Scattering the Seed!
Reflection: Those that persecuted the early church thought that by dispersing them they might weaken them, but we see what happened in the book of Acts. After Stephen’s death, the disciples were scattered, but preached the Good News wherever they went. The effect was actually to increase the propagation of the Gospel to other lands and other people groups. The saying that captures this phenomenon is, “the blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church.”
Today in the Old Testament reading, we start the book of Chronicles, which is another history of the Jewish people different yet similar to the books of 1 and 2 Kings. The Chronicler gives the history of Israel, starting with Adam. In Jewish tradition it was all from the male line. It is carried forth in the first 9 chapters almost entirely with genealogical lists, then focuses on the reign of David through the remainder of 1 Chronicles. Then Solomon’s building of the temple and his reign in 2 Chronicles 1-9, and the story of the divided kingdom for the remainder of the 2 Chronicles.
Many think the temple scholar Ezra, wrote it in conjunction with the books Ezra and Nehemiah. Historically it is set when the Persian Empire has taken over the Babylonian empire 6th century B.C., which leads down into the period where there were no kings in Israel, and prophets told of day when the Messiah would come and dispel the darkness with great light.
The verse of the day from Joel 2, also prophesies about the day of the Lord. This is a prophesy regarding when Jesus would come, but also built in with a sense of the second coming when all things would be restored to their rightful order. We see in the Psalm, the great order in which God made the world in all its beauty, with mankind being the crown of His Creation. As the psalmist points out we were made to give thanks and praise to the One who Created us and everything around us.
But the fundamental downfall will be when mankind turns to worship itself rather than the Creator. The rest of the bible shows God’s merciful intervention to save mankind from itself, and show God’s eternal nature and eternal plan to one day bringing heaven to earth through His Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is carried on by the Church under the power of the Holy Spirit until Jesus comes again.
Many of course think we are living in the last days. But one thing is sure, God has a plan and has always used human beings to help bring about that plan, whether they are willing or not. As we begin a new year we have the opportunity to hear God’s voice and be used by God to share the Good News with others. Of course, only God can change a human heart from being resistant to being open to what He has done for them in Christ; but God searches to and fro for those who are willing to submit to His plans in His timing! May we be like Philip who was used powerfully by God to proclaim His power in word and deed!
Amen.
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
1 Chronicles 1:1-37
Historical Records From Adam to Abraham
To Noah’s Sons
1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.
4 The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The Japhethites
5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.
The Hamites
8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.
11 Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
13 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
The Semites
17 The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
19 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26 Serug, Nahor, Terah 27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).
The Family of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.Descendants of Hagar
29 These were their descendants: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
Descendants of Keturah
32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
33 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah.
All these were descendants of Keturah.
Descendants of Sarah
34 Abraham was the father of Isaac.
The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
Esau’s Sons
35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz;
by Timna: Amalek.
37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
Acts 8:1-8
8 And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Truly the day of the Lord is great; terrible indeed—who can endure it? Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart. Joel 2:11,12
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, and may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
God of love, let us learn love, profound and defining, that gathers us when we are scattered. Anchor us in a loving and faithful community of believers that we may be at home in you. Amen.
Today in the Old Testament reading, we start the book of Chronicles, which is another history of the Jewish people different yet similar to the books of 1 and 2 Kings. The Chronicler gives the history of Israel, starting with Adam. In Jewish tradition it was all from the male line. It is carried forth in the first 9 chapters almost entirely with genealogical lists, then focuses on the reign of David through the remainder of 1 Chronicles. Then Solomon’s building of the temple and his reign in 2 Chronicles 1-9, and the story of the divided kingdom for the remainder of the 2 Chronicles.
Many think the temple scholar Ezra, wrote it in conjunction with the books Ezra and Nehemiah. Historically it is set when the Persian Empire has taken over the Babylonian empire 6th century B.C., which leads down into the period where there were no kings in Israel, and prophets told of day when the Messiah would come and dispel the darkness with great light.
The verse of the day from Joel 2, also prophesies about the day of the Lord. This is a prophesy regarding when Jesus would come, but also built in with a sense of the second coming when all things would be restored to their rightful order. We see in the Psalm, the great order in which God made the world in all its beauty, with mankind being the crown of His Creation. As the psalmist points out we were made to give thanks and praise to the One who Created us and everything around us.
But the fundamental downfall will be when mankind turns to worship itself rather than the Creator. The rest of the bible shows God’s merciful intervention to save mankind from itself, and show God’s eternal nature and eternal plan to one day bringing heaven to earth through His Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is carried on by the Church under the power of the Holy Spirit until Jesus comes again.
Many of course think we are living in the last days. But one thing is sure, God has a plan and has always used human beings to help bring about that plan, whether they are willing or not. As we begin a new year we have the opportunity to hear God’s voice and be used by God to share the Good News with others. Of course, only God can change a human heart from being resistant to being open to what He has done for them in Christ; but God searches to and fro for those who are willing to submit to His plans in His timing! May we be like Philip who was used powerfully by God to proclaim His power in word and deed!
Amen.
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
1 Chronicles 1:1-37
Historical Records From Adam to Abraham
To Noah’s Sons
1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.
4 The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The Japhethites
5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.
The Hamites
8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.
11 Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
13 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
The Semites
17 The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
19 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26 Serug, Nahor, Terah 27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).
The Family of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.Descendants of Hagar
29 These were their descendants: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
Descendants of Keturah
32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
33 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah.
All these were descendants of Keturah.
Descendants of Sarah
34 Abraham was the father of Isaac.
The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
Esau’s Sons
35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz;
by Timna: Amalek.
37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
Acts 8:1-8
8 And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Truly the day of the Lord is great; terrible indeed—who can endure it? Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart. Joel 2:11,12
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, and may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
God of love, let us learn love, profound and defining, that gathers us when we are scattered. Anchor us in a loving and faithful community of believers that we may be at home in you. Amen.
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