Joseph sold into slavery, Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, flickr CCL
Meditation
Monday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14, recollected the age old evil versus good. The Psalmist, David, called to God for help against the evil ones. “Don’t treat me like the evil people,” David cried.
The Old Testament lesson continued the story of Joseph with his brothers selling him to the Ishmaelite traders who in turn sold Joseph to Potiphar of Egypt.
The New Testament clarified the issues of the saved from those who rejected God. There will be those who think that there can’t be a just and good God, who would punish people with hell.
God didn’t spare the angels, who sinned. We know of the great war of heaven where Lucifer was defeated and cast out. The angels who followed him were also cast into the dark pit/caves. Peter noted that Noah was saved from the flood, while the rest were not; Sodom and Gomorrah were not saved but Lot was.
The Lord knew the difference between the motivation and intent of people—the ones devoted to good and the ones who rejected goodness. He held the people accountable for their choices. God gave everyone a chance to choose right from wrong; to believe in Jesus for salvation, but some reject the free gift of salvation. Their hearts refuse to be open to God.
God can tell the difference between hate and devotion. We are accountable for our choices. The good news is that God has offered to help us when we call to him—like David did and we can rest assured that God will reward devotion to hm.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind – – Westminster Abbey
Joseph’s Coat brought to Jacob
Joseph’s Coat Brought to Jacob by Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari, c. 1640 Public Domain. Wikipedia CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Leaning On the Everlasting Arms — Gaither
Ordinary 19, Proper 14Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2028;Genesis%2037:29-36;2%20Peter%202:4-10&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV
(multiple versions)
Monday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
2 Peter 2:4-10
King James Version (KJV)
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Rear view of The Fallen Angel, by Ricardo Bellver, at the Museum of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, in Madrid (Spain). Sculpture inspired by John Milton’s Paradise Lost.; Wikipedia Public Domain, CCL
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Section of Stained glass window – Noah’s Ark St Mary’s church, Tissington, Peak District, Derbyshire; Sue Hasker; flickr
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
Image from page 496 of “The modern devil, his play between the false and the good;” (1903); Internet Archive Book Images, flickr CCL
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Joseph in Pit/sold to traders; Joseph, Fulbourn St. Vigor Detail of the east window of St. Vigor’s church, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. This depicts Joseph being lowered into a pit by his brothers prior to them selling him into slavery: Photo by Steve Day, flickr CCL
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, thank you for offering your Son for our salvation. We give you praise for all you do for us, even as you did for David. Help us to be responsible in our choices that we might bring glory to you for all you do to help us. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Music
Eternal Father, Strong to Save – US Naval Academy Chapel
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Humor
Choosing Good and Evil
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
O Lord, Hear My Prayer – Olav & the House of Blues
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Conclusion
Monday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14 clarified the truth of God holding people accountable for choosing evil or good. There was a pattern established from early on. First, God held the angels, who chose to side with Lucifer in the great war of heaven, where the archangel Michael defeated the former angel of the morning, Lucifer in a celestial battle. Lucifer was cast out, along with his angel followers. They made the wrong choice and they were cast into dark caves/pits. They make up the demonic spirits that plague humanity.
When the sins of the earth grew too great, God called Noah to be saved, while the ungodly were held accountable in the great flood. Using Sodom and Gomorrah as an example, God decimated the cities of ungodliness while saving Lot, who was vexed by their behaviors.
“This shows that the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish evil people while they wait for the Day of Judgment.”
We can count on the wisdom of God to rescue us from dangers; save us from suffering and deliver us from temptation.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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