Scripture Lessons for Sunday, July 30, 2017

Hello Everyone,

I don't have too much to announce this week so I will proceed with the various scripture lessons assigned to this coming Sunday. Note: these notes were originally sent out in July 2014. I have made some corrections (I seem to find a lot of my own errors. Ha-ha!) and updates.

Genesis 29:15-28 – Jacob arrives at his destination and meets (and falls in love with) Rachel. He then begins to work for Laban who is Rachel’s father and Jacob’s uncle, his mother Rebekah’s brother, which makes Rachel his first cousin. Our reading is about the agreement of Jacob to work for Laban for seven years after which he will get to marry Rachel. After seven years the wedding takes place. Jacob never actually sees the bride for she is covered. They consummate the wedding that night in their tent but in the morning Jacob discovers that the woman is Leah, Rachel’s older and still unmarried sister. Jacob, who cheated his brother and father, has been cheated and he is mad! Laban says that he can also have Rachel if he agrees to work another seven years. Ahhhhh.... Biblical Marriage: where one man can marry two cousins and, as we shall hear later, mate with their two personal handmaids as well. From these four women Jacob has twelve sons and at least one daughter (only one is ever mentioned, Dinah, in chapter 34). Oh, and back in chapter 28 we read that Jacob’s brother, Esau, marries his first (half) cousin who was the daughter of Ishmael, half brother to Isaac. Gotta love the Bible.

Psalm 105:1-11, 45b – We are called to give thanks to the Lord for all the wonderful things God has done. The psalmist, in our passage, remembers God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

OR Psalm 128 – For those who fear (respect) the Lord, the Lord will be with them. The man’s wife will be fruitful and will bear many children and he will see the prosperity of Jerusalem and his many grandchildren.

OR 1 Kings 3:5-12 – God appears to Solomon in a dream and asks “What do you want me to give you?” Solomon’s reply: “Wisdom”. God is pleased.

Psalm 119:129-136 – Remember that Psalm 119 is 22 stanzas of 8 verses each. Each verse within a stanza starts with the same Hebrew letter and each stanza is the Hebrew alphabet in order. In this stanza, all the verses begin with Pe פ. Here the psalmist remembers God’s promises of redemption and protection.

Romans 8:26-39 – The Spirit of God knows all of our prayers and that all things work together for good for those who love God. God was even willing to send his Son for us. Who then will be able to stand in the way of God’s plan? Who or what will keep us away from God? No one, that’s who!

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 – Five more very short parables: mustard seed, yeast, hidden treasure, merchant, and a net thrown into the sea. On Sunday I read verses 34 and 35, and will read them again this week. I will try to cover those verses again this Sunday in conjunction with our Romans reading. What do you think Jesus was talking about when he says, “I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world?”

Have a great week serving the Lord and serving others.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Gary Taylor