart cannot compromise. "There is God or time, that cross or this sword. This world has a higher meaning that transcends its worries, or nothing is true but those worries. One must live with time and die with it, or else elude it for a greater life. I know that one can compromise and live in this world while believing in the eternal. That is called accepting. But I loathe this term and want all or nothing" (Camus).
Flesh is struggle, but flesh is my only certainty.
Man is his own end; he is his only end.
Life is both the conquerors' destitution and wealth. It is in this tension that he thrives, exalting and crushing man, the individual.
True riches are riches because they are transitory.
Knowing the limits constitutes the freedom, the liberation.
"The truths that come within my scope can be touched with the hand" (Camus)
Pity is the only acceptable form of compassion for the absurd man.
"Being deprived of hope is not despairing" (Camus)
The absurd, godless world is full of thinking men without hope.
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
The Absurd Man
The absurd man is assured of temporally limited freedom.
The absurd man lives his existence in his lifetime.
The absurd man does nothing for the eternal.
The absurd man lives by courage and reasoning.
He is assured of his temporally limited freedom. (Contrast with the Christian who is assured of his absolute freedom in Christ).
"The absurd does not liberate, it binds" (Camus)
"In the absurd world the value of a notion or a life is measured by its sterility" (Camus)
Don Juanism
Genius is intelligence that knows its frontiers.
Those who live on hope are called either a weakling, an idealist or a saint - each insulting.
Ethic is quantitative for the absurd man, the saint sees ethic qualitatively.
Regret is another form of hope.
Love, like that of a passionate wife or a mother necessarily closes its heart to the world. Those who turn away from all personal life through a great love are certainly enriched, but the object of that great love becomes impoverished.
Love can only be defined subjectively based on our experiences. "I do not have the right to cover all those experiences with the same name" (Camus).
Love is noble when it recognizes its short-lived and exceptional nature.
Again, the absurd man quantifies his experiences of love and doesn't base it on any qualitative experience (This is what Camus calls Don Juanism). [This is a truly detestable notion]
A fate is not a punishment - a natural consequence of a consciously chosen act is not a punishment. The absurd man chooses his direction and accepts the reality of his choice.
It is the absurd way to knowledge without illusion.
Drama
The thoughtless man continues to hasten from hope to hope.
There is a profound nobility in indifference. Indifference directs us to the most important concern: the immediate.
"Preferring oneself to eternity or losing oneself in God is the age-old tragedy in which each much play his part" (Camus). Obviously, the absurd man chooses oneself over losing oneself in any way - especially to something atemporal or eternal. (The absurd man lives in time, his adventure lasts from birth until death).
Conquest
The conqueror can thoroughly define what they believe. Beware of those who say 'I know this too well to express it' because they either do not know it or were too lazy to pursue it. (This is a condemnation of mysticism).
Given the choice between history or eternal Camus chooses history because it is certain and he likes certainties.
A proud heart cannot compromise. "There is God or time, that cross or this sword. This world has a higher meaning that transcends its worries, or nothing is true but those worries. One must live with time and die with it, or else elude it for a greater life. I know that one can compromise and live in this world while believing in the eternal. That is called accepting. But I loathe this term and want all or nothing" (Camus).
Flesh is struggle, but flesh is my only certainty.
Man is his own end; he is his only end.
Life is both the conquerors' destitution and wealth. It is in this tension that he thrives, exalting and crushing man, the individual.
True riches are riches because they are transitory.
Knowing the limits constitutes the freedom, the liberation.
"The truths that come within my scope can be touched with the hand" (Camus)
Pity is the only acceptable form of compassion for the absurd man.
"Being deprived of hope is not despairing" (Camus)
The absurd, godless world is full of thinking men without hope.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Notes on the Absurd Man (A) (The Myth of Sisyphus)
(Originally Written October 11, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
The Absurd Man
The absurd man, without negating it, does nothing for the eternal.
The absurd man prefers to live in courage and with his reasoning. This courage teaches him to live without appeal (void of hope or meaning); the reasoning informs him of his limits.
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
The Absurd Man
The absurd man, without negating it, does nothing for the eternal.
The absurd man prefers to live in courage and with his reasoning. This courage teaches him to live without appeal (void of hope or meaning); the reasoning informs him of his limits.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Notes on An Absurd Reasoning & Absurd Freedom (The Myth of Sisyphus)
(Originally Written October 10, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
Myth of Sisyphus
An Absurd Reasoning
"Understanding the world for a man is reducing it to human, stamping it with his real" (Camus)
This is pure subjectivism - all thought is anthropomorphic. A thought then, What of Imago Dei? If we, created in the image of God reflect on the world out of this sense aren't we reflecting on the world from a universal standpoint, albeit imperfectly due to our limitations?
Camus is an absolute empiricist. I feel my heart, it exists. I feel the world, I touch it. Therefore, it exists. "There ends all my knowledge, the rest is construction" (Camus). But he states even his own heart is and will remain indefinable to him.
The gap between certainty of existence and defining the content of existence is so wide it cannot be filled.
The irrational (existence's paradoxes and inconsistencies), the human nostalgia (our deepest desire for unity familiarity, and obsession with clarity), and the absurd (the abyss we stare at when we attempt of true knowledge and find none) converge to create in our minds a desert which we ought not attempt to escape by suicide (literal or the act of giving up thought or reason) or attempt to transcend by hope (a process of leaving knowledge to enter into pure construction). This is the point that demands action - suicide or recovery.
Philosophical suicide is the abdication of duty in pursuing knowledge either by giving up or by giving into hope.
The absurd is "the divorce between the mind that desires and the world that disappoints" (Camus).
The absurd is to be both impossible and contradictory.
The absurd is a disproportion between intentions and reality of consequences. "The absurd, which is a metaphysical state of the conscious man does not lead to God. Perhaps the notion will become clearer if I risk this shocking statement: the absurd is sin without God" (Camus).
Absurdity springs from comparison. It is essentially a divorce; it does not lie within the two things being compared but in the actual confrontation of the two things. The absurd is not in man nor in the world, but in the meeting of the two.
The absurd is the fundamental truth - the one thing that cannot be disposed of.
Now, it is the absurd that crushes man - the force that drives man to a broken point. The thing that crushes us we must fight to preserve. The absurd is an unceasing struggle - which implies "a total absence of hope (which has nothing to do with despair), a continual rejection (which must not be confused with renunciation), and a conscious dissatisfaction (which must not be compared to immature unrest)" (Camus).
So Camus' way is thus:
1. Break from the monotony of life to discover life is meaningless.
2. This shock demands action, either suicide or recovery
3. The recovery is acceptance of the absurd as ceaseless struggle
4. Ceaseless struggle brings to the mind three realizations
- There is no hope
- There is continual rejection
- We must be dissatisfied
The existentialists (Chestov, Kierkegaard and Jaspers) came to the truth of the absurd and offered their reaction to it as escape. They did so out of forced hope - creating religion.
The absurd man, the existentialist, recognizes the absurd and the limited value of reason - but, rather than abandoning reason for religion, he in his awareness, simply knows there is no longer a place for hope.
The absurd man seeks to live with his ailments, while the man who has seen the absurd and turned to religion has become frantic and frenzied, seeking to be cured.
Kierkegaard views despair not as a fact, but as a state of existence - the state of sin. Now, Kierkegaard in his final dealings with the absurd sacrificed the intellect (reason) to the belief in God for he sacrificed his pride (sin) to God. Camus recognizes the limitations of reason, but states that if this is pride he sees no sufficient cause to sacrifice it.
The absurd man, the absurd mind seeks what is true at all costs. It seeks what is true, not what is desirable. If Kierkegaard warns that there is nothing but despair then the absurd man takes truth and despair.
Phenomenology (Edmund Husserl) - the making of structures of consciousness and the phenomena which appears in acts of consciousness - objects of systematic reflection and analysis. Husserl used this to provide a firm basis for all human knowledge.
Phenomenology seeks to describe actual experience - not explain the world.
Phenomenology claims truths but that there is no Truth.
Husserl's method was "the intention":
1. Negate classical reasoning (thinking as a unifying/familiarizing procedure). Thinking is actually a relearning how to see again and to direct consciousness.
2. Directing consciousness illuminates every little truth.
3. It isolates events from one another to represent an incoherent-ness in experience; thus, every isolated object of consciousness is its own "magical appearance".
The absurd spirit wishes to enumerate experience, not transcend it.
Husserl's methodology would be acceptable to the absurd man if it simply stopped at the enumeration of experience, but Husserl jumps from the psychological truth of his theory to the metaphysical. Thus, he reintroduces a rationalism akin to Plato. Unlike Kierkegaard who returns to God - Husserl returns to a form of truth as polytheism - flattening all hierarchy and making all truth equal little gods.
The difference between Husserl's abstract god and the dazzling God of Kierkegaard is minimal and only one on how to arrive at the conclusion. Kierkegaard, like other religious philosophers deified the absurd and called it God. The abstract philosophers like Husserl rationalized the absurd to the point of creating standard reasons. They began at the nausea of recognizing the absurd but go to one extreme (rationalizing/abstract) or irrationalizing (deifying/religious escapism).
Nausea is looking into the face of the absurd. There are then three paths to follow. Religion is the path of deifying the absurd. It is an escape or a reconciliation to avoid the divorce. The abstract is the pat of rationalizing the absurd. It is an escape or a reconciliation to avoid the divorce. The absurd man does neither. He takes the divorce. This is the path of acceptance.
The absurd man knows that existence is unreasonable - neither too rational nor too irrational. He accepts the limits of reason and does not give it limitless power as Husserl or abandon it as sin (pride) like Kierkegaard.
Absurd Freedom
What is known (that what is certain) cannot be denied or rejected. One can negate all, but one's desire for unity. One can refute all the world but chaos.
One can only understand a thing in human terms (thus cannot transcend). "What I touch, what resists me - that is what I understand" (Camus).
The break - the divorce of mind (reason) and the world is caused by awareness of it.
The absurd man lives in the certainty of this divorce and does nothing except on the basis of certain knowledge. The only certainty is the absurd and thus he cannot escape it in good conscious through religion. He hears that this is the sin of pride but he does not know what sin is.
Life is better lived because it does not have a meaning.
Hope in transcendence (religion) is to escape the reality of the absurd - to abolish the intellect is to elude, not solve the problem.
The absurd man lives in constant revolt against the world and against his desire for unity (escape/hope). It is in this revolt that gives life its value.
Camus really loves the pride of man. He focuses all of his energy on praising the absurd man and abhors any type of degradation.
To the absurd man the notion of the metaphysical freedom or determinism is not important - the absurd man is only certain of his own freedom.
Camus denies the paradox of God and freedom has been solved or laid to waste, it remains. Either god is all-powerful and the author of all evil or we are free and God is not all-powerful. But, none of this is important because we only experience our own freedom and the eradication of hope and future makes us more free.
The absurd tells me this: there is no future. Freedom in the classical sense is based on hope, hope based on future. Our hope in the future actually makes us slaves to the conventions of thinking.
The Ideal of the absurd man: to live with a constantly conscious soul in a ceaseless procession of presents (no pasts/no future)/
Three consequences of absurd reasoning:
1. Revolt
2. Freedom
3. The ideal (passion)
Notes on Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus and other essays
Myth of Sisyphus
An Absurd Reasoning
"Understanding the world for a man is reducing it to human, stamping it with his real" (Camus)
This is pure subjectivism - all thought is anthropomorphic. A thought then, What of Imago Dei? If we, created in the image of God reflect on the world out of this sense aren't we reflecting on the world from a universal standpoint, albeit imperfectly due to our limitations?
Camus is an absolute empiricist. I feel my heart, it exists. I feel the world, I touch it. Therefore, it exists. "There ends all my knowledge, the rest is construction" (Camus). But he states even his own heart is and will remain indefinable to him.
The gap between certainty of existence and defining the content of existence is so wide it cannot be filled.
The irrational (existence's paradoxes and inconsistencies), the human nostalgia (our deepest desire for unity familiarity, and obsession with clarity), and the absurd (the abyss we stare at when we attempt of true knowledge and find none) converge to create in our minds a desert which we ought not attempt to escape by suicide (literal or the act of giving up thought or reason) or attempt to transcend by hope (a process of leaving knowledge to enter into pure construction). This is the point that demands action - suicide or recovery.
Philosophical suicide is the abdication of duty in pursuing knowledge either by giving up or by giving into hope.
The absurd is "the divorce between the mind that desires and the world that disappoints" (Camus).
The absurd is to be both impossible and contradictory.
The absurd is a disproportion between intentions and reality of consequences. "The absurd, which is a metaphysical state of the conscious man does not lead to God. Perhaps the notion will become clearer if I risk this shocking statement: the absurd is sin without God" (Camus).
Absurdity springs from comparison. It is essentially a divorce; it does not lie within the two things being compared but in the actual confrontation of the two things. The absurd is not in man nor in the world, but in the meeting of the two.
The absurd is the fundamental truth - the one thing that cannot be disposed of.
Now, it is the absurd that crushes man - the force that drives man to a broken point. The thing that crushes us we must fight to preserve. The absurd is an unceasing struggle - which implies "a total absence of hope (which has nothing to do with despair), a continual rejection (which must not be confused with renunciation), and a conscious dissatisfaction (which must not be compared to immature unrest)" (Camus).
So Camus' way is thus:
1. Break from the monotony of life to discover life is meaningless.
2. This shock demands action, either suicide or recovery
3. The recovery is acceptance of the absurd as ceaseless struggle
4. Ceaseless struggle brings to the mind three realizations
- There is no hope
- There is continual rejection
- We must be dissatisfied
The existentialists (Chestov, Kierkegaard and Jaspers) came to the truth of the absurd and offered their reaction to it as escape. They did so out of forced hope - creating religion.
The absurd man, the existentialist, recognizes the absurd and the limited value of reason - but, rather than abandoning reason for religion, he in his awareness, simply knows there is no longer a place for hope.
The absurd man seeks to live with his ailments, while the man who has seen the absurd and turned to religion has become frantic and frenzied, seeking to be cured.
Kierkegaard views despair not as a fact, but as a state of existence - the state of sin. Now, Kierkegaard in his final dealings with the absurd sacrificed the intellect (reason) to the belief in God for he sacrificed his pride (sin) to God. Camus recognizes the limitations of reason, but states that if this is pride he sees no sufficient cause to sacrifice it.
The absurd man, the absurd mind seeks what is true at all costs. It seeks what is true, not what is desirable. If Kierkegaard warns that there is nothing but despair then the absurd man takes truth and despair.
Phenomenology (Edmund Husserl) - the making of structures of consciousness and the phenomena which appears in acts of consciousness - objects of systematic reflection and analysis. Husserl used this to provide a firm basis for all human knowledge.
Phenomenology seeks to describe actual experience - not explain the world.
Phenomenology claims truths but that there is no Truth.
Husserl's method was "the intention":
1. Negate classical reasoning (thinking as a unifying/familiarizing procedure). Thinking is actually a relearning how to see again and to direct consciousness.
2. Directing consciousness illuminates every little truth.
3. It isolates events from one another to represent an incoherent-ness in experience; thus, every isolated object of consciousness is its own "magical appearance".
The absurd spirit wishes to enumerate experience, not transcend it.
Husserl's methodology would be acceptable to the absurd man if it simply stopped at the enumeration of experience, but Husserl jumps from the psychological truth of his theory to the metaphysical. Thus, he reintroduces a rationalism akin to Plato. Unlike Kierkegaard who returns to God - Husserl returns to a form of truth as polytheism - flattening all hierarchy and making all truth equal little gods.
The difference between Husserl's abstract god and the dazzling God of Kierkegaard is minimal and only one on how to arrive at the conclusion. Kierkegaard, like other religious philosophers deified the absurd and called it God. The abstract philosophers like Husserl rationalized the absurd to the point of creating standard reasons. They began at the nausea of recognizing the absurd but go to one extreme (rationalizing/abstract) or irrationalizing (deifying/religious escapism).
Nausea is looking into the face of the absurd. There are then three paths to follow. Religion is the path of deifying the absurd. It is an escape or a reconciliation to avoid the divorce. The abstract is the pat of rationalizing the absurd. It is an escape or a reconciliation to avoid the divorce. The absurd man does neither. He takes the divorce. This is the path of acceptance.
The absurd man knows that existence is unreasonable - neither too rational nor too irrational. He accepts the limits of reason and does not give it limitless power as Husserl or abandon it as sin (pride) like Kierkegaard.
Absurd Freedom
What is known (that what is certain) cannot be denied or rejected. One can negate all, but one's desire for unity. One can refute all the world but chaos.
One can only understand a thing in human terms (thus cannot transcend). "What I touch, what resists me - that is what I understand" (Camus).
The break - the divorce of mind (reason) and the world is caused by awareness of it.
The absurd man lives in the certainty of this divorce and does nothing except on the basis of certain knowledge. The only certainty is the absurd and thus he cannot escape it in good conscious through religion. He hears that this is the sin of pride but he does not know what sin is.
Life is better lived because it does not have a meaning.
Hope in transcendence (religion) is to escape the reality of the absurd - to abolish the intellect is to elude, not solve the problem.
The absurd man lives in constant revolt against the world and against his desire for unity (escape/hope). It is in this revolt that gives life its value.
Camus really loves the pride of man. He focuses all of his energy on praising the absurd man and abhors any type of degradation.
To the absurd man the notion of the metaphysical freedom or determinism is not important - the absurd man is only certain of his own freedom.
Camus denies the paradox of God and freedom has been solved or laid to waste, it remains. Either god is all-powerful and the author of all evil or we are free and God is not all-powerful. But, none of this is important because we only experience our own freedom and the eradication of hope and future makes us more free.
The absurd tells me this: there is no future. Freedom in the classical sense is based on hope, hope based on future. Our hope in the future actually makes us slaves to the conventions of thinking.
The Ideal of the absurd man: to live with a constantly conscious soul in a ceaseless procession of presents (no pasts/no future)/
Three consequences of absurd reasoning:
1. Revolt
2. Freedom
3. The ideal (passion)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Submit Yourself & Mind Blown
(Originally Written July 5, 2008)
James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded".
If the universe is ever expanding then the light we see of a star that is 1 million light years away what we are actually seeing is the light of the start was when it was shining closer to earth a million years ago. We never see a star, just a star's past. We will never see a star's future and we won't ever see the star's present unless we get close enough to it and by that point we'd be so close we would burn up and not see at all. Mind blown.
James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded".
If the universe is ever expanding then the light we see of a star that is 1 million light years away what we are actually seeing is the light of the start was when it was shining closer to earth a million years ago. We never see a star, just a star's past. We will never see a star's future and we won't ever see the star's present unless we get close enough to it and by that point we'd be so close we would burn up and not see at all. Mind blown.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Brave New World/Brave New World Revisited
Goodreads Review:
I prefer Brave New World to 1984. The story is much more gripping than Orwell's classic. That said, the "resisted" part of the book seemed a bit too-self congratulatory. Huxley's analysis and emphasis on over-population sort of overwhelms his message at times. However, his critique of Big Business and Big Government controlling too much power and influence for a democracy to thrive in is prophetic and his notions of a non-violent totalitarian state seems entirely plausible in the early 21st century.
I prefer Brave New World to 1984. The story is much more gripping than Orwell's classic. That said, the "resisted" part of the book seemed a bit too-self congratulatory. Huxley's analysis and emphasis on over-population sort of overwhelms his message at times. However, his critique of Big Business and Big Government controlling too much power and influence for a democracy to thrive in is prophetic and his notions of a non-violent totalitarian state seems entirely plausible in the early 21st century.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
A prayer for direction
(Originally Written June 11, 2008 in the Journal)
Oh Lord God Almighty, blessed is your name. Thank you for all you have bestowed upon me and for what you have seen fit to take away. Lord I am scared. I am terrified of my surroundings. I have no one here to comfort me. It is not good for man to be alone and yet, I am desperately alone.
I wish only to serve you. I know that if New Horizons is offered to me I must take it. Lord I am called to you. I am only fulfilled in your service. I know this; I feel it in my bones. But, if I take the New Horizons position I may lose my wife forever. I may not, but I fear it.
Lord if you want me at New Horizons, open the door. If you don't then shut it. I will follow wherever you lead me. Show me the path and I will follow in faith. Bless me in this decision to follow you. I have failed so often on my own and am tired and weary. Give me the strength and courage to follow you. Hear my prayers and answer me. Please do not turn your face from me. Look upon me with mercy and grace for I seek you. I seek you all day and night. Seek me too Lord, I beg of you.
Oh Lord God Almighty, blessed is your name. Thank you for all you have bestowed upon me and for what you have seen fit to take away. Lord I am scared. I am terrified of my surroundings. I have no one here to comfort me. It is not good for man to be alone and yet, I am desperately alone.
I wish only to serve you. I know that if New Horizons is offered to me I must take it. Lord I am called to you. I am only fulfilled in your service. I know this; I feel it in my bones. But, if I take the New Horizons position I may lose my wife forever. I may not, but I fear it.
Lord if you want me at New Horizons, open the door. If you don't then shut it. I will follow wherever you lead me. Show me the path and I will follow in faith. Bless me in this decision to follow you. I have failed so often on my own and am tired and weary. Give me the strength and courage to follow you. Hear my prayers and answer me. Please do not turn your face from me. Look upon me with mercy and grace for I seek you. I seek you all day and night. Seek me too Lord, I beg of you.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Brief Notes on Tobit
(Originally Written June 10, 2008 in the Journal)
This will be the first time I've read the Book of Tobit. To be honest, I'm pretty excited because I'm reading a part of the Bible I've never read before. True, the Protestant faith does not hold it to be inspired or canonical. But, it is in the Bible I have in front of me and Augustine, whom I respect deeply, quotes it.
The Book of Tobit was written in the 2nd century BC
Notes on The Book of Tobit
Chapter 1
Tobit (meaning YHWH is good) was the son of Tobiel (meaning God is good). Tobeil was the son of Hannaniel (God is merciful) and was of the tribe of Naphtali.
His family was deported from Samaria when Shalmanesser, king of Assyria defeated Israel.
Tobit lived in Nineveh. When Tobit lived in Samaria, he continued to worship the Lord in Jerusalem, not committing the sins of Jeroboam.
Tobit married Anna, who bore him a son named Tobiah.
Tobit became important to Shalmanesser in Nineveh because he served the Lord unswervingly.
Tobit purchased for the king and made numerous trips to Media, where he deposited his own money.
Tobit lost everything because he buried some Jews killed by the king.
Chapter 2
Tobit was blinded by bird droppings during the Festival of the Booths.
Chapter 3
Tobit fell into despair and prayed to God for death.
Chapter 4
In Media, Sarah was accused of killing her seven husbands. In reality though, the demon Asmodeus had killed them.
She went to hang herself, but decided not to so as to spare her aging father from shame. Sarah prayed to God to die.
God heard both prayers and send the angel Raphael to answer them both.
Tobit called his son to give him instructions. Tobit instructed Tobiah on how to live a moral life.
Giving to the needy is very important.
Tobit told Tobiah that he had money deposited in Media and that he should go and retrieve it.
Chapter 5
Tobiah enlisted Raphael as his guide to Media, but he did not know Raphael was an angel.
Tobit asked Raphael whose family he was. Raphael replied that he was Azariah, son of Hananiah (a member of Tobit's own family).
Tobiah and Raphael left Nineveh for Media.
Chapter 6
The two camped at the Tigris River for the night. A large fish attacked Tobiah and he called for help. Raphael told Tobiah to pull the fish ashore and he did so. Raphael told him to cut out the gall, heart and liver because they were good medicines.
The heart, if you burn it around a person afflicted by a demon will cause the demon to leave it. The gall, if you rub it on a man's eyes who is blind will cause the man to see again.
Raphael told Tobiah that it was his right to marry Sarah as he was the closest relative. Tobiah objected because he knew the demon who had killed her seven previous husbands.
Raphael told him to burn the fish liver and heart and pray before having intercourse with her and the demon would be driven away. "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed" (Tobit 6:18, New American Bible).
Chapter 7
Tobiah and Raphael met Raguel, the father of Sarah. Raguel rejoiced when he learned Tobiah was Tobit's son and wept when he learned of Tobiah's blindness.
Tobiah and Sarah were married by Raguel according to the Law of Moses.
Chapter 8
Tobiah did as Raphael told him and the demon fled into the desert. Raphael pursued him and bound him. When Tobiah did not die Raguel threw a wedding feast for fourteen days.
Chapter 9
Tobit sent Raphael to continue to get the money. Raphael met Gabael and retrieved the money. He brought Gabael to Tobiah to join the wedding feast.
Chapter 10
Tobiah's parents became very anxious when he did not return home. Tobiah and Sarah then left to return to the house of Tobit.
Chapter 11
Tobiah smeared the fish gall on his father's eyes and it burnt. He then pulled off the cataracts so that Tobit could see.
Tobit blessed the Lord for giving him his sight back.
Tobit learned of his son's marriage and rushed out to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people saw him walking without a guide they were amazed.
Chapter 12
Tobit and Tobiah decided to pay Raphael half of all the wealth he had brought back. Raphael extolled them to be righteous and revealed that he was an angel. Then Raphael ascended into heaven.
Chapter 13
Tobit became old and told Tobiah to flee Nineveh with his family because Nineveh was to be destroyed as predicted in Nahum.
Tobit died and was buried. When Tobiah's mother died she was buried next to Tobit.
Tobiah left Nineveh and settled in Media with Raguel.
Tobiah lived to 117 years old. He saw the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and then he died.
This will be the first time I've read the Book of Tobit. To be honest, I'm pretty excited because I'm reading a part of the Bible I've never read before. True, the Protestant faith does not hold it to be inspired or canonical. But, it is in the Bible I have in front of me and Augustine, whom I respect deeply, quotes it.
The Book of Tobit was written in the 2nd century BC
Notes on The Book of Tobit
Chapter 1
Tobit (meaning YHWH is good) was the son of Tobiel (meaning God is good). Tobeil was the son of Hannaniel (God is merciful) and was of the tribe of Naphtali.
His family was deported from Samaria when Shalmanesser, king of Assyria defeated Israel.
Tobit lived in Nineveh. When Tobit lived in Samaria, he continued to worship the Lord in Jerusalem, not committing the sins of Jeroboam.
Tobit married Anna, who bore him a son named Tobiah.
Tobit became important to Shalmanesser in Nineveh because he served the Lord unswervingly.
Tobit purchased for the king and made numerous trips to Media, where he deposited his own money.
Tobit lost everything because he buried some Jews killed by the king.
Chapter 2
Tobit was blinded by bird droppings during the Festival of the Booths.
Chapter 3
Tobit fell into despair and prayed to God for death.
Chapter 4
In Media, Sarah was accused of killing her seven husbands. In reality though, the demon Asmodeus had killed them.
She went to hang herself, but decided not to so as to spare her aging father from shame. Sarah prayed to God to die.
God heard both prayers and send the angel Raphael to answer them both.
Tobit called his son to give him instructions. Tobit instructed Tobiah on how to live a moral life.
Giving to the needy is very important.
Tobit told Tobiah that he had money deposited in Media and that he should go and retrieve it.
Chapter 5
Tobiah enlisted Raphael as his guide to Media, but he did not know Raphael was an angel.
Tobit asked Raphael whose family he was. Raphael replied that he was Azariah, son of Hananiah (a member of Tobit's own family).
Tobiah and Raphael left Nineveh for Media.
Chapter 6
The two camped at the Tigris River for the night. A large fish attacked Tobiah and he called for help. Raphael told Tobiah to pull the fish ashore and he did so. Raphael told him to cut out the gall, heart and liver because they were good medicines.
The heart, if you burn it around a person afflicted by a demon will cause the demon to leave it. The gall, if you rub it on a man's eyes who is blind will cause the man to see again.
Raphael told Tobiah that it was his right to marry Sarah as he was the closest relative. Tobiah objected because he knew the demon who had killed her seven previous husbands.
Raphael told him to burn the fish liver and heart and pray before having intercourse with her and the demon would be driven away. "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed" (Tobit 6:18, New American Bible).
Chapter 7
Tobiah and Raphael met Raguel, the father of Sarah. Raguel rejoiced when he learned Tobiah was Tobit's son and wept when he learned of Tobiah's blindness.
Tobiah and Sarah were married by Raguel according to the Law of Moses.
Chapter 8
Tobiah did as Raphael told him and the demon fled into the desert. Raphael pursued him and bound him. When Tobiah did not die Raguel threw a wedding feast for fourteen days.
Chapter 9
Tobit sent Raphael to continue to get the money. Raphael met Gabael and retrieved the money. He brought Gabael to Tobiah to join the wedding feast.
Chapter 10
Tobiah's parents became very anxious when he did not return home. Tobiah and Sarah then left to return to the house of Tobit.
Chapter 11
Tobiah smeared the fish gall on his father's eyes and it burnt. He then pulled off the cataracts so that Tobit could see.
Tobit blessed the Lord for giving him his sight back.
Tobit learned of his son's marriage and rushed out to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people saw him walking without a guide they were amazed.
Chapter 12
Tobit and Tobiah decided to pay Raphael half of all the wealth he had brought back. Raphael extolled them to be righteous and revealed that he was an angel. Then Raphael ascended into heaven.
Chapter 13
Tobit became old and told Tobiah to flee Nineveh with his family because Nineveh was to be destroyed as predicted in Nahum.
Tobit died and was buried. When Tobiah's mother died she was buried next to Tobit.
Tobiah left Nineveh and settled in Media with Raguel.
Tobiah lived to 117 years old. He saw the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and then he died.
Brief Notes on City of God - Book III
(Originally Written June 10, 2008 in the Journal).
Notes on City of God, Book III
Augustine
Book III
We must be especially on guard against evils that affect the character and mind.
The Romans worshipped their gods to secure the insignificant and deceptive happiness of this world; but where were those gods when their worshippers suffered the ills of this world?
Notes on City of God, Book III
Augustine
Book III
We must be especially on guard against evils that affect the character and mind.
The Romans worshipped their gods to secure the insignificant and deceptive happiness of this world; but where were those gods when their worshippers suffered the ills of this world?
A Bitter Prayer
(Originally Written June 10, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord, you are Holy and Grand. All things are yours for you have created all. Your works are known in every heart though they are only acknowledged as your works by few. Yet you extend your love to all. How merciful is the Lord of lords, the true and only God?
Lord you know my heart and mind. It is plain to you that I suffer and am in agony. There is no secret between us. How could I hide anything from you? The sins and temptations of the flesh are numerous in me. Though I am forgiven, I am still culpable. Lord forgive me of these sins and remove this self-destructive desire from my heart. I want to seek you fully.
Lord I do not know what you want me to do. I have a wife who no longer wants to be my wife. She has mistreated me and abused me. Lord, I do not wish vengeance or retribution. What I wish is for a reuniting that is pleasing to you and a love that is a witness to the glory of the Lord.
Heavenly Father I made a vow to love and cherish this woman for all of my days. I did not seek to break that vow. It is in your power to soften her heart to me. It would be an easy thing for you. Only the soft whisper of your voice would change it all. I ask with all of my heart and soul that you would have mercy on us and reignite this union. Grant us a happy, fulfilling marriage that is glorifying to you.
Lord I also ask you make it clear to me your desires for this summer. If New Horizons is where you want me open that door. I will follow you where you lead me. Please open my eyes and ears so I can follow you. I love you Lord. Instruct me in truth and wisdom so I may be upright and blameless in your sight.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your heart. I told Him it was His and I gave it freely - though occasionally it strays, it always returns to Him.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your mind. I told Him it was His and I gave it with no complaint. Though it occasionally wanders, it always returns to pondering the mysteries of the Lord.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your soul. I told Him it was His and I humbled my pride and released it to Him. Though occasionally it serves its own will, it always returns and submits to the will of its true mater, who is the Lord.
The Lord came to me and said give me your body. I told Him it was His and though I paused at the request I gave it. Occasionally my body falls to the temptations of the flesh, but His mercy forgives me of my sins and my body returns to God, to be His temple.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your hopes, dreams and ambitions. I choked on this request. My foolish pride swelled up and rebelled. I went on my own and I failed, again and again. I called out to the Lord and begged for mercy. He spoke to me in His calm, quiet way. He said, give me your hopes, dreams and ambitions and I will give you dreams you cannot even fathom. I will give you endless hope and my ambitions will replace yours. Still this was a hard and bitter pill for me to swallow. But I relented. I gave God my hopes, my dreams and my ambitions. Though I knew I would feel empty without these, the Lord has filled me to the brim. Yes, I admit my sin. That pride I swallowed tends to be regurgitated and the old fights within the glorious new and I falter. But, the new is stronger because it is Christ and I humble myself before the Lord.
The Lord then came to me and said you have given me your heart, your mind, your soul and your body. You have forsaken yourself, the one defiled by sin and death for the gift of everlasting life I have given you. You have bowed to my will. This is good. I am the sovereign Lord and for you to be justified in faith I need your all. Fear seized my body. What more do I have to give?
The Lord said to me, give me your wife, the one you love. Tears streamed from my eyes as if a river had burst a dam. My heart split in two and I fell to the floor in a heap. I prayed to God in fear and a lack of understanding. It was my very God who had joined us, who had fostered this love and now He demanded a sacrifice of it. I offered all else in futility. Still the Lord spoke, give me your wife.
Bitterly and with hesitation I am granting his request. I feel like Abraham must have when the Lord told him to sacrifice Isaac. I do not know if there will be any rams for a substitution for me. But in faith, I trust the lord my God. Trouble has been sitting in wait, pursuing every footstep of mine since I was young. When I stray to the left disaster comes. When I stray to the right calamity comes. When I step back I stumble into strife. When I hesitate and pause I am overtaken by my pursuers. Therefore, I will step forward.
My courage fails me. I am paralyzed in fear. But an inner peace, a peace that passeth all understanding stirs hope in the very depths of my soul. I pray that I do not choke it out with the concerns of my daily life and that I can keep my eyes fixed on that which is eternal. The Lord has a plan for me, though I do not know what it is. May I store up my treasures in heaven, so that I do not fall into sin by loving what I have here to the detriment of my love of God.
Lord look upon me with grace. Though you alone are worthy of my praise and adoration, what you ask of me is great and difficult. I can forsake wealth and honor, these are of no consequence to me. Though I struggle with the sins of the flesh, this is of no real importance. Knowledge I hold in high esteem, but would willingly be considered a fool for you. But to sacrifice this marriage at your feet is a bitter pill to swallow. Her love and acceptance of me was something that I had never known before. Her care for me, even as sparse as it has been recently brought me to new heights. I can endure years of torture and pain, hunger and humiliation just to hear a single kind word from her. Lord what you ask for is great indeed. But if this is what you require of me I give it. Comfort me in your Word. Instruct me in Truth so that I may better serve you.
Lord, you are Holy and Grand. All things are yours for you have created all. Your works are known in every heart though they are only acknowledged as your works by few. Yet you extend your love to all. How merciful is the Lord of lords, the true and only God?
Lord you know my heart and mind. It is plain to you that I suffer and am in agony. There is no secret between us. How could I hide anything from you? The sins and temptations of the flesh are numerous in me. Though I am forgiven, I am still culpable. Lord forgive me of these sins and remove this self-destructive desire from my heart. I want to seek you fully.
Lord I do not know what you want me to do. I have a wife who no longer wants to be my wife. She has mistreated me and abused me. Lord, I do not wish vengeance or retribution. What I wish is for a reuniting that is pleasing to you and a love that is a witness to the glory of the Lord.
Heavenly Father I made a vow to love and cherish this woman for all of my days. I did not seek to break that vow. It is in your power to soften her heart to me. It would be an easy thing for you. Only the soft whisper of your voice would change it all. I ask with all of my heart and soul that you would have mercy on us and reignite this union. Grant us a happy, fulfilling marriage that is glorifying to you.
Lord I also ask you make it clear to me your desires for this summer. If New Horizons is where you want me open that door. I will follow you where you lead me. Please open my eyes and ears so I can follow you. I love you Lord. Instruct me in truth and wisdom so I may be upright and blameless in your sight.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your heart. I told Him it was His and I gave it freely - though occasionally it strays, it always returns to Him.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your mind. I told Him it was His and I gave it with no complaint. Though it occasionally wanders, it always returns to pondering the mysteries of the Lord.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your soul. I told Him it was His and I humbled my pride and released it to Him. Though occasionally it serves its own will, it always returns and submits to the will of its true mater, who is the Lord.
The Lord came to me and said give me your body. I told Him it was His and though I paused at the request I gave it. Occasionally my body falls to the temptations of the flesh, but His mercy forgives me of my sins and my body returns to God, to be His temple.
The Lord came to me and said, give me your hopes, dreams and ambitions. I choked on this request. My foolish pride swelled up and rebelled. I went on my own and I failed, again and again. I called out to the Lord and begged for mercy. He spoke to me in His calm, quiet way. He said, give me your hopes, dreams and ambitions and I will give you dreams you cannot even fathom. I will give you endless hope and my ambitions will replace yours. Still this was a hard and bitter pill for me to swallow. But I relented. I gave God my hopes, my dreams and my ambitions. Though I knew I would feel empty without these, the Lord has filled me to the brim. Yes, I admit my sin. That pride I swallowed tends to be regurgitated and the old fights within the glorious new and I falter. But, the new is stronger because it is Christ and I humble myself before the Lord.
The Lord then came to me and said you have given me your heart, your mind, your soul and your body. You have forsaken yourself, the one defiled by sin and death for the gift of everlasting life I have given you. You have bowed to my will. This is good. I am the sovereign Lord and for you to be justified in faith I need your all. Fear seized my body. What more do I have to give?
The Lord said to me, give me your wife, the one you love. Tears streamed from my eyes as if a river had burst a dam. My heart split in two and I fell to the floor in a heap. I prayed to God in fear and a lack of understanding. It was my very God who had joined us, who had fostered this love and now He demanded a sacrifice of it. I offered all else in futility. Still the Lord spoke, give me your wife.
Bitterly and with hesitation I am granting his request. I feel like Abraham must have when the Lord told him to sacrifice Isaac. I do not know if there will be any rams for a substitution for me. But in faith, I trust the lord my God. Trouble has been sitting in wait, pursuing every footstep of mine since I was young. When I stray to the left disaster comes. When I stray to the right calamity comes. When I step back I stumble into strife. When I hesitate and pause I am overtaken by my pursuers. Therefore, I will step forward.
My courage fails me. I am paralyzed in fear. But an inner peace, a peace that passeth all understanding stirs hope in the very depths of my soul. I pray that I do not choke it out with the concerns of my daily life and that I can keep my eyes fixed on that which is eternal. The Lord has a plan for me, though I do not know what it is. May I store up my treasures in heaven, so that I do not fall into sin by loving what I have here to the detriment of my love of God.
Lord look upon me with grace. Though you alone are worthy of my praise and adoration, what you ask of me is great and difficult. I can forsake wealth and honor, these are of no consequence to me. Though I struggle with the sins of the flesh, this is of no real importance. Knowledge I hold in high esteem, but would willingly be considered a fool for you. But to sacrifice this marriage at your feet is a bitter pill to swallow. Her love and acceptance of me was something that I had never known before. Her care for me, even as sparse as it has been recently brought me to new heights. I can endure years of torture and pain, hunger and humiliation just to hear a single kind word from her. Lord what you ask for is great indeed. But if this is what you require of me I give it. Comfort me in your Word. Instruct me in Truth so that I may better serve you.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Brief Notes on Nehemiah
(Originally written June 9, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Nehemiah
Chapter 1
Nehemiah learned of the ruin of Jerusalem and prayed to God to be allowed to leave Susa in Persia and rebuild Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes if he could return to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. Artaxerxes agreed and sent him on his way.
Nehemiah surveyed the ruins and convinced the Jews to begin rebuilding Jerusalem.
Sanballat the Horomite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab mocked them for this.
Chapter 3
The Israelites began to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Tobiah and Sanballut became enraged at this.
Chapter 4
The enemies of Judah became enraged at the rebuilding of the city's walls. The Israelites armed themselves for any onslaught.
Chapter 5
Some Jews cried out to Nehemiah for others were lending them money at interest and forcing them into slavery. Nehemiah became angry and rebuked the lenders.
Chapter 6
When the wall was rebuilt, but the gates had not yet been sealed the enemies of Nehemiah plotted against him. Tobiah sent letters to the prominent Jews in Jerusalem to stir them against Nehemiah.
Chapter 7
The gates were completed and Nehemiah set up watchmen over them. A census was taken of those who lived in Jerusalem.
Chapter 8
"Do not be saddened this day for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!"(Nehemiah 8:10, New American Bible)
The people celebrated the Feast of the Booths as they had not celebrated since the time of Joshua.
Chapter 9
God is a God of pardons. He is one who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Ezra prayed to the Lord.
Chapter 10
The people agreed to the Law.
Chapter 11
The distribution of people in Jerusalem and throughout Judah
Chapter 12
The walls of Jerusalem were dedicated to the Lord amidst great rejoicing
Chapter 13
The Israelites removed all foreigners from their midst. Nehemiah rebuked the Israelites again for working on the Sabbath and intermarrying with the Ammonites and Moabites.
Notes on Nehemiah
Chapter 1
Nehemiah learned of the ruin of Jerusalem and prayed to God to be allowed to leave Susa in Persia and rebuild Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes if he could return to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. Artaxerxes agreed and sent him on his way.
Nehemiah surveyed the ruins and convinced the Jews to begin rebuilding Jerusalem.
Sanballat the Horomite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab mocked them for this.
Chapter 3
The Israelites began to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Tobiah and Sanballut became enraged at this.
Chapter 4
The enemies of Judah became enraged at the rebuilding of the city's walls. The Israelites armed themselves for any onslaught.
Chapter 5
Some Jews cried out to Nehemiah for others were lending them money at interest and forcing them into slavery. Nehemiah became angry and rebuked the lenders.
Chapter 6
When the wall was rebuilt, but the gates had not yet been sealed the enemies of Nehemiah plotted against him. Tobiah sent letters to the prominent Jews in Jerusalem to stir them against Nehemiah.
Chapter 7
The gates were completed and Nehemiah set up watchmen over them. A census was taken of those who lived in Jerusalem.
Chapter 8
"Do not be saddened this day for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!"(Nehemiah 8:10, New American Bible)
The people celebrated the Feast of the Booths as they had not celebrated since the time of Joshua.
Chapter 9
God is a God of pardons. He is one who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Ezra prayed to the Lord.
Chapter 10
The people agreed to the Law.
Chapter 11
The distribution of people in Jerusalem and throughout Judah
Chapter 12
The walls of Jerusalem were dedicated to the Lord amidst great rejoicing
Chapter 13
The Israelites removed all foreigners from their midst. Nehemiah rebuked the Israelites again for working on the Sabbath and intermarrying with the Ammonites and Moabites.
Brief Notes on Ezra
(Originally written June 9, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I feel deflated, defeated and dejected. The hope in my heart is failing. My strength has left me. Lord see my heart, my soul and my mind, they lie prostrate before you. Will you show me pity? Will you extend your grace?
How long oh Lord must I suffer, whether justly or unjustly? How long will you afflict me? The pain is temporal, but real. The Christian does not allow himself to be driven to the depths of despair by the ills of this world, nor does he cherish the goods of this world because he looks to the eternal and has an endless supply of joy. The Lord is joy. Halleluiah! May all men be so fortunate as I am to see the Lord and know that He is good.
But Lord, my vision is weak. I am near sighted and hampered by this world. This world is the world you have made; it is blessed by your very hand. Though we have polluted it with strife and sin, it still points to your amazing craftsmanship. Lord lift up my eyes to you. May you remove my near sightedness so that I can see your glory.
Show me the path you wish me to walk. Make it plain and clear so that even I, the lowest of minds, may see it.
"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7-8).
Lord everyday I try to have sought you. Some days I feel close to you. Other days I feel you are aloof and hide your face from me. Do not turn from me. Your love is all that sustains me. Without that I will surely die! Lord look to your servant here and grant him mercy. Grant me clemency and pardon me of my many iniquities.
See, I walk the narrow path. I walk straight and upright, trying to swerve neither to the left nor the right. I seek righteousness, not for my own sake, but so that your glory may be magnified.
Who am I that the Holy Father, creator and Master of all, should notice me? I am nobody. I am less than that. Even still you speak to me as a son? Do not hide your voice from me, but speak to my heart and I will listen. Remove the stiffness of my neck. I humble myself before you. I ask not for riches or wealth, but only simply to hear your voice and understand your words. You are my treasure. You are my hope, my joy. I give you all that I am, a small gift I know. But, all I have is yours. Counsel me with your words and soothe my anger, fear and despair with your voice.
Notes on Ezra
Chapter 1 - King Cyrus of Persia released the Judahites after years of captivity. He sent them back to rebuild the Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.
Chapter 2 - 42,360 men returned to Judah from exile. When they returned to Jerusalem they gave a free-will offering to the house of the Lord.
Chapter 3 -
They restored the altar of the Lord and began to offer holocausts on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses. Then they laid the foundation for the new temple. Some cried for the old Temple. Others rejoiced for the new.
Chapter 4 -
Men of Israel came down to Judah and demanded they be let to help rebuild the temple. When they were refused they acted to stop the rebuilding process.
Artaxerxes stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem because the men of Israel tricked him into thinking that Jerusalem would stop paying tribute once the city was rebuilt.
Chapter 5 -
Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to keep rebuilding in the name of God. When the enemies of Jerusalem learned this they sent another letter to the king of Babylon to halt the rebuilding.
Chapter 6 -
King Darius of Babylon issued a decree stating that the Temple should be rebuilt and that any men who interfered with it should have his house reduced to rubble and be impaled on a beam from his own house. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The people then celebrated Passover.
Chapter 7 -
Ezra, a descendant of Aaron came to Jerusalem from Babylon. The hand of God was upon Ezra, who was a scribe. Ezra was put in charge of the Judahites by King Artaxerxes of Babylon.
Chapter 8 -
Ezra gathered many Israelites with him, but no Levites were found so he sent for some. Ezra and his followers arrived in Jerusalem safely and presented the gold and silver from Artaxerxes to the Temple.
Chapter 9 -
Ezra denounced the intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding peoples.
Chapter 10 -
The men who had taken foreign wives sent them away, along with all the children born to them.
Lord I feel deflated, defeated and dejected. The hope in my heart is failing. My strength has left me. Lord see my heart, my soul and my mind, they lie prostrate before you. Will you show me pity? Will you extend your grace?
How long oh Lord must I suffer, whether justly or unjustly? How long will you afflict me? The pain is temporal, but real. The Christian does not allow himself to be driven to the depths of despair by the ills of this world, nor does he cherish the goods of this world because he looks to the eternal and has an endless supply of joy. The Lord is joy. Halleluiah! May all men be so fortunate as I am to see the Lord and know that He is good.
But Lord, my vision is weak. I am near sighted and hampered by this world. This world is the world you have made; it is blessed by your very hand. Though we have polluted it with strife and sin, it still points to your amazing craftsmanship. Lord lift up my eyes to you. May you remove my near sightedness so that I can see your glory.
Show me the path you wish me to walk. Make it plain and clear so that even I, the lowest of minds, may see it.
"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7-8).
Lord everyday I try to have sought you. Some days I feel close to you. Other days I feel you are aloof and hide your face from me. Do not turn from me. Your love is all that sustains me. Without that I will surely die! Lord look to your servant here and grant him mercy. Grant me clemency and pardon me of my many iniquities.
See, I walk the narrow path. I walk straight and upright, trying to swerve neither to the left nor the right. I seek righteousness, not for my own sake, but so that your glory may be magnified.
Who am I that the Holy Father, creator and Master of all, should notice me? I am nobody. I am less than that. Even still you speak to me as a son? Do not hide your voice from me, but speak to my heart and I will listen. Remove the stiffness of my neck. I humble myself before you. I ask not for riches or wealth, but only simply to hear your voice and understand your words. You are my treasure. You are my hope, my joy. I give you all that I am, a small gift I know. But, all I have is yours. Counsel me with your words and soothe my anger, fear and despair with your voice.
Notes on Ezra
Chapter 1 - King Cyrus of Persia released the Judahites after years of captivity. He sent them back to rebuild the Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.
Chapter 2 - 42,360 men returned to Judah from exile. When they returned to Jerusalem they gave a free-will offering to the house of the Lord.
Chapter 3 -
They restored the altar of the Lord and began to offer holocausts on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses. Then they laid the foundation for the new temple. Some cried for the old Temple. Others rejoiced for the new.
Chapter 4 -
Men of Israel came down to Judah and demanded they be let to help rebuild the temple. When they were refused they acted to stop the rebuilding process.
Artaxerxes stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem because the men of Israel tricked him into thinking that Jerusalem would stop paying tribute once the city was rebuilt.
Chapter 5 -
Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to keep rebuilding in the name of God. When the enemies of Jerusalem learned this they sent another letter to the king of Babylon to halt the rebuilding.
Chapter 6 -
King Darius of Babylon issued a decree stating that the Temple should be rebuilt and that any men who interfered with it should have his house reduced to rubble and be impaled on a beam from his own house. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The people then celebrated Passover.
Chapter 7 -
Ezra, a descendant of Aaron came to Jerusalem from Babylon. The hand of God was upon Ezra, who was a scribe. Ezra was put in charge of the Judahites by King Artaxerxes of Babylon.
Chapter 8 -
Ezra gathered many Israelites with him, but no Levites were found so he sent for some. Ezra and his followers arrived in Jerusalem safely and presented the gold and silver from Artaxerxes to the Temple.
Chapter 9 -
Ezra denounced the intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding peoples.
Chapter 10 -
The men who had taken foreign wives sent them away, along with all the children born to them.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
A brief prayer for guidance
(Originally Written June 8, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I am terrified. My soul is sunk into the depths of despair. Anger is choking out the little hope I have for this relationship. How can all this come to pass? What are you teaching me? Where are you pointing me? Make it clear to me so that I do not take the wrong path.
I spoke to my father as I told you I would. He closed the door on Taylor pretty soundly. He mentioned Portland. I could live with my brother there. Is that your will? I relish the idea of being reunited with him, but I do not want to follow selfish ambitions. I want to follow your way for me. If this is it then make it known.
Lord I am terrified. My soul is sunk into the depths of despair. Anger is choking out the little hope I have for this relationship. How can all this come to pass? What are you teaching me? Where are you pointing me? Make it clear to me so that I do not take the wrong path.
I spoke to my father as I told you I would. He closed the door on Taylor pretty soundly. He mentioned Portland. I could live with my brother there. Is that your will? I relish the idea of being reunited with him, but I do not want to follow selfish ambitions. I want to follow your way for me. If this is it then make it known.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Brief Notes on II Chronicles 1-36
(Originally Written June 7, 2008 in the Journal)
Oh Lord God Almighty, look upon me with pity! See how your servant wallows in agony! My wife has left me and now the door is closing on remaining physically close to her. I see that there is a divine will for me to leave this place. I clung to her too greatly and now I have been stripped of hope in early reconciliation.
Where do you want me Lord? I think about Taylor in my head. If this is your doing make it clear, but if this is just my association with the familiar make that known too. I will go where you lead.
Today I will call my father and seek his advice on this matter. Give him your words so that I may follow you. Lord do not abandon me or forsake me. I need you to be my strength for I have none of my own. Lord grant me the wisdom to make the righteous choice and the discernment to hear your voice and know it is you.
Notes on II Chronicles
Chapter 1 - Solomon is granted wisdom and discernment as well as riches and power by God.
Chapter 2 - Solomon makes preparation for building the Temple.
Chapter 3 - They build the Temple
Chapter 4 - The Temple is ornamented
Chapter 5 - The Temple is dedicated
Chapter 6 - Solomon prays to God before Israel
Chapter 7 - God answers Solomon's prayer
Chapter 8 - Solomon rebuilt and fortified cities
Chapter 9 -
The queen of Sheba visited Solomon to test his wisdom. Many kings sought an audience with Solomon and paid him tribute. Solomon reigned 40 years and died.
Chapter 10 - Israel rebelled against Solomon's son Rehoboam and nation split.
Chapter 11 - Rehoboam fortified Judah. He had 28 sons.
Chapter 12 - Rehoboam turned from the Lord. The Lord punished Judah by raising up Egypt against them.
Chapter 13 -
Abijah succeeded his father Rehoboam as king of Judah. Abijah defeated Jeroboam, king of Israel, because the Judahites called upon the Lord.
Asa, son of Abijah succeeded him as king of Judah.
Chapter 14 -
Asa followed the Lord.
Judah defeated Zerah the Ethiopian king and his force of a million strong.
Chapter 15 - Asa removed idols from Judah
Chapter 16 - Asa sinned by trusting the king of Aram when Israel attacked Judah.
Chapter 17
Jehoshaphat succeeded Asa as king of Judah. Jehoshaphat pleased the Lord. He fortified the cities of Judah and the surrounding nations feared the Lord on his account.
Chapter 18
Jehoshaphat and Ahab, king of Israel, went to battle against Aram. They were defeated and Ahab died.
Chapter 19 - Jehoshaphat set up judges to bring order and peace to Judah.
Chapter 20 - Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord for a vast army had been assembled against Judah. The Lord caused the army to fight amongst itself and the Judahites took the plunder.
Chapter 21 -
Jehoram succeeded his father Jehoshaphat as king of Judah. Jehoram was evil and practiced idolatry. The Lord raised Edom and Libnah against Judah for Jehoram's wickedness. Jehoram died and was buried in the city of David, but not as a king.
Chapter 22 -
Ahaziah became king of Judah. He was the youngest son of Jehoram. Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord. Ahaziah was cut down by Jehu, who the Lord had appointed to overthrow the house of Ahab in Israel.
Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah took over Judah by killing the royal family. Only Jehosheba, the youngest son of Ahaziah was spared and that was because he was hidden.
Chapter 23 - After eight years of the reign of Athaliah, Jehosheba was named king. He was crowned king and Athaliah was killed.
Chapter 24 -
Joash and the priest Jehoida restored the Temple of the Lord and reinforced it. Jehoida lived to 130 years old and died. He was buried with the kings for his service to the Lord.
Joash turned from God after the death of Jehoida and even had Jehoida's son Zechariah stoned to death after he prophesied against him.
Joash was killed by conspirators. He was not buried as a king.
Chapter 25
Amaziah replaced his father Joash as king of Judah. He pleased the Lord but did not serve God wholeheartedly. He conquered Seir but brough back their gods to worship. For this he was punished.
Amaziah, filled with pride went to war with King Joash of Israel. He was soundly defeated. Amaziah fled to Lachish but was cut down there.
Chapter 26
Uzziah became king after his father Amaziah was killed. Uzziah fortified Jerusalem and gathered a large army to him. He was feared among the nations. When Uzziah became strong he became too proud and burnt incense to the Lord. As a result he received leprosy and was a leper until the day he died.
Chapter 27
Jotham succeeded his father Uzziah as king of Judah. Jotham pleased the Lord, but the people were sinful.
Chapter 28
Ahaz succeeded his father Jotham as king. Ahaz did not please the Lord and worshipped Baal. As a result Judah fell to Aram and then to Israel in war. Ahaz set up more high places to the gods of Aram and further angered the Lord.
Chapter 29
Hezekiah, son of Ahaz became king of Judah. Hezekiah summoned the Levites to restore the Temple of the Lord. Hezekiah had a sin offering for all of Israel prepared.
Chapter 30
Hezekiah called for all of Judah and Israel to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem.
"Be not obstinate, as your fathers were; extend your hands to the Lord and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever and serve the Lord your God, that he may turn away his burning anger from you" (II Chronicles 30:8, New American Bible).
Chapter 31 - Hezekiah reestablished the prescribed order in the priesthood.
Chapter 32
Sennacherib, king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem and mocked the Lord. Isaiah the prophet and King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. The Lord sent an angel who defeated the Assyrian invaders. Sennacherib returned home and was killed in the temple of his god by his own family.
Hezekiah died and was buried as a king.
Chapter 33
Manasseh became king at age twelve and reigned, wickedly, for fifty five years.
Manasseh provoked the Lord to great anger with idolatry, immolations, divination and spirit worship.
Manasseh repented after being taken captive by the Babylonians.
Amon succeeded him as king of Judah. Amon was even more wicked than his father Manasseh. He did not repent and was killed by his subjects.
Josiah, the son of Amon became king of Judah.
Chapter 34
Josiah served the Lord. He destroyed the high places and destroyed the temple of Baal.
Josiah restored the Temple of the Lord. While restoring the Temple, the book of the Law of Moses was found.
Josiah renewed the covenant with the Lord.
Chapter 35
Josiah held Passover that had not been seen since the time of Samuel (as was prescribed in the book of the Law).
Josiah was killed in battle against Neco, the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Chapter 36
Jehoahaz replaced his father as king of Judah. Jehoahaz reigned only three months before being kidnapped by Neco.
Jehoiakim, his brother became king. Jehoiakim was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim became king. Jehoiachin was evil and was carried away by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon.
Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoiachin became king. Zedekiah was evil and did not humble himself in front of the Lord's prophet Jeremiah.
Babylon came down and destroyed the Temple and slaughtered many. The survivors were carried off to Babylon.
Years later, the Persian king, Cyrus, who defeated the Babylonians, released the Judahites to go home to Jerusalem.
Our father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the glory and the power forever and ever, Amen.
Thank you Lord for this day. May you continue to comfort me through the night.
Oh Lord God Almighty, look upon me with pity! See how your servant wallows in agony! My wife has left me and now the door is closing on remaining physically close to her. I see that there is a divine will for me to leave this place. I clung to her too greatly and now I have been stripped of hope in early reconciliation.
Where do you want me Lord? I think about Taylor in my head. If this is your doing make it clear, but if this is just my association with the familiar make that known too. I will go where you lead.
Today I will call my father and seek his advice on this matter. Give him your words so that I may follow you. Lord do not abandon me or forsake me. I need you to be my strength for I have none of my own. Lord grant me the wisdom to make the righteous choice and the discernment to hear your voice and know it is you.
Notes on II Chronicles
Chapter 1 - Solomon is granted wisdom and discernment as well as riches and power by God.
Chapter 2 - Solomon makes preparation for building the Temple.
Chapter 3 - They build the Temple
Chapter 4 - The Temple is ornamented
Chapter 5 - The Temple is dedicated
Chapter 6 - Solomon prays to God before Israel
Chapter 7 - God answers Solomon's prayer
Chapter 8 - Solomon rebuilt and fortified cities
Chapter 9 -
The queen of Sheba visited Solomon to test his wisdom. Many kings sought an audience with Solomon and paid him tribute. Solomon reigned 40 years and died.
Chapter 10 - Israel rebelled against Solomon's son Rehoboam and nation split.
Chapter 11 - Rehoboam fortified Judah. He had 28 sons.
Chapter 12 - Rehoboam turned from the Lord. The Lord punished Judah by raising up Egypt against them.
Chapter 13 -
Abijah succeeded his father Rehoboam as king of Judah. Abijah defeated Jeroboam, king of Israel, because the Judahites called upon the Lord.
Asa, son of Abijah succeeded him as king of Judah.
Chapter 14 -
Asa followed the Lord.
Judah defeated Zerah the Ethiopian king and his force of a million strong.
Chapter 15 - Asa removed idols from Judah
Chapter 16 - Asa sinned by trusting the king of Aram when Israel attacked Judah.
Chapter 17
Jehoshaphat succeeded Asa as king of Judah. Jehoshaphat pleased the Lord. He fortified the cities of Judah and the surrounding nations feared the Lord on his account.
Chapter 18
Jehoshaphat and Ahab, king of Israel, went to battle against Aram. They were defeated and Ahab died.
Chapter 19 - Jehoshaphat set up judges to bring order and peace to Judah.
Chapter 20 - Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord for a vast army had been assembled against Judah. The Lord caused the army to fight amongst itself and the Judahites took the plunder.
Chapter 21 -
Jehoram succeeded his father Jehoshaphat as king of Judah. Jehoram was evil and practiced idolatry. The Lord raised Edom and Libnah against Judah for Jehoram's wickedness. Jehoram died and was buried in the city of David, but not as a king.
Chapter 22 -
Ahaziah became king of Judah. He was the youngest son of Jehoram. Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord. Ahaziah was cut down by Jehu, who the Lord had appointed to overthrow the house of Ahab in Israel.
Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah took over Judah by killing the royal family. Only Jehosheba, the youngest son of Ahaziah was spared and that was because he was hidden.
Chapter 23 - After eight years of the reign of Athaliah, Jehosheba was named king. He was crowned king and Athaliah was killed.
Chapter 24 -
Joash and the priest Jehoida restored the Temple of the Lord and reinforced it. Jehoida lived to 130 years old and died. He was buried with the kings for his service to the Lord.
Joash turned from God after the death of Jehoida and even had Jehoida's son Zechariah stoned to death after he prophesied against him.
Joash was killed by conspirators. He was not buried as a king.
Chapter 25
Amaziah replaced his father Joash as king of Judah. He pleased the Lord but did not serve God wholeheartedly. He conquered Seir but brough back their gods to worship. For this he was punished.
Amaziah, filled with pride went to war with King Joash of Israel. He was soundly defeated. Amaziah fled to Lachish but was cut down there.
Chapter 26
Uzziah became king after his father Amaziah was killed. Uzziah fortified Jerusalem and gathered a large army to him. He was feared among the nations. When Uzziah became strong he became too proud and burnt incense to the Lord. As a result he received leprosy and was a leper until the day he died.
Chapter 27
Jotham succeeded his father Uzziah as king of Judah. Jotham pleased the Lord, but the people were sinful.
Chapter 28
Ahaz succeeded his father Jotham as king. Ahaz did not please the Lord and worshipped Baal. As a result Judah fell to Aram and then to Israel in war. Ahaz set up more high places to the gods of Aram and further angered the Lord.
Chapter 29
Hezekiah, son of Ahaz became king of Judah. Hezekiah summoned the Levites to restore the Temple of the Lord. Hezekiah had a sin offering for all of Israel prepared.
Chapter 30
Hezekiah called for all of Judah and Israel to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem.
"Be not obstinate, as your fathers were; extend your hands to the Lord and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever and serve the Lord your God, that he may turn away his burning anger from you" (II Chronicles 30:8, New American Bible).
Chapter 31 - Hezekiah reestablished the prescribed order in the priesthood.
Chapter 32
Sennacherib, king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem and mocked the Lord. Isaiah the prophet and King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. The Lord sent an angel who defeated the Assyrian invaders. Sennacherib returned home and was killed in the temple of his god by his own family.
Hezekiah died and was buried as a king.
Chapter 33
Manasseh became king at age twelve and reigned, wickedly, for fifty five years.
Manasseh provoked the Lord to great anger with idolatry, immolations, divination and spirit worship.
Manasseh repented after being taken captive by the Babylonians.
Amon succeeded him as king of Judah. Amon was even more wicked than his father Manasseh. He did not repent and was killed by his subjects.
Josiah, the son of Amon became king of Judah.
Chapter 34
Josiah served the Lord. He destroyed the high places and destroyed the temple of Baal.
Josiah restored the Temple of the Lord. While restoring the Temple, the book of the Law of Moses was found.
Josiah renewed the covenant with the Lord.
Chapter 35
Josiah held Passover that had not been seen since the time of Samuel (as was prescribed in the book of the Law).
Josiah was killed in battle against Neco, the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Chapter 36
Jehoahaz replaced his father as king of Judah. Jehoahaz reigned only three months before being kidnapped by Neco.
Jehoiakim, his brother became king. Jehoiakim was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim became king. Jehoiachin was evil and was carried away by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon.
Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoiachin became king. Zedekiah was evil and did not humble himself in front of the Lord's prophet Jeremiah.
Babylon came down and destroyed the Temple and slaughtered many. The survivors were carried off to Babylon.
Years later, the Persian king, Cyrus, who defeated the Babylonians, released the Judahites to go home to Jerusalem.
Our father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the glory and the power forever and ever, Amen.
Thank you Lord for this day. May you continue to comfort me through the night.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Brief Notes on 1 Chronicles 22-29
(Originally written June 6, 2008 in the Journal)
Oh Lord how long? How long oh Lord must I suffer in anguish and torment? There is an anger and a rage in me that I have never known. Bitterness is knocking at the door of my heart. Where is the joy of righteousness? Where is that easy yoke? May bless me as you blessed Jabez. Jabez prayed, oh that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries. Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain". If only you would grant me this prayer oh Lord!
Augustine states that a good man is neither exalted by the goods of this world nor overwhelmed by its ills. My ills are temporal - it is true. And the joy of the Lord, which is eternally written on my heart overshadows these temporary struggles by far, but, my Lord can you not see the immense pain this separation is causing me? Lord see my tears of sorrow and grief and have pity on me. But know that my heart and hope rest with you. You are my rock and shield. You are my strength when I have none and my strength when I feel gallant. May not a day or an hour pass by when my mind does not think on you. Lord teach me to be this good man of Augustine, but grant pity on me in my temporal sufferings. If it is your will reunite us. Do not destroy her, but open her heart to you. May you draw her close to you in love and grace. Lord, if you will, restore us. But, come what may I will serve you in all that I do, until I breathe my last. Teach me in your word.
Notes on I Chronicles
Chapter 22
David gathered materials so that his son Solomon could build the Temple of the Lord.
David could not build the temple because he had shed much blood. Solomon would be a peaceful man for the Lord and he would build the temple. The Hebrew name for Solomon is Shelomo, which is a play on the Hebrew word for peace, Shalom.
Chapter 23 - The Classes of the Levites
Chapter 24 - The classes of priests, who were the sons of Aaron
Chapter 25 - The musicians of the Lord
Chapter 27 -
The gatekeepers, treasurers and magistrates of the Lord
The divisions of the army.
I find it interesting that there are 12 tribes of Israel and 12 months, 12 lunar cycles. Of course one could say that the cult of Israel established 12 tribes because there are 12 months, but how much easier could we say that the Lord, in His divine plan ordained 12 months to correspond to the coming of the twelve tribes (and then the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ)? All things must be considered as to God and His plan and with God there is only purpose, not coincidence.
The 12 heads of the tribes
The overseers of Israel
David's court
Chapter 28
Serve God with a perfect heart and a willing soul, "for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the mind's thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let Himself be found by you; but if you abandon Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9, New American Bible).
Oh Lord how long? How long oh Lord must I suffer in anguish and torment? There is an anger and a rage in me that I have never known. Bitterness is knocking at the door of my heart. Where is the joy of righteousness? Where is that easy yoke? May bless me as you blessed Jabez. Jabez prayed, oh that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries. Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain". If only you would grant me this prayer oh Lord!
Augustine states that a good man is neither exalted by the goods of this world nor overwhelmed by its ills. My ills are temporal - it is true. And the joy of the Lord, which is eternally written on my heart overshadows these temporary struggles by far, but, my Lord can you not see the immense pain this separation is causing me? Lord see my tears of sorrow and grief and have pity on me. But know that my heart and hope rest with you. You are my rock and shield. You are my strength when I have none and my strength when I feel gallant. May not a day or an hour pass by when my mind does not think on you. Lord teach me to be this good man of Augustine, but grant pity on me in my temporal sufferings. If it is your will reunite us. Do not destroy her, but open her heart to you. May you draw her close to you in love and grace. Lord, if you will, restore us. But, come what may I will serve you in all that I do, until I breathe my last. Teach me in your word.
Notes on I Chronicles
Chapter 22
David gathered materials so that his son Solomon could build the Temple of the Lord.
David could not build the temple because he had shed much blood. Solomon would be a peaceful man for the Lord and he would build the temple. The Hebrew name for Solomon is Shelomo, which is a play on the Hebrew word for peace, Shalom.
Chapter 23 - The Classes of the Levites
Chapter 24 - The classes of priests, who were the sons of Aaron
Chapter 25 - The musicians of the Lord
Chapter 27 -
The gatekeepers, treasurers and magistrates of the Lord
The divisions of the army.
I find it interesting that there are 12 tribes of Israel and 12 months, 12 lunar cycles. Of course one could say that the cult of Israel established 12 tribes because there are 12 months, but how much easier could we say that the Lord, in His divine plan ordained 12 months to correspond to the coming of the twelve tribes (and then the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ)? All things must be considered as to God and His plan and with God there is only purpose, not coincidence.
The 12 heads of the tribes
The overseers of Israel
David's court
Chapter 28
Serve God with a perfect heart and a willing soul, "for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the mind's thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let Himself be found by you; but if you abandon Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9, New American Bible).
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Brief Notes on City of God - Book II
(Originally Written June 5, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on City of God - By Augustine
Book II
If one were to attempt to refute all criticisms of Christianity one would water their time for those who absolutely refuse to accept the logic of Christianity refuse to accept logic itself.
"Find out the role that God would have you play, the part assigned you, in the scheme of things" (Augustine, 54).
Pagan gods have not laid out places for moral instruction. Wherever Christianity has spread one can point to the church there for this moral instruction.
The pagan gods delight in their own ruin and in the ruination of man.
The gods of Rome undermined the morality of the Roman citizens by demanding displays of immoral behavior.
The Romans cannot receive the establishment of morals from their gods for they establish the morals of their gods.
Rome sunk to the depths of degradation long before the arrival of Christ, as was stated by some of the best Romans prior to the coming of Christ.
The Roman gods took no action to save Rome as her morals were declining.
Abandon false gods and "spring out to genuine liberty" (Augustine, 87).
Notes on City of God - By Augustine
Book II
If one were to attempt to refute all criticisms of Christianity one would water their time for those who absolutely refuse to accept the logic of Christianity refuse to accept logic itself.
"Find out the role that God would have you play, the part assigned you, in the scheme of things" (Augustine, 54).
Pagan gods have not laid out places for moral instruction. Wherever Christianity has spread one can point to the church there for this moral instruction.
The pagan gods delight in their own ruin and in the ruination of man.
The gods of Rome undermined the morality of the Roman citizens by demanding displays of immoral behavior.
The Romans cannot receive the establishment of morals from their gods for they establish the morals of their gods.
Rome sunk to the depths of degradation long before the arrival of Christ, as was stated by some of the best Romans prior to the coming of Christ.
The Roman gods took no action to save Rome as her morals were declining.
Abandon false gods and "spring out to genuine liberty" (Augustine, 87).
Brief Notes on I Chronices 1-21
(Originally Written June 5, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I am so feeble and weak. My soul is in anguish. My temper flares and I hurt from longing. Why has she forsaken me? Why would you cause this to happen? What must I learn from you? Do I not trust you? Do I not bless your name? Where is the easy yoke? Lord may your will be done and may the whole world come to see that you are just and good. Lord I struggle, but I thank you for the struggle. For if I die, I will be with you and if I live I will be even stronger in you for it. May you restore my wife to me or otherwise show me your plan for me. You have my heart, my soul, my mind, my all. 'Tis a small offering I know, but what I have is yours. Comfort me in the readings today. Do not look on me in anger or disgust, but deliver me from my anguish. Thank you Lord for all you have done. May the whole world praise you ceaselessly. May every tongue sound of the Holiness of the one true God. Thank you for your love and care.
Notes on I Chronicles
Chapter 1 - Genealogy from Adam to the Edomites
Chapter 2 - Genealogy of the sons of Israel, that is Jacob
Chapter 3 - The line of David
Chapter 4 -
The sons of Judah
Jabez prayed to the Lord, "oh that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!" The Lord answered his prayer.
The sons of Simeon
The sons of Reuben
Reuben, though firstborn, lost his birthright to Joseph. The king came from Judah because Judah was powerful.
The sons of Gad.
The sons of East Manasseh.
These men angered God by idolatry and were deported to Assyria.
The sons of Levi
Chapter 6 - The descendants of Aaron
Chapter 7
The sons of Issachar
The sons of Benjamin
The sons of Dan, Naphtali and Manasseh
The sons of Ephraim
The sons of Asher
Chapter 8 - The sons of Benjamin
Chapter 9 -
Judah had been carried away into Babylon as exiles.
Jerusalem still had some Israelites in it from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh and also some Levites dwelled in Jerusalem.
The Genealogy of Saul
Chapter 10
Saul and his three sons were killed in battle by the Philistines because Saul rebelled against the Lord.
Chapter 11
David was made king of Israel.
David conquered Jerusalem.
Chapter 12 - David gathered many warriors around him
Chapter 13 - David brought the Ark to Jerusalem
Chapter 14 -
David settled in Jerusalem, took wives and had sons.
David conquered the Philistines who attacked him. The Lord made all nations fear David.
Chapter 15 -
David danced in the streets and his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, despised him for it.
Chapter 16
"Glory in his holy name; rejoice, o hearts that seek the Lord" (I Chronicles 16:10, New American Bible).
"Sing to the Lord, all the earth, announce his salvation, day after day" (I Chronicles 16:23, New American Bible).
Chapter 17
Nathan had a vision that David's son would build the temple of the Lord and David rejoiced at this.
Chapter 18
David subdued the Philistines and the Moabites. He defeated the king of Zobah and the Arameans.
Chapter 19
David defeated the Ammonites for shaming ambassadors he sent them. David then crushed the Arameans for aid the Ammonites.
Chapter 20
David went to battle with the Philistines again and the Israelites defeated three giants that were sons of the Rephaim.
Chapter 21
David then sinned and took a census of Israel. David was given three choices of punishment and chose pestilence. 70,000 men died on account of David's sin.
Lord I am so feeble and weak. My soul is in anguish. My temper flares and I hurt from longing. Why has she forsaken me? Why would you cause this to happen? What must I learn from you? Do I not trust you? Do I not bless your name? Where is the easy yoke? Lord may your will be done and may the whole world come to see that you are just and good. Lord I struggle, but I thank you for the struggle. For if I die, I will be with you and if I live I will be even stronger in you for it. May you restore my wife to me or otherwise show me your plan for me. You have my heart, my soul, my mind, my all. 'Tis a small offering I know, but what I have is yours. Comfort me in the readings today. Do not look on me in anger or disgust, but deliver me from my anguish. Thank you Lord for all you have done. May the whole world praise you ceaselessly. May every tongue sound of the Holiness of the one true God. Thank you for your love and care.
Notes on I Chronicles
Chapter 1 - Genealogy from Adam to the Edomites
Chapter 2 - Genealogy of the sons of Israel, that is Jacob
Chapter 3 - The line of David
Chapter 4 -
The sons of Judah
Jabez prayed to the Lord, "oh that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!" The Lord answered his prayer.
The sons of Simeon
The sons of Reuben
Reuben, though firstborn, lost his birthright to Joseph. The king came from Judah because Judah was powerful.
The sons of Gad.
The sons of East Manasseh.
These men angered God by idolatry and were deported to Assyria.
The sons of Levi
Chapter 6 - The descendants of Aaron
Chapter 7
The sons of Issachar
The sons of Benjamin
The sons of Dan, Naphtali and Manasseh
The sons of Ephraim
The sons of Asher
Chapter 8 - The sons of Benjamin
Chapter 9 -
Judah had been carried away into Babylon as exiles.
Jerusalem still had some Israelites in it from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh and also some Levites dwelled in Jerusalem.
The Genealogy of Saul
Chapter 10
Saul and his three sons were killed in battle by the Philistines because Saul rebelled against the Lord.
Chapter 11
David was made king of Israel.
David conquered Jerusalem.
Chapter 12 - David gathered many warriors around him
Chapter 13 - David brought the Ark to Jerusalem
Chapter 14 -
David settled in Jerusalem, took wives and had sons.
David conquered the Philistines who attacked him. The Lord made all nations fear David.
Chapter 15 -
David danced in the streets and his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, despised him for it.
Chapter 16
"Glory in his holy name; rejoice, o hearts that seek the Lord" (I Chronicles 16:10, New American Bible).
"Sing to the Lord, all the earth, announce his salvation, day after day" (I Chronicles 16:23, New American Bible).
Chapter 17
Nathan had a vision that David's son would build the temple of the Lord and David rejoiced at this.
Chapter 18
David subdued the Philistines and the Moabites. He defeated the king of Zobah and the Arameans.
Chapter 19
David defeated the Ammonites for shaming ambassadors he sent them. David then crushed the Arameans for aid the Ammonites.
Chapter 20
David went to battle with the Philistines again and the Israelites defeated three giants that were sons of the Rephaim.
Chapter 21
David then sinned and took a census of Israel. David was given three choices of punishment and chose pestilence. 70,000 men died on account of David's sin.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Brief Notes on 2 Kings 8-25
(Originally written June 4, 2008 in the Journal)
Thank you Lord for today. May all earth praise you for what you have done. The weather is beautiful. Tonight we go to meet with our counselors. Lord use tonight to begin the reconciliation process. Give me the strength to endure this process and separation. Give me the wisdom to speak what needs to be said. Pour out your spirit on Kris and John that they may enlighten us. Circumcise our hearts, ears and minds. Above all may you be glorified in this meeting! Grant me some wisdom from this reading.
Notes on 2 Kings
Chapter 8
Elisha told of a seven year famine that was coming and it came to pass.
Ben-hadad, king of Aram became ill and sent Hazael to seek out Elisha to see if he would recover. Elisha told Hazael to tell Ben-hadad that he would live but told Hazael that he was in fact going to die. Elisha then wept. Hazael asked why he was crying and Elisha told him that he wept for the monstrous things that Hazael would do to Israel. Hazael asked how he would do these things and Elisha told him that he would become king of Aram. Ben-hadad died and Hazael became king.
Jehoram succeeded his father, Jehoshaphat as king of Judah. Jehoram did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Ahaziah succeeded his father, Jehoram as king of Judah. Ahaziah reigned only for one year and did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 9
Elisha sent a prophet to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat as king of Israel. The prophet then doomed the house of Ahab. Jehu then killed Joram, the king of Israel. Next, he killed Ahaziah, king of Judah who was visiting Joram in Jezreel. Jehu had three eunuchs throw Jezebel out of a window. He rode over her with a chariot. Dogs then devoured her flesh as the prophet decreed.
Chapter 10
Jehu then killed all of Ahab's descendants and supporters. Jehu then had 42 men of the house of Ahaziah killed. Jehu then called all of the worshippers of Baal in Israel into the temple of Baal. He slew them all and destroyed the temple, turning it into a latrine. While Jehu did good in the sight of the Lord, he still continued the sins of Jeroboam. He reigned over Israel for 28 years.
Chapter 11
Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah, killed all the royal family of Judah to rule. Joash was hidden from her though. Seven years later Joash was crowned as king of Judah. At the coronation of Joash, Athaliah was put to death. Judah then destroyed the temple of Baal and killed its high priest.
Chapter 12
Joash was seven years old when he became king. He reigned for 40 years and did good in the sight of the Lord because he was guided by the priest Jehoiada.
Chapter 13
Jehoahaz, son of Jehu became king of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Then, Jehoash became king of Israel. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Elisha died and was buried.
Some men were burying a man when Moabite raiders came upon them suddenly. They threw the dead man's body into the grave of Elisha and fled. The man came back to life when he touched the bones of Elisha.
Chapter 14
Amaziah succeeded Joash as king of Judah. Amaziah pleased the Lord, but not as much as David. Amaziah killed the officials who murdered his father. He defeated the Edomites and captured the city of Sela. Amaziah was killed in Lachish and his son Azariah replaced him as king.
Jeroboam II became king of Israel after his father Jehoash died. Jeroboam II did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 15
Azariah, son of Amaziah, reigned over Judah for 52 years. He pleased the Lord, but did not destroy the high places. He became afflicted with leprosy.
Zechariah succeed his father Jeroboam II in Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord and only reigned for six months.
Shallum killed Zechariah and ruled one month over Israel. Menahem killed Shallum and became king of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Pekahiah, son of Menahem, succeeded his father on the throne of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Pekahiah was killed by Pekah. Pekah then took over Israel. Hoshea, son of Elah, killed Pekah and took over Israel.
Jotham, son of Azariah, became king of Judah. He pleased the Lord, but did not destroy the high places.
Chapter 16
Ahaz, son of Jotham, succeeded his father as king of Judah. Ahaz did evil in the sight of the LOrd. He even immolated his son.
Rezin, king of Aram and Pekah, king of Israel then besieged Jerusalem. Ahaz enlisted Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria to help him. Together they defeated Aram and Israel. Tiglath-pileser killed Rezin.
Ahaz then removed the altar of the Lord from the Temple and replaced it with one that was similar to the one in Damascus.
Chapter 17
Hoshea became king in Israel after killing Pekah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not to the extent of the other kings of Israel. Under Hoshea, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported its citizens to Assyria. The Lord allowed this to happen because Israel was a stiff-necked people and served other gods.
Chapter 18
Hezekiah came to power in Judah. He pleased the Lord. He removed the high places and shattered the pillars and cut down the sacred poles. Hezekiah never turned from the Lord.
The king of Assyria taunted Jerusalem. He tried to turn Judah against king Hezekiah.
Chapter 19
Hezekiah called upon the Lord for deliverance from Assyria. The angel of the Lord came down and killed 165,000 Assyrians and so Sennacherib, king of Assyria returned to Nineveh. Sennacherib was killed in the temple of his god.
Chapter 20
Hezekiah became ill and Isaiah came to him to tell him to get his house in order for he was going to die. Hezekiah wept and prayed to the Lord. He was healed and lived 15 more years. Isaiah told Hezekiah that a time was coming when the people of Judah would be carried off to Babylon.
Chapter 21
Manasseh succeeded Hezekiah in Judah. He was 12 years old and reigned 55 years. Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebuilt the high places, erected altars to Baal and set up a sacred pole. He immolated his son and practiced witchcraft. Manasseh did more evil than any other king of Judah and shed much innocent blood.
Amon, son of Manasseh replaced Manasseh as king of Judah. Amon abandoned the Lord and did evil. Amon was killed in his house.
Chapter 22
Josiah, son of Amon became king at age 8. Josiah pleased the Lord and reigned 31 years.
Chapter 23
Josiah removed from the temple all things given to other gods. Josiah removed the sacred pole from the temple and burned it. He tore down the apartments of the cult prostitutes. He defiled all the high places and removed all the priests that were not Levites. He removed the place of Molech so there would be no more immolations. He cut down the sins of Jeroboam. Josiah reestablished the Passover. No Passover had been seen since before the time of the Judges. Josiah did away with all witchcraft and idolatry. Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt at Meggido.
Jehoahaz, son of Josiah replaced him as king of Judah. Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jehoahaz was carried away to Egypt and Pharaoh Neco appointed Eliakim, son of Josiah as king of Judah. Eliakim changed his name to Jehoiakim and did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 24
Jehoiakim was made a vassal by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jehoiachin replaced Jehoiakim as king and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and carried of its treasure. He also deported the Judahites from Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle as king. Mattaniah changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
Chapter 25
Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and caught Zedekiah. Zedekiah's sons were killed in front of them and then he was taken to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar burned the Temple and the Palace. He burned all of Jerusalem. They carried away all the treasure and people of Jerusalem. Judah was carried away in exile.
Jehoiachin, king of Judah was released by Evil-merodach, successor of Nebuchadnezzar and given a seat of honor in Babylon.
The penalty of sin is great my Lord. I deserve no less than these of you chosen people. My sin is great indeed. Look upon me with mercy for I choose to serve you every day of my life. Do not destroy me, but show me your grace.
Thank you Lord for today. May all earth praise you for what you have done. The weather is beautiful. Tonight we go to meet with our counselors. Lord use tonight to begin the reconciliation process. Give me the strength to endure this process and separation. Give me the wisdom to speak what needs to be said. Pour out your spirit on Kris and John that they may enlighten us. Circumcise our hearts, ears and minds. Above all may you be glorified in this meeting! Grant me some wisdom from this reading.
Notes on 2 Kings
Chapter 8
Elisha told of a seven year famine that was coming and it came to pass.
Ben-hadad, king of Aram became ill and sent Hazael to seek out Elisha to see if he would recover. Elisha told Hazael to tell Ben-hadad that he would live but told Hazael that he was in fact going to die. Elisha then wept. Hazael asked why he was crying and Elisha told him that he wept for the monstrous things that Hazael would do to Israel. Hazael asked how he would do these things and Elisha told him that he would become king of Aram. Ben-hadad died and Hazael became king.
Jehoram succeeded his father, Jehoshaphat as king of Judah. Jehoram did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Ahaziah succeeded his father, Jehoram as king of Judah. Ahaziah reigned only for one year and did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 9
Elisha sent a prophet to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat as king of Israel. The prophet then doomed the house of Ahab. Jehu then killed Joram, the king of Israel. Next, he killed Ahaziah, king of Judah who was visiting Joram in Jezreel. Jehu had three eunuchs throw Jezebel out of a window. He rode over her with a chariot. Dogs then devoured her flesh as the prophet decreed.
Chapter 10
Jehu then killed all of Ahab's descendants and supporters. Jehu then had 42 men of the house of Ahaziah killed. Jehu then called all of the worshippers of Baal in Israel into the temple of Baal. He slew them all and destroyed the temple, turning it into a latrine. While Jehu did good in the sight of the Lord, he still continued the sins of Jeroboam. He reigned over Israel for 28 years.
Chapter 11
Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah, killed all the royal family of Judah to rule. Joash was hidden from her though. Seven years later Joash was crowned as king of Judah. At the coronation of Joash, Athaliah was put to death. Judah then destroyed the temple of Baal and killed its high priest.
Chapter 12
Joash was seven years old when he became king. He reigned for 40 years and did good in the sight of the Lord because he was guided by the priest Jehoiada.
Chapter 13
Jehoahaz, son of Jehu became king of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Then, Jehoash became king of Israel. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Elisha died and was buried.
Some men were burying a man when Moabite raiders came upon them suddenly. They threw the dead man's body into the grave of Elisha and fled. The man came back to life when he touched the bones of Elisha.
Chapter 14
Amaziah succeeded Joash as king of Judah. Amaziah pleased the Lord, but not as much as David. Amaziah killed the officials who murdered his father. He defeated the Edomites and captured the city of Sela. Amaziah was killed in Lachish and his son Azariah replaced him as king.
Jeroboam II became king of Israel after his father Jehoash died. Jeroboam II did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 15
Azariah, son of Amaziah, reigned over Judah for 52 years. He pleased the Lord, but did not destroy the high places. He became afflicted with leprosy.
Zechariah succeed his father Jeroboam II in Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord and only reigned for six months.
Shallum killed Zechariah and ruled one month over Israel. Menahem killed Shallum and became king of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Pekahiah, son of Menahem, succeeded his father on the throne of Israel. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Pekahiah was killed by Pekah. Pekah then took over Israel. Hoshea, son of Elah, killed Pekah and took over Israel.
Jotham, son of Azariah, became king of Judah. He pleased the Lord, but did not destroy the high places.
Chapter 16
Ahaz, son of Jotham, succeeded his father as king of Judah. Ahaz did evil in the sight of the LOrd. He even immolated his son.
Rezin, king of Aram and Pekah, king of Israel then besieged Jerusalem. Ahaz enlisted Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria to help him. Together they defeated Aram and Israel. Tiglath-pileser killed Rezin.
Ahaz then removed the altar of the Lord from the Temple and replaced it with one that was similar to the one in Damascus.
Chapter 17
Hoshea became king in Israel after killing Pekah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not to the extent of the other kings of Israel. Under Hoshea, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported its citizens to Assyria. The Lord allowed this to happen because Israel was a stiff-necked people and served other gods.
Chapter 18
Hezekiah came to power in Judah. He pleased the Lord. He removed the high places and shattered the pillars and cut down the sacred poles. Hezekiah never turned from the Lord.
The king of Assyria taunted Jerusalem. He tried to turn Judah against king Hezekiah.
Chapter 19
Hezekiah called upon the Lord for deliverance from Assyria. The angel of the Lord came down and killed 165,000 Assyrians and so Sennacherib, king of Assyria returned to Nineveh. Sennacherib was killed in the temple of his god.
Chapter 20
Hezekiah became ill and Isaiah came to him to tell him to get his house in order for he was going to die. Hezekiah wept and prayed to the Lord. He was healed and lived 15 more years. Isaiah told Hezekiah that a time was coming when the people of Judah would be carried off to Babylon.
Chapter 21
Manasseh succeeded Hezekiah in Judah. He was 12 years old and reigned 55 years. Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebuilt the high places, erected altars to Baal and set up a sacred pole. He immolated his son and practiced witchcraft. Manasseh did more evil than any other king of Judah and shed much innocent blood.
Amon, son of Manasseh replaced Manasseh as king of Judah. Amon abandoned the Lord and did evil. Amon was killed in his house.
Chapter 22
Josiah, son of Amon became king at age 8. Josiah pleased the Lord and reigned 31 years.
Chapter 23
Josiah removed from the temple all things given to other gods. Josiah removed the sacred pole from the temple and burned it. He tore down the apartments of the cult prostitutes. He defiled all the high places and removed all the priests that were not Levites. He removed the place of Molech so there would be no more immolations. He cut down the sins of Jeroboam. Josiah reestablished the Passover. No Passover had been seen since before the time of the Judges. Josiah did away with all witchcraft and idolatry. Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt at Meggido.
Jehoahaz, son of Josiah replaced him as king of Judah. Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jehoahaz was carried away to Egypt and Pharaoh Neco appointed Eliakim, son of Josiah as king of Judah. Eliakim changed his name to Jehoiakim and did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Chapter 24
Jehoiakim was made a vassal by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jehoiachin replaced Jehoiakim as king and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and carried of its treasure. He also deported the Judahites from Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle as king. Mattaniah changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
Chapter 25
Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and caught Zedekiah. Zedekiah's sons were killed in front of them and then he was taken to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar burned the Temple and the Palace. He burned all of Jerusalem. They carried away all the treasure and people of Jerusalem. Judah was carried away in exile.
Jehoiachin, king of Judah was released by Evil-merodach, successor of Nebuchadnezzar and given a seat of honor in Babylon.
The penalty of sin is great my Lord. I deserve no less than these of you chosen people. My sin is great indeed. Look upon me with mercy for I choose to serve you every day of my life. Do not destroy me, but show me your grace.
Brief Notes on City of God - Book 1
(Originally Written June 4, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on City of God by Augustine
Introduction
"The great lesson of the City of God is that out of all things come good" (Augustine, ix)
Book I
Great effort is needed to convince the proud of the power of humility.
The city of this world seeks to dominate but is dominated by its lust for domination.
"God's providence constantly uses war to correct and chasten the corrupt morals of mankind, as it also uses such afflictions to train men in a righteous and laudable way of life, removing to a better state those whose life is approved, or else keeping them in this world for further service" (Augustine, 6).
It is foolish to trust in gods who can be conquered and yet saved by man's hands. A god ought to be unconquerable and capable of saving man, not the other way around.
The god of Rome would have perished long ago if the Romans had not so painstakingly preserved them.
It is foolishness for men to blame the collapse of Rome on Christ when they invoked his name to save their very lives! The fall of Rome was brought about by their corrupt morals.
In the sack of Rome, the savagery of war was tempered by something new: Christianity. Pagan and Christian alike were spared in the temples of Christ. How then can Christ be blamed for the fall of Rome?
The mercy of the Lord extends to both the good and the bad. This is so the wicked can repent and come to the Lord, for God waits for all men to come. Some choose to harden their hearts, but that is their own task for destruction.
The mercy God extends will someday in the future only extend to those who accept Him.
God has willed that temporal goods and temporal evils will befall good and bad alike.
"The good man is not exalted by this world's goods; nor is he overwhelmed by this world's ills" (Augustine, 13-14).
Not all evil doing is punished in this world. Some punishment is stored up for the final judgment.
God punishes some sin in this world so that the belief in providence never ceases.
God rewards some good deeds here so that we do not believe God has no concern for temporal blessings, but other good deeds have blessings that are bestowed after this temporal life is done.
Though the suffering of the good and evil are alike, the sufferers are different. The wicked curse God under affliction; the good offer prayers to Him.
"Stir a cesspit, and a foul stench arises; stir a perfume, and a delightful fragrance ascends. But the movement is identical" (Augustine, 14).
The suffering of Christians have caused their moral improvement because they viewed them with eyes of faith.
Christians suffer justly when they do not admonish sins, for not to admonish sin is a sin itself.
The good and bad suffer because though they do not live equal lives, they both love this temporal world too much.
The worldly advantages of life are not discreditable in themselves. What is discreditable is when the Christian is unduly attached to those advantages.
The Christian loses nothing in the deprivation of temporal goods. A man can be poor in life, yet rich in spirit. A Christian ought to be content with that they have and bless the Lord for it.
Those Christians who grieve the loss of their temporal goods, though they do not love them as much as they love Christ, can learn how much sin they have committed in losing those temporal things. These Christians refused to be taught by words and so God taught them by experience.
Christ condemns the desire for riches, not the opportunity riches afford.
Those who suffer torture who have no wealth on account of wealth confess Christ. If the torturer is not swayed the tortured will still be justly rewarded in heaven.
The only thing that makes death an evil is what comes after death. We ought not worry about death because all die; we should instead focus on our destination after death.
We need not worry over the body of a man who has died. Those who can kill the body have no power over the soul. The saints who have fallen but not been given a proper burial will still be resurrected.
Suicide is never justifiable.
Purity is a virtue of the mind, not the body.
Courage endures evil, but does not condone it.
We cannot commit suicide for the Bible says we cannot kill (which implies a human being) and to kill one's self is to kill a human being.
Not all homicide is murder. God orders killing, but when He does so the man does not do the killing. He is just an instrument of God. He is like the sword that God is wielding.
Though gods may be false, worship of those gods can be sincere.
The judgment of God is inscrutable and His ways are mysterious. Sometimes we cannot comprehend why we suffer, but we can take consolation in the fact that Divine Providence is at work.
God always works suffering to result in our justification or our correction.
The saints ought not to regret this temporal life for it is their schooling for eternity.
Those who rebel against the Christian era do so that they may indulge themselves in extravagant sin.
The Church has members hidden amongst the world as the Church has ungodly hidden in its midst. But, God knows these men.
The city of God and the city of man stand interwoven and intermixed, awaiting separation on the Judgment Day.
Notes on City of God by Augustine
Introduction
"The great lesson of the City of God is that out of all things come good" (Augustine, ix)
Book I
Great effort is needed to convince the proud of the power of humility.
The city of this world seeks to dominate but is dominated by its lust for domination.
"God's providence constantly uses war to correct and chasten the corrupt morals of mankind, as it also uses such afflictions to train men in a righteous and laudable way of life, removing to a better state those whose life is approved, or else keeping them in this world for further service" (Augustine, 6).
It is foolish to trust in gods who can be conquered and yet saved by man's hands. A god ought to be unconquerable and capable of saving man, not the other way around.
The god of Rome would have perished long ago if the Romans had not so painstakingly preserved them.
It is foolishness for men to blame the collapse of Rome on Christ when they invoked his name to save their very lives! The fall of Rome was brought about by their corrupt morals.
In the sack of Rome, the savagery of war was tempered by something new: Christianity. Pagan and Christian alike were spared in the temples of Christ. How then can Christ be blamed for the fall of Rome?
The mercy of the Lord extends to both the good and the bad. This is so the wicked can repent and come to the Lord, for God waits for all men to come. Some choose to harden their hearts, but that is their own task for destruction.
The mercy God extends will someday in the future only extend to those who accept Him.
God has willed that temporal goods and temporal evils will befall good and bad alike.
"The good man is not exalted by this world's goods; nor is he overwhelmed by this world's ills" (Augustine, 13-14).
Not all evil doing is punished in this world. Some punishment is stored up for the final judgment.
God punishes some sin in this world so that the belief in providence never ceases.
God rewards some good deeds here so that we do not believe God has no concern for temporal blessings, but other good deeds have blessings that are bestowed after this temporal life is done.
Though the suffering of the good and evil are alike, the sufferers are different. The wicked curse God under affliction; the good offer prayers to Him.
"Stir a cesspit, and a foul stench arises; stir a perfume, and a delightful fragrance ascends. But the movement is identical" (Augustine, 14).
The suffering of Christians have caused their moral improvement because they viewed them with eyes of faith.
Christians suffer justly when they do not admonish sins, for not to admonish sin is a sin itself.
The good and bad suffer because though they do not live equal lives, they both love this temporal world too much.
The worldly advantages of life are not discreditable in themselves. What is discreditable is when the Christian is unduly attached to those advantages.
The Christian loses nothing in the deprivation of temporal goods. A man can be poor in life, yet rich in spirit. A Christian ought to be content with that they have and bless the Lord for it.
Those Christians who grieve the loss of their temporal goods, though they do not love them as much as they love Christ, can learn how much sin they have committed in losing those temporal things. These Christians refused to be taught by words and so God taught them by experience.
Christ condemns the desire for riches, not the opportunity riches afford.
Those who suffer torture who have no wealth on account of wealth confess Christ. If the torturer is not swayed the tortured will still be justly rewarded in heaven.
The only thing that makes death an evil is what comes after death. We ought not worry about death because all die; we should instead focus on our destination after death.
We need not worry over the body of a man who has died. Those who can kill the body have no power over the soul. The saints who have fallen but not been given a proper burial will still be resurrected.
Suicide is never justifiable.
Purity is a virtue of the mind, not the body.
Courage endures evil, but does not condone it.
We cannot commit suicide for the Bible says we cannot kill (which implies a human being) and to kill one's self is to kill a human being.
Not all homicide is murder. God orders killing, but when He does so the man does not do the killing. He is just an instrument of God. He is like the sword that God is wielding.
Though gods may be false, worship of those gods can be sincere.
The judgment of God is inscrutable and His ways are mysterious. Sometimes we cannot comprehend why we suffer, but we can take consolation in the fact that Divine Providence is at work.
God always works suffering to result in our justification or our correction.
The saints ought not to regret this temporal life for it is their schooling for eternity.
Those who rebel against the Christian era do so that they may indulge themselves in extravagant sin.
The Church has members hidden amongst the world as the Church has ungodly hidden in its midst. But, God knows these men.
The city of God and the city of man stand interwoven and intermixed, awaiting separation on the Judgment Day.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Brief Notes on The Didache
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
The Didache seems to have been written in the mid first century A.D. Its origins may be either Egyptian or Syrian.
The Didache
There are two ways: the way of Life and the way of Death.
The Way of life is this: love the Lord your God, love your neighbor as yourself and do unto others as you wish to have done to you.
If you love those who hate you, you will have no enemy.
Do not be equivocating in speech or thought.
Be not hypocritical, spiteful or show superiority.
Be wary of blasphemy.
"Accept as good whatever experience comes your way, in the knowledge that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 192).
Never claim anything as your own.
The Way of Death is evil. The Way of Death abhors truth and loves falsehood. You must flee from the Way of Death.
Wednesdays and Fridays are days of fasting.
Say the Lord's prayer three times a day.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in Heaven and Earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our trespassers. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
In everything you do, be guided by what you read in the Gospel of the Lord.
May the Lord forgive me of my sins. May He instruct me in His ways so that I may follow Him in all of my doings. Lord look upon me in mercy and pity. Restore me to you. Make me whole again. I feel so empty, so lost. I have lost the one I love. Lord I offer you this relationship as a sacrifice if that is what you require. If it is not then I beg of you to return her to me. Watch over her and comfort her. Draw her close to you. Do not feed her to the wolves or let harm befall her.
Lord grant me wisdom from the Book. Do not allow me to substitute anything for it, but keep me in your Word daily so that I can follow your path, neither saying to the left nor the right.
The Didache seems to have been written in the mid first century A.D. Its origins may be either Egyptian or Syrian.
The Didache
There are two ways: the way of Life and the way of Death.
The Way of life is this: love the Lord your God, love your neighbor as yourself and do unto others as you wish to have done to you.
If you love those who hate you, you will have no enemy.
Do not be equivocating in speech or thought.
Be not hypocritical, spiteful or show superiority.
Be wary of blasphemy.
"Accept as good whatever experience comes your way, in the knowledge that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 192).
Never claim anything as your own.
The Way of Death is evil. The Way of Death abhors truth and loves falsehood. You must flee from the Way of Death.
Wednesdays and Fridays are days of fasting.
Say the Lord's prayer three times a day.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in Heaven and Earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our trespassers. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
In everything you do, be guided by what you read in the Gospel of the Lord.
May the Lord forgive me of my sins. May He instruct me in His ways so that I may follow Him in all of my doings. Lord look upon me in mercy and pity. Restore me to you. Make me whole again. I feel so empty, so lost. I have lost the one I love. Lord I offer you this relationship as a sacrifice if that is what you require. If it is not then I beg of you to return her to me. Watch over her and comfort her. Draw her close to you. Do not feed her to the wolves or let harm befall her.
Lord grant me wisdom from the Book. Do not allow me to substitute anything for it, but keep me in your Word daily so that I can follow your path, neither saying to the left nor the right.
Brief Notes on The Epistle of Barnabas
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
Brief Notes on The Epistle to Diognetus
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
The Lord is good and faithful, merciful and just. He fills my cup when it is empty and restores me to health when I am sick. Though my world collapses around me, I stand firm for my feet rest upon the Rock. Give me strength to make it through today Lord. Grant me the wisdom to follow you. May you treat my enemies severely in your time, but give me the grace to treat them with love. Lord be with her. Do not cut her off form you. She seeks that which she knows not. Though you know perfectly well she seeks you in the wrong places. Guide her aim to you. Fill her cup and restore her to you. If it is in your will restore her to me as well. Teach me today Lord that I may be more fit to serve you.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
The Epistle to Diognetus is a treatise that was most likely written between 120-200 A.D. Diognetus seems to have been a Greek official and a pagan who had an interest in Christianity.
The Epistle to Diognetus
The author starts by criticizing idols as they are made by man with perishable substances. The fact is that these gods could be refashioned into everyday, common items. "In a word, are they not, one and all, nothing but dumb, blind, lifeless things, without sense, without movement, rotting and decaying?" (Early Christian Writings, 143). It is interesting that the gods made of stone and pottery are left unprotected, but those of gold and silver are guarded. This shows that the material is even more valuable to you then the gods themselves.
The Jews, while serving the true God, make use of the absurd rituals of the pagans. If these rituals are absurd to stone, lifeless things, then who could expect the living God to see them as acceptable?
"One party, it seems, makes its offerings to creatures which cannot partake of the gifts, the other to the One who needs none of them" (Early Christian Writings, 144).
The unique things of Christians is that they live among their people, but are citizens of heaven. "They obey the prescribed laws, but in their own private lives they transcend the laws. They show love to all men - and all men persecute them" (Early Christian Writings, 145).
Christians are to the world as the soul is to the body. The soul is through the whole body and likewise Christians live throughout the world. The soul is in the body but does not form part of it. So too are Christians in the world but not part of it. The soul is immortal but must live in the mortal body, so too the Christian.
It is the moral duty of a Christian not shrink from sufferings and persecutions.
There is no compulsion found in the Word of God. He came to save us by persuasion, not compulsion.
The more the Christians suffer, the more men join their ranks.
Christianity is not the product of man, but of God.
Only through faith are we permitted to know God.
The Lord was loving and long-suffering toward mankind.
The wickedness of the masses was covered by the Innocence of Jesus Christ. The Lord set out from the beginning to exchange the Holy for the wicked because He loves us so.
God has not willed man to be imitators of Him.
"Without knowledge there can be no life, and without life there can be no trustworthy knowledge" (Early Christian Writings, 150).
The Lord is good and faithful, merciful and just. He fills my cup when it is empty and restores me to health when I am sick. Though my world collapses around me, I stand firm for my feet rest upon the Rock. Give me strength to make it through today Lord. Grant me the wisdom to follow you. May you treat my enemies severely in your time, but give me the grace to treat them with love. Lord be with her. Do not cut her off form you. She seeks that which she knows not. Though you know perfectly well she seeks you in the wrong places. Guide her aim to you. Fill her cup and restore her to you. If it is in your will restore her to me as well. Teach me today Lord that I may be more fit to serve you.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
The Epistle to Diognetus is a treatise that was most likely written between 120-200 A.D. Diognetus seems to have been a Greek official and a pagan who had an interest in Christianity.
The Epistle to Diognetus
The author starts by criticizing idols as they are made by man with perishable substances. The fact is that these gods could be refashioned into everyday, common items. "In a word, are they not, one and all, nothing but dumb, blind, lifeless things, without sense, without movement, rotting and decaying?" (Early Christian Writings, 143). It is interesting that the gods made of stone and pottery are left unprotected, but those of gold and silver are guarded. This shows that the material is even more valuable to you then the gods themselves.
The Jews, while serving the true God, make use of the absurd rituals of the pagans. If these rituals are absurd to stone, lifeless things, then who could expect the living God to see them as acceptable?
"One party, it seems, makes its offerings to creatures which cannot partake of the gifts, the other to the One who needs none of them" (Early Christian Writings, 144).
The unique things of Christians is that they live among their people, but are citizens of heaven. "They obey the prescribed laws, but in their own private lives they transcend the laws. They show love to all men - and all men persecute them" (Early Christian Writings, 145).
Christians are to the world as the soul is to the body. The soul is through the whole body and likewise Christians live throughout the world. The soul is in the body but does not form part of it. So too are Christians in the world but not part of it. The soul is immortal but must live in the mortal body, so too the Christian.
It is the moral duty of a Christian not shrink from sufferings and persecutions.
There is no compulsion found in the Word of God. He came to save us by persuasion, not compulsion.
The more the Christians suffer, the more men join their ranks.
Christianity is not the product of man, but of God.
Only through faith are we permitted to know God.
The Lord was loving and long-suffering toward mankind.
The wickedness of the masses was covered by the Innocence of Jesus Christ. The Lord set out from the beginning to exchange the Holy for the wicked because He loves us so.
God has not willed man to be imitators of Him.
"Without knowledge there can be no life, and without life there can be no trustworthy knowledge" (Early Christian Writings, 150).
Brief Notes on 2 Kings 1-6
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on 2 Kings
Chapter 1
After the death of King Ahab the Moabites rebelled against Israel.
Ahaziah fell and injured himself. He sent for Baalzebub to see if he would survive his injuries. The Lord sent Elijah to him and told him that he would die because he had sought the counsel of another god.
Chapter 2
Elijah was taken up to the Lord in a fiery chariot and the spirit of Elijah passed on to his pupil Elisha. Elisha then purified water in the name of the Lord for a city.
On the way up to Bethel children came and mocked Elisha for being bald. Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord and two she bears came and mauled 42 of the children.
Chapter 3
Joram succeeded his father Ahab as the king of Israel. He did away with the Baal worship, but not with the sins of Jeroboam.
Now Moab rebelled against Israel so Joram called Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to join him against Moab. Elisha prophesied that they would crush Moab through the Lord.
Chapter 4
Elisha then performed a miracle through God to save a widow's children from slavery.
A woman named Gehazi showed kindness to Elisha. She was without children and her husband was old. Elisha said the Lord would give her a son. The boy was born but died very young. Gehazi went to Elisha and wept over her son. Elisha went to her house and found the boy dead. Elisha prayed to God and the boy rose from the dead.
Elisha then fixed a stew that was poisoned. He put meal in it and it became poisoned no more.
Chapter 5
Naaman was the captain of Aram and won many victories in the Lord, but was a leper. Elisha told Naaman to wash in the Jordan River and be clean. Naaman became angry at this but was convinced to listen and was healed. Naaman tried to pay Elisha for this healing, but Elisha refused. Finally Naaman asked for dirt of Israel to worship the true God and Elisha consented. Elisha's servant however ran behind Elisha's back and asked for payment. When Elisha learned of this he inflicted the servant with leprosy.
Chapter 6
While getting wood for their lodging a prophet lost the iron of his ax in the Jordan River. Elisha raised it to the surface.
Aram tried to attack Israel but Elisha warned the king of Israel every time the Arameans mounted an attack and they were defeated. The king of Aram set out to kidnap Elisha.
Elisha blinded his kidnappers and took them to Samaria. The king of Israel served them food and drink and then sent them home. No more raiders of Aram entered into Israel.
All of Aram then came and besieged Samaria. The famine became severe and the people turned to cannibalism. The king of Israel was angry and set out to behead Elisha for this.
The Lord caused the army of Aram to hear phantom chariots coming for them and they fled their camp in fear.
Notes on 2 Kings
Chapter 1
After the death of King Ahab the Moabites rebelled against Israel.
Ahaziah fell and injured himself. He sent for Baalzebub to see if he would survive his injuries. The Lord sent Elijah to him and told him that he would die because he had sought the counsel of another god.
Chapter 2
Elijah was taken up to the Lord in a fiery chariot and the spirit of Elijah passed on to his pupil Elisha. Elisha then purified water in the name of the Lord for a city.
On the way up to Bethel children came and mocked Elisha for being bald. Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord and two she bears came and mauled 42 of the children.
Chapter 3
Joram succeeded his father Ahab as the king of Israel. He did away with the Baal worship, but not with the sins of Jeroboam.
Now Moab rebelled against Israel so Joram called Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to join him against Moab. Elisha prophesied that they would crush Moab through the Lord.
Chapter 4
Elisha then performed a miracle through God to save a widow's children from slavery.
A woman named Gehazi showed kindness to Elisha. She was without children and her husband was old. Elisha said the Lord would give her a son. The boy was born but died very young. Gehazi went to Elisha and wept over her son. Elisha went to her house and found the boy dead. Elisha prayed to God and the boy rose from the dead.
Elisha then fixed a stew that was poisoned. He put meal in it and it became poisoned no more.
Chapter 5
Naaman was the captain of Aram and won many victories in the Lord, but was a leper. Elisha told Naaman to wash in the Jordan River and be clean. Naaman became angry at this but was convinced to listen and was healed. Naaman tried to pay Elisha for this healing, but Elisha refused. Finally Naaman asked for dirt of Israel to worship the true God and Elisha consented. Elisha's servant however ran behind Elisha's back and asked for payment. When Elisha learned of this he inflicted the servant with leprosy.
Chapter 6
While getting wood for their lodging a prophet lost the iron of his ax in the Jordan River. Elisha raised it to the surface.
Aram tried to attack Israel but Elisha warned the king of Israel every time the Arameans mounted an attack and they were defeated. The king of Aram set out to kidnap Elisha.
Elisha blinded his kidnappers and took them to Samaria. The king of Israel served them food and drink and then sent them home. No more raiders of Aram entered into Israel.
All of Aram then came and besieged Samaria. The famine became severe and the people turned to cannibalism. The king of Israel was angry and set out to behead Elisha for this.
The Lord caused the army of Aram to hear phantom chariots coming for them and they fled their camp in fear.
Brief Notes on 1 Kings 9-22
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on 1 Kings
Chapter 9
The Lord spoke to Solomon through Gibeon, telling Solomon that the Lord would remain faithful to the temple so long as Solomon and Israel remained faithful to the Lord. But, He warned Solomon if they turned to idols He would put the Temple to ruins.
Chapter 10
The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to see if he was as wise as his fame reported. She found it to be so and gave Solomon the largest gift ever given to a king. Solomon grew to be the wealthiest man in the world and all kings of the earth came to hear his wisdom. (It is interesting that the Scriptures state that the men came to hear the wisdom that God had given him, not to see the fortune of Solomon).
Chapter 11
Solomon sinned and married many foreign women. Solomon was swayed by the gods of his wives and did not follow the Lord with his whole heart as David had done. The Lord grew angry with Solomon and told him that He would split the kingdom, not in the lifetime of Solomon though on account of the Lord's love of David. God raised up Hadad, heir to Edom against Solomon. Also the Lord raised up Rezin, who became king of Damascus, against Solomon. The Lord raised up Jeroboam and gave to him 10 tribes of Israel to be king over.
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, went up to Schechem and spoke to Israel. They told Rehoboam they would follow him if he had an easier yoke for them than Solomon. Rehoboam consulted his father's advisors and they told him to do such. He then consulted young men of his age and they told him to press the Israelites even harder. Rehoboam took the latter advice and Israel abandoned him as king, leaving only Judah for him to rule.
Jeroboam was then made king of Israel's other ten tribes. Jeroboam then sinned against the Lord by erecting idols to the Lord to have the people worship at, rather than traveling to Jerusalem.
Chapter 13
The Lord sent up a man from Judah to the altar where Jeroboam was offering sacrifices and spoke out against Jeroboam. He told everyone that Josiah would rise up out of Judah and slaughter Israel on this altar for their sins. A prophet of Israel tricked the man of God from Judah into coming home with him and eating. As punishment the man of God from Judah was slain by a lion on his trip back home.
Chapter 14
Abijah, the son of Jeroboam grew ill so Jeroboam sent his wife to the prophet Ahijah to find out what would happen to his son. It was Ahijah that told Jeroboam initially that he would become king. Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife that her son would die because of the sins of Jeroboam. All Ahijah said happened and all of Israel mourned the death of Abijah. Jeroboam died and his son Nadab succeeded him. Jeroboam reigned for 22 years.
Rehoboam, the king of Judah sinned and the Lord punished Judah. The Egyptian king carried off the wealth of the Temple of Solomon.
Chapter 15
Abijam succeeded Rehoboam as king of Judah. Abijam warred with Jeroboam and reigned over Judah for three years. He sinned as his father Rehoboam had.
Asa, son of Abijam, succeeded Abijam and reigned for 41 years. Asa banished the prostitutes and tore down the idols of his fathers. Asa pleased the Lord.
Nadab, son of Jeroboam, king of Israel was wicked in the eyes of the Lord. He only reigned for two years over Israel.
Baasha, a son of Issachar, deposed Nadab and became king over Israel. Baasha killed off the entire house of Jeroboam. Baasha reigned for 24 years and continued the sins of Jeroboam.
Chapter 16
Elah, son of Baasha, succeeded him as king of Israel.
Zimri plotted against Elah and killed him. He then killed the whole house of Baasha as the Lord had said would happen through the prophet Jehu.
Zimri reigned for only seven days and was replaced by Omri, the general of the Israelite army.
Omri reigned for 12 years and continued the sins of Jeroboam.
Ahab succeeded his father Omri as king. Ahab reigned for 22 years over Israel, but was even more wicked than his father. Ahab turned to Baal worship. During the reign of Ahab a man from Bethel named Hiel rebuilt Jericho. He lost his two sons as the Lord said would happen through Joshua.
Chapter 17
Elijah rose up and went to king Ahab and told him that the Lord would send a drought on him. Elijah then hid in the Wadi Cherith where the Lord had ravens feed him. The wadi grew dry and the Lord sent Elijah to a widow in Sidon. There the Lord made the widow's cup of flour and cup of oil sustain her, Elijah and her son for a whole year. Elijah called upon the Lord to heal the boy and the Lord did so.
Chapter 18
Obadiah hid 100 prophets of the Lord when Jezebel, queen of Ahab began to murder the followers of the Lord.
Elijah then went to Ahab as the Lord commanded. Elijah commanded Ahab to summon Israel to Mount Carmel along with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Elijah spoke to the people of ISrael and said, 'if the Lord is God then follow him; if Baal is God then follow him'. Elijah called for two bulls, one for himself and one for the prophets of Baal. He said the true God would start the fire for the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal called on Baal to start the fire for hours, but Elijah mocked them. Elijah then prepared the bull on the altar to the Lord he had built and poured twelve jars of water on the holocaust. He prayed to the Lord and the fire of the Lord came down and consumed the holocaust and the altar itself. Elijah told the Israelites to kill the prophets of Baal and the Lord sent rain to parched Israel.
Chapter 19
Jezebel cursed Elijah for what he did to the prophets of Baal. Elijah walked across the desert for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb to escape Jezebel. Elijah then went and anointed Elisha as his successor as the Lord commanded.
Chapter 20
Ben-hadad, king of Aram went to war against Ahab of Israel. The Lord then delivered the Arameans into the hands of Ahab. Ben-hadad attacked again and the Lord handed him a defeat through Israel. But, Ahab set Ben-hadad free, so the Lord's anger flared up against Ahab.
Chapter 21
Ahab went to Naboth and asked him to sell his vineyard to him, but Naboth refused because it was his ancestral heritage. Jezebel then had Naboth stoned to death and told Ahab to go and claim the field. Elijah then went and doomed the line of Ahab on cue from the Lord. Ahab humbled himself before the Lord at the news, so the Lord told Elijah that because Ahab had humbled himself he would not bring about the doom during Ahab's life.
Chapter 22
King Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab went to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from Aram. Four hundred prophets of the Lord told Ahab to go, but Micaiah told him that he would be defeated. Ahab locked Micaiah in prison until he returned. Micaiah said that if he returned then the words he had spoken were not from the Lord. King Ahab was killed while he was in disguise by a stray arrow. The Israelites then fled in terror.
King Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years over Judah. He followed his father Asa and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
King Ahab was succeeded by his son Ahaziah. Ahaziah was wicked and worshiped Baal. He reigned only two years.
Notes on 1 Kings
Chapter 9
The Lord spoke to Solomon through Gibeon, telling Solomon that the Lord would remain faithful to the temple so long as Solomon and Israel remained faithful to the Lord. But, He warned Solomon if they turned to idols He would put the Temple to ruins.
Chapter 10
The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to see if he was as wise as his fame reported. She found it to be so and gave Solomon the largest gift ever given to a king. Solomon grew to be the wealthiest man in the world and all kings of the earth came to hear his wisdom. (It is interesting that the Scriptures state that the men came to hear the wisdom that God had given him, not to see the fortune of Solomon).
Chapter 11
Solomon sinned and married many foreign women. Solomon was swayed by the gods of his wives and did not follow the Lord with his whole heart as David had done. The Lord grew angry with Solomon and told him that He would split the kingdom, not in the lifetime of Solomon though on account of the Lord's love of David. God raised up Hadad, heir to Edom against Solomon. Also the Lord raised up Rezin, who became king of Damascus, against Solomon. The Lord raised up Jeroboam and gave to him 10 tribes of Israel to be king over.
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, went up to Schechem and spoke to Israel. They told Rehoboam they would follow him if he had an easier yoke for them than Solomon. Rehoboam consulted his father's advisors and they told him to do such. He then consulted young men of his age and they told him to press the Israelites even harder. Rehoboam took the latter advice and Israel abandoned him as king, leaving only Judah for him to rule.
Jeroboam was then made king of Israel's other ten tribes. Jeroboam then sinned against the Lord by erecting idols to the Lord to have the people worship at, rather than traveling to Jerusalem.
Chapter 13
The Lord sent up a man from Judah to the altar where Jeroboam was offering sacrifices and spoke out against Jeroboam. He told everyone that Josiah would rise up out of Judah and slaughter Israel on this altar for their sins. A prophet of Israel tricked the man of God from Judah into coming home with him and eating. As punishment the man of God from Judah was slain by a lion on his trip back home.
Chapter 14
Abijah, the son of Jeroboam grew ill so Jeroboam sent his wife to the prophet Ahijah to find out what would happen to his son. It was Ahijah that told Jeroboam initially that he would become king. Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife that her son would die because of the sins of Jeroboam. All Ahijah said happened and all of Israel mourned the death of Abijah. Jeroboam died and his son Nadab succeeded him. Jeroboam reigned for 22 years.
Rehoboam, the king of Judah sinned and the Lord punished Judah. The Egyptian king carried off the wealth of the Temple of Solomon.
Chapter 15
Abijam succeeded Rehoboam as king of Judah. Abijam warred with Jeroboam and reigned over Judah for three years. He sinned as his father Rehoboam had.
Asa, son of Abijam, succeeded Abijam and reigned for 41 years. Asa banished the prostitutes and tore down the idols of his fathers. Asa pleased the Lord.
Nadab, son of Jeroboam, king of Israel was wicked in the eyes of the Lord. He only reigned for two years over Israel.
Baasha, a son of Issachar, deposed Nadab and became king over Israel. Baasha killed off the entire house of Jeroboam. Baasha reigned for 24 years and continued the sins of Jeroboam.
Chapter 16
Elah, son of Baasha, succeeded him as king of Israel.
Zimri plotted against Elah and killed him. He then killed the whole house of Baasha as the Lord had said would happen through the prophet Jehu.
Zimri reigned for only seven days and was replaced by Omri, the general of the Israelite army.
Omri reigned for 12 years and continued the sins of Jeroboam.
Ahab succeeded his father Omri as king. Ahab reigned for 22 years over Israel, but was even more wicked than his father. Ahab turned to Baal worship. During the reign of Ahab a man from Bethel named Hiel rebuilt Jericho. He lost his two sons as the Lord said would happen through Joshua.
Chapter 17
Elijah rose up and went to king Ahab and told him that the Lord would send a drought on him. Elijah then hid in the Wadi Cherith where the Lord had ravens feed him. The wadi grew dry and the Lord sent Elijah to a widow in Sidon. There the Lord made the widow's cup of flour and cup of oil sustain her, Elijah and her son for a whole year. Elijah called upon the Lord to heal the boy and the Lord did so.
Chapter 18
Obadiah hid 100 prophets of the Lord when Jezebel, queen of Ahab began to murder the followers of the Lord.
Elijah then went to Ahab as the Lord commanded. Elijah commanded Ahab to summon Israel to Mount Carmel along with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Elijah spoke to the people of ISrael and said, 'if the Lord is God then follow him; if Baal is God then follow him'. Elijah called for two bulls, one for himself and one for the prophets of Baal. He said the true God would start the fire for the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal called on Baal to start the fire for hours, but Elijah mocked them. Elijah then prepared the bull on the altar to the Lord he had built and poured twelve jars of water on the holocaust. He prayed to the Lord and the fire of the Lord came down and consumed the holocaust and the altar itself. Elijah told the Israelites to kill the prophets of Baal and the Lord sent rain to parched Israel.
Chapter 19
Jezebel cursed Elijah for what he did to the prophets of Baal. Elijah walked across the desert for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb to escape Jezebel. Elijah then went and anointed Elisha as his successor as the Lord commanded.
Chapter 20
Ben-hadad, king of Aram went to war against Ahab of Israel. The Lord then delivered the Arameans into the hands of Ahab. Ben-hadad attacked again and the Lord handed him a defeat through Israel. But, Ahab set Ben-hadad free, so the Lord's anger flared up against Ahab.
Chapter 21
Ahab went to Naboth and asked him to sell his vineyard to him, but Naboth refused because it was his ancestral heritage. Jezebel then had Naboth stoned to death and told Ahab to go and claim the field. Elijah then went and doomed the line of Ahab on cue from the Lord. Ahab humbled himself before the Lord at the news, so the Lord told Elijah that because Ahab had humbled himself he would not bring about the doom during Ahab's life.
Chapter 22
King Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab went to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from Aram. Four hundred prophets of the Lord told Ahab to go, but Micaiah told him that he would be defeated. Ahab locked Micaiah in prison until he returned. Micaiah said that if he returned then the words he had spoken were not from the Lord. King Ahab was killed while he was in disguise by a stray arrow. The Israelites then fled in terror.
King Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years over Judah. He followed his father Asa and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
King Ahab was succeeded by his son Ahaziah. Ahaziah was wicked and worshiped Baal. He reigned only two years.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Notes on Polycarp
(Originally Written June 2, 2008 in the Journal)
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, appointed there by the apostle, St. John.
Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians
He warns the Philippians against the vapid discourses of the vulgar (heresies and the philosophies of the pagans).
A man's mind should always be bent on faith, hope and love of God and Christ, and love of neighbor.
He warns that troubles stem from the love of money. He warns against loose living.
"If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving" (Early Christian Writings, 121).
We must not associate with hypocritical Christians.
We must imitate the patience of Christ and if we must suffer than we ought to give glory to God for it.
Keep yourself from even the slightest taint of wrong.
What am I to say Lord? I have been made a fool, a disgrace, There is no love or respect. I am chastised for every action, for every word. The Lord has called me to love a woman who despises me. Turn your eyes upon me in mercy. Lord, my heart is failing. I have no joy in me. Why do you so easily take what I hold most dear? Lord I give it to you willingly, though I choke back these tears. My soul is in utter anguish and my heart aches with such tenacity I know not how to describe it. I see the world mocking me and jeering. There is no comfort, no solace. Even bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh is of no comfort. She causes me such strife and pain.
Where are you Lord? I call out in utter despair and do not hear your voice. I do not feel your warm embrace. My eyes well with tears and stream down my face. I am no man, I am but a lost child. When will you raise me up? How long oh Lord must I suffer? Will you allow the enemy to tear me apart? If so then give me the strength to endure in your Holy name. Make my misery and down fall so public that the whole world will know it that I may be a testimony to you. Lord how do I thank you for this? How do I praise your name when you bring ruin upon me? I offer not lip service, but genuine faith. Praise be to the Lord for He is good. Though we may be afflicted and suffer cruel injustice, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. None of us Lord is perfect, all deserve a sinner's death. Yet, you in Christ Jesus our Lord and savior made us blameless in your sight. The Lord is truly faithful. Though all mankind forsake me, I will rejoice gladly for the Lord shall never leave me.
She is leaving today Lord. Watch over her and draw her back to you. Do not let her fall into temptations. Do not afflict me any more. Love her as you do and show her mercy and kindness. Circumcise her heart and mind and ears. May she come to see you as I do and better, for I am but beginning to see you. Bless her in all she does and if it is your will restore her to me, for I love her dearly.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
A young man named Germanicus was martyred at the hands of beasts. He was offered out of this death on account of his youth, but dragged the beast nearer to him to speed to God.
Quintus of Phrygia went voluntarily to the slaughter, but lost heart at the sight of the animals. He recanted and offered incense to the false gods of the Romans. For this reason, and for the fact that it is contrary to the gospel, men ought not offer themselves up spontaneously.
When the men caught Polycarp they were surprised that the death of such an old man was such urgent business. The governor asked Polycarp to renounce Christ, or even just utter "down with the infidels" to be free of punishment. But, Polycarp swept his hand at the heathen crowd and uttered "down with the infidels". The governor then threatened Polycarp with beasts and Polycarp called them up. He threatened Polycarp with fire and still Polycarp showed no fear. He was 86 years old at this time. Polycarp then prayed to God as he was attached to the pyre. The fire was lit, but would not burn high enough to kill Polycarp. Polycarp was then stabbed to death. The blood of Polycarp poured out of his body and put the flames out and the crowd was amazed.
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, appointed there by the apostle, St. John.
Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians
He warns the Philippians against the vapid discourses of the vulgar (heresies and the philosophies of the pagans).
A man's mind should always be bent on faith, hope and love of God and Christ, and love of neighbor.
He warns that troubles stem from the love of money. He warns against loose living.
"If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving" (Early Christian Writings, 121).
We must not associate with hypocritical Christians.
We must imitate the patience of Christ and if we must suffer than we ought to give glory to God for it.
Keep yourself from even the slightest taint of wrong.
What am I to say Lord? I have been made a fool, a disgrace, There is no love or respect. I am chastised for every action, for every word. The Lord has called me to love a woman who despises me. Turn your eyes upon me in mercy. Lord, my heart is failing. I have no joy in me. Why do you so easily take what I hold most dear? Lord I give it to you willingly, though I choke back these tears. My soul is in utter anguish and my heart aches with such tenacity I know not how to describe it. I see the world mocking me and jeering. There is no comfort, no solace. Even bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh is of no comfort. She causes me such strife and pain.
Where are you Lord? I call out in utter despair and do not hear your voice. I do not feel your warm embrace. My eyes well with tears and stream down my face. I am no man, I am but a lost child. When will you raise me up? How long oh Lord must I suffer? Will you allow the enemy to tear me apart? If so then give me the strength to endure in your Holy name. Make my misery and down fall so public that the whole world will know it that I may be a testimony to you. Lord how do I thank you for this? How do I praise your name when you bring ruin upon me? I offer not lip service, but genuine faith. Praise be to the Lord for He is good. Though we may be afflicted and suffer cruel injustice, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. None of us Lord is perfect, all deserve a sinner's death. Yet, you in Christ Jesus our Lord and savior made us blameless in your sight. The Lord is truly faithful. Though all mankind forsake me, I will rejoice gladly for the Lord shall never leave me.
She is leaving today Lord. Watch over her and draw her back to you. Do not let her fall into temptations. Do not afflict me any more. Love her as you do and show her mercy and kindness. Circumcise her heart and mind and ears. May she come to see you as I do and better, for I am but beginning to see you. Bless her in all she does and if it is your will restore her to me, for I love her dearly.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
A young man named Germanicus was martyred at the hands of beasts. He was offered out of this death on account of his youth, but dragged the beast nearer to him to speed to God.
Quintus of Phrygia went voluntarily to the slaughter, but lost heart at the sight of the animals. He recanted and offered incense to the false gods of the Romans. For this reason, and for the fact that it is contrary to the gospel, men ought not offer themselves up spontaneously.
When the men caught Polycarp they were surprised that the death of such an old man was such urgent business. The governor asked Polycarp to renounce Christ, or even just utter "down with the infidels" to be free of punishment. But, Polycarp swept his hand at the heathen crowd and uttered "down with the infidels". The governor then threatened Polycarp with beasts and Polycarp called them up. He threatened Polycarp with fire and still Polycarp showed no fear. He was 86 years old at this time. Polycarp then prayed to God as he was attached to the pyre. The fire was lit, but would not burn high enough to kill Polycarp. Polycarp was then stabbed to death. The blood of Polycarp poured out of his body and put the flames out and the crowd was amazed.
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