Sunday, July 3, 2022

Daily Bible Reading - Habakkuk 2

I read the Bible Reading today and hope seems to emanate from it. Perhaps as the people of Ukraine bury their dead they too can have hope that this never ending illegal war that Russia is waging against them will end. Although I do not believe that God interferes in the ways of mankind, the hope that is in the Bible has uplifted people at many times in our history.  God is our strength and our redeemer. The wind is blowing through the trees outside today and it always reminds me that God is all around us. That one day right will triumph and the wicked will be cast away.

The Lord Answers Habakkuk Again

While standing guard
   on the watchtower,
I waited for the Lord's answer,
before explaining the reason
   for my complaint.
Then the Lord told me:
“I will give you my message
   in the form of a vision.
Write it clearly enough
   to be read at a glance.
At the time I have decided,
   my words will come true.
You can trust what I say
   about the future.
It may take a long time,
but keep on waiting—
   it will happen!

“I, the Lord, refuse to accept
   anyone who is proud.
Only those who live by faith
   are acceptable to me.”

Trouble for Evil People

Wine is treacherous,
and arrogant people
   are never satisfied.
They are no less greedy
   than death itself—
they open their mouths as wide
as the world of the dead
   and swallow everyone.

But they will be mocked
with these words:
   You're doomed!
You stored up stolen goods
and cheated others
   of what belonged to them.
But without warning,
those you owe
   will demand payment.
Then you will become
   a frightened victim.
You robbed cities and nations
everywhere on earth
   and murdered their people.
Now those who survived
   will be as cruel to you.

You're doomed!
You made your family rich
   at the expense of others.
You even said to yourself,
   “I'm above the law.”
But you will bring shame
   on your family
and ruin to yourself
   for what you did to others.
The very stones and wood
in your home
   will testify against you.

You're doomed! You built a city
   on crime and violence.
But the Lord All-Powerful
   sends up in flames
what nations and people
   work so hard to gain.

Just as water fills the sea,
   the land will be filled
with people who know
   and honor the Lord.

You're doomed!
You get your friends drunk,
   just to see them naked.
Now you will be disgraced
   instead of praised.
The Lord will make you drunk,
and when others see you naked,
   you will lose their respect.
You destroyed trees and animals
   on Mount Lebanon;
you were ruthless to towns
   and people everywhere.
Now you will be terrorized.

Idolatry Is Foolish

What is an idol worth?
   It's merely a false god.
Why trust a speechless image
made from wood or metal
   by human hands?
What can you learn from idols
covered with silver or gold?
   They can't even breathe.
Pity anyone who says to an idol
of wood or stone,
   “Get up and do something!”

Let all the world be silent—
the Lord is present
   in his holy temple. 


Church on YouTube today and as always I am so happy to have this access to my Anglican Church that Edward and I attended the last fifteen years of our marriage. I think, in retrospect, it was his thankyou to me for attending his United Church as a family when our children were growing up. It meant a lot to him. Mind you in the past I have been present at YouTube Roman Catholic Church services. I think my soul is Roman Catholic but I did promise my grandfather those many years ago when I was just eight that I would always be Anglican. But as the world changes so rapidly can one keep that pledge of childhood; as a grandmother now I wonder about that.

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