Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 17 April 2015

Dear Wife is "enjoying" another episode of migraines, or something much like one.  It began last night, made her miserable.  I got her some stuff that's supposed to help with that, and she got a little sleep, but the thing woke her up around 4 a.m.  She got up and let me sleep, she fed cats, and stretched on the recliner a while to rest and surf on her phone.  Got a little better, but by 9 o'clock or so she was having a rough time again.  We ate a little and then she passed out on recliner until around 3 p.m.  Woke hungry so we ate, and she stretched again.  Now has bright red cheeks and evidently another does of the migraine.  She's almost certainly in the midst of another lupus "flare" which is never fun for either of us.  Getting by, I guess.

Just another day in the life.

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The Old Testament reading, chapters 22, 23, 24 of 1st Samuel, continues the accounts of the more and more open struggle between David and his crew, and King Saul, and his crew.  Not a good time, not for David, not for the nation either.  That is the nature of power struggles, and part of the reason that people will often put up with a known tyrant rather than go through the upheaval and trouble of trying to remove one.  Usually it takes what amounts to a war, with all of the bad things that go with that.

I Samuel 22 

1	David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2	And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3	And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4	And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5	And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
6	When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7	Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8	That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9	Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10	And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11	Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12	And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13	And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14	Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honorable in thine house?
15	Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16	And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
17	And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
18	And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19	And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20	And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
21	And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
22	And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
23	Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

I Samuel 23 

1	Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2	Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3	And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4	Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5	So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6	And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7	And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8	And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9	And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10	Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11	Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12	Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
13	Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14	And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15	And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16	And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17	And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18	And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19	Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20	Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
21	And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22	Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23	See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24	And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25	Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26	And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27	But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28	Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29	And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

I Samuel 24 

1	And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2	Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3	And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4	And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
5	And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6	And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
7	So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8	David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9	And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10	Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
11	Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12	The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13	As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14	After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15	The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16	And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17	And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18	And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19	For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20	And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21	Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22	And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

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The New Testament passage is verses 1-18 of Luke chapter 16.  Some of us have heard and read these passages so often that we don't pay much attention to them.  But they were radical and matters of contention and dispute at the time.  That includes this passage.  I draw your attention, for example, to the final few verses, the ones dealing with the issue of divorce and remarriage.  When I was a child, divorce was rare and considered to be scandalous, and certainly was not to be found in the local church, certainly not in the congregation we were in.  Now, it is rare to find a gathering, even in the evangelical churches and Roman Catholic ones, and in the Jewish groupings too, where divorce is not to be found.  That is not a Good Thing as I measure things.

Luke 16:1-18

1	And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2	And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3	Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4	I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5	So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6	And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7	Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8	And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9	And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10	He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11	If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12	And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13	No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14	And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15	And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16	The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17	And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18	Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 16 April 2015

now on the 2nd half of the month of April.  Cold and wet and raining much of the day.  Makes it feel much colder than it really is, and with Dear Wife's arthritis, the combination of factors has made her miserable.  She took a pain pill in mid-morning, and promptly fell into a very deep sleep on the recliner that lasted until round 2:30 p,m.  We had a light lunch afterward, and I've done three loads of laundry in the midst of it all.

I had intended to take a long walk around the neighborhood today, but the rain, heavy at times with gusting winds, discouraged the effort.  Just didn't seem like fun.  I like to walk, have done a whole lot of it in my life, but trudging through puddles is not particularly appealing to me.  Couldn't really do it during the winter, walking through foot-deep snow drifts that cover ice is a bit too exciting for me.  But I do need the exercise and activity.  Sitting all day, literally ALL day, in front of a computer screen is not healthy and not conducive to any sense of purpose or accomplishment.

Swapped text messages with Beloved Younger Daughter briefly.  Her college graduation is set for about three weeks off, nearly a thousand miles away.  We're planning to go, but we know it will be a big deal.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 19, 20 and 21 of 1st Samuel.  Things between David and King Saul are not good, and Saul wants him dead.  This went on a very long time before the Magna Charta that established - in theory anyway -- the proper limits upon a king's powers.  In that day, the king's merest whim was law, especially if there were those who acted in accordance with that.  Saul's reign at this point was not long in duration, but the examples of kingship were taken from the practices in the surrounding nations. Since the people had demanded a king so they could be like everyone else, that they got: the good and the bad. 
So David is on the run.  Bad.  Later, as we go through the Psalms, consider that some of those Psalms were composed by David during this time.   David called out to the Lord, because the Lord was all he had and powerful people, with their armies, were after him.

I Samuel 19

1	And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
2	But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
3	And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4	And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
5	For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
6	And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
7	And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
8	And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9	And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10	And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11	Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12	So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13	And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14	And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15	And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16	And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17	And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
18	So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19	And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20	And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21	And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22	Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23	And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24	And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

I Samuel 20

1	And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2	And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
3	And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
4	Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
5	And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
6	If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
7	If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
8	Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9	And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
10	Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
11	And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12	And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee;
13	The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will show it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14	And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
15	But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16	So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
17	And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18	Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19	And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20	And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21	And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
22	But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
23	And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
24	So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25	And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
26	Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27	And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
28	And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
29	And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
30	Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
31	For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32	And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33	And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34	So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35	And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
36	And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37	And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38	And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39	But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40	And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
41	And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
42	And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

I Samuel 21

1	Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
2	And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
3	Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
4	And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
5	And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
6	So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
7	Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
8	And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
9	And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
10	And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11	And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
12	And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13	And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
14	Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
15	Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

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The New Testament reading is verses 11-32 of Luke 15.  The story of the Prodigal Son.  I have been that son.

Luke 15:11-32 

11	And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12	And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13	And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14	And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15	And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16	And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17	And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18	I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19	And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20	And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21	And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22	But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23	And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24	For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25	Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26	And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27	And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28	And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29	And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30	But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31	And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32	It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 15 April, 2015 Tax Day

a decent day.  Dear Wife felt good enough to urge an expedition to the local market, there in search of a special deal on beef so she can make beef vegetable soup from scratch.  We do things like that, rarely getting into the pre-processed foods.  Partly because it is better for us, partly because it's a LOT less expensive.  And mainly, because we like it that way better.  Opening a can of soup isn't evil, despite what some of our anti-this and anti-that friends and family screech at us.  But this is better and we have the time, and we can make one of those large crockpots full of something good that we can freeze and refrigerate and get a bunch of meals from.  And we do.

So we went off.  There to discover that the "deal" doesn't start until tomorrow.  In the meantime, we did pick up a few other things that we needed (or that in her opinion we need now) at decent prices.  And we'll have a late dinner very very soon here.

Nice enough day here, though later in the week we are predicted to have lows in the mid-30's.  Not my idea of Spring, but I saw a report of a foot or more of snow today in parts of the Rockies, and we're not looking at snow, so we're grateful.

Wife went with me on an errand yesterday, and stopped long enough to get her hair cut.  So today she cut mine.  I haven't seen a "real" barbershop since around 2003, it's all been the homebrew type for me.  Her dad was military, and two brothers, so she learned to give a cut that would pass muster (and we are not talking "high & tight") so she knows how and over the last 12+ years we've saved a reasonable amount of money.  As I, ah, "mature", the amount to be cut dwindles some, so it's not the amount of hair that would have been in play when I was 19.  Don't know if that makes the effort easier or harder.  She does have to cut the hairs that are now growing out of the ear lobes, and trim the eyebrows, which wasn't the case when I was 19, so perhaps it evens out.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 17 and 18 of 1st Samuel.  David has been anointed as the next king, though Saul, the current one, is not aware of that.  And the Lord arranges for David to be noticed by the king for other reasons.  Here is one: he kills Goliath the giant, in one-on-one combat, something neither Saul nor any of his army were willing to undertake.  That garnered attention, and the promise of the king's daughter, but also the jealousy and suspicion of the king.  Not a healthy situation, and the king made one serious effort to kill David, a failed effort.  And the king's son, Jonathan, became his closest friend.  Things get interesting.  Glad I didn't have to pay a bride-price like David did.

I Samuel 17

1	Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
2	And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
3	And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4	And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5	And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6	And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7	And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8	And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9	If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10	And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11	When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12	Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
13	And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14	And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
15	But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
16	And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17	And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;
18	And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19	Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20	And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21	For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22	And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23	And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24	And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25	And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26	And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27	And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28	And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29	And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30	And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31	And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32	And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33	And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34	And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35	And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36	Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37	David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38	And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39	And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40	And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41	And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42	And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43	And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44	And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45	Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46	This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47	And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
48	And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49	And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50	So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51	Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52	And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53	And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54	And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
55	And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56	And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57	And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58	And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

I Samuel 18 

1	And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2	And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
3	Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4	And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5	And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
6	And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7	And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8	And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9	And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10	And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11	And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12	And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13	Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14	And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
15	Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16	But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17	And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18	And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19	But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20	And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21	And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22	And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
23	And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24	And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25	And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26	And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
27	Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28	And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
29	And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
30	Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-10 of Luke chapter 15

Luke 15:1-10

1	Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2	And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3	And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4	What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5	And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6	And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7	I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8	Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9	And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10	Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.