Sirach 38:1-14 ~ that He might be glorified in His marvelous works

Sirach 38:1-14

Canadian Anglican Daily Lectionary

New Revised Standard Version

38 Honor physicians for their services,

    for the Lord created them,

2 for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,

    and they are rewarded by the king.

3 The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,

    and in the presence of the great they are admired.

4 The Lord created medicines out of the earth,

    and the sensible will not despise them.

5 Was not water made sweet with a tree

    in order that its power might be known?*

6 And He gave skill to human beings

    that He might be glorified in His marvelous works.

7 By them the physician heals and takes away pain;

8     the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.

God’s works will never be finished,

    and from Him health spreads over all the earth.

9 My child, when you are ill, do not delay,

    but pray to the Lord, and He will heal you.

10 Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,

    and cleanse your heart from all sin.

11 Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice and a memorial portion of choice flour,

    and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.

12 Then give physicians their place, for the Lord created them;

    do not let them leave you, for you need them.

13 There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,

14     for they, too, pray to the Lord

that He grant them success in diagnosis

    and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

Joshua Ben Sirach, or, according to the Greek text "Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem", was a Judahite scribe from Jerusalem, wrote in Hebrew, and authored the work in Alexandria, Egypt c. 180–175 BC, he is thought to have established a school. Ben Sirach is unique among all Old Testament and Apocryphal writers in that he signed his work.

Nineteenth-century artistic rendering of the Library of Alexandria by the German artist O. Von Corven, based partially on the archaeological evidence available at that time[ The Great Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world.  400,000 Books from the Third Century

until Julius Caesar in 48 BC.

Hosea 11 1

Out of Egypt, I called my son.

Pharaohs' bodies show brain surgeries, foot surgeries

and King Tut had many orthopedic items to help

with his hip and foot deformities. 

Jesus was in Egypt for the early years of His life.

The Greek translation was accepted in the Septuagint. Sirach is accepted as part of the canon by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and most Oriental Orthodox Christians. The Anglican tradition and The Lutheran Churches take a similar position. It was cited in some writings in early Christianity. The Babylonian Talmud occasionally cites Ben-Sira (Sanhedrin 100b; Hagigah 13a, Baba Bathra 98b) Portions of Sirach were found in Dead Sea  area excavations. Two such discoveries were among the Qumran scrolls, both fragmentary parchment scrolls from the Early Roman (Herodian) period (40 BCE – 70 CE): 2Q18 (2QSir) containing Sir 6:14–15, 20–31and 11Q5 (11QPsa)

  “For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.”

― Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country

*Is there a tree that makes water sweet? 

One tree being used to purify water today is Moringa oleifera. 

This tree has been used successfully to cleanse turbid waters

from the River Nile and other areas.Sept, 2018

 

When people try to connect to Jesus, they open the Bible and see a man in a robe, dusty feet, doing miracles unknown today. And immediately wonder how to feel warm about miracles and miracles seen by people 2,000 years ago. They don't know of the Vatican Libraries telling about the Beloved Disciple, John, living in the 2nd Century, in old age.

John had someone who studied John's life

Polycarp probably died about 140 A.D. Polycarp had a role to authenticating orthodox teachings through his connection with the Apostle John: "A high value was attached to the witness Polycarp could give as to the genuine tradition of old apostolic doctrine." Polycarp was a disciple of the beloved disciple John on Patmos. 

Through Polycarp we know John gave his approval of the other 3 Gospels and knew of them. Peter himself wrote he had read all of Paul's writings in the Holy Spirit.

The Harris fragments tell of this connection, claiming John was engaged in a battle with the Jews over Religious Law and the Divinity of Jesus, Gnostics. And this was linking John and the Martyrdom of Polycarp. The text of the Harris Fragments on Polycarp and John raises discussions on martyrdom and apostolizing, the earliest history of the important Christian communities. 

 We have not only Bishop Papias. Bishop Papias traveled to Judea in the early, early 2nd century to interview all the presbyters who had seen Jesus heal or had family healed.  And in the generation after Polycarp, then Irenaeus' letter below. He was the Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul. The three bishops form a historical chain. Witnessing to John's old age and vibrant struggle.

A Greek Letter of Polycarp

They don't know about Jerome, collecting all the works of the Bible and putting them into Latin to be understood around the trading worldwide community. It has been assumed too long the disciples couldn't read, when the house of Peter and his grave, are filled with graffiti exactly similar from the 1st to 4th centuries. Or the graveyard of all foreigners in Rome, 1st to 3rd Century under the Vatican.

Why isn't it important to know Sirach discussing miracles and medicine? It's a good lead in to the Glorious Physician, Luke.

Luke 1, 2, 3 Papyrus 75

Vatican Library,

earliest year attributed to 175 AD

 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah

Would a Greek known of Herod? Arsinoe IV, half sister to Cleopatra, Mark Antony killed Arsinoe in the temple of Diana, The Book of Acts 19 placement. The lineage places Ptolemy, their father, being related to Greeks and the Herodian line and Alexander the Great. Roman generals traveled to Jerusalem to glimpse the Temple of the One God. And one wanted only to enter the Holy of Holies, turning away, when struck by a feeling of Holiness never experienced before. 

Theophilus is a Greek name and places us, quickly, out of Judah. Luke 3 takes us to an entirely different family tree from Matthew 1. Luke, as a Physician, would be more interested in Mary, Mother of Jesus, and might have known her personally. This ties into the Talmud from the time of Jesus, found in Scotland, explaining Mary's genealogy going back to King David as well as the genealogy of Joseph. 

So quickly, the Gospels travel from the Roman Empire History to writing Greeks about Jesus. The time frame jumps incredibly, in an era, when traveling was leading to thieves and shipwrecks. The Gospels point out immediately The Light of the World, Light of mankind, moved with incredible speed. 

Abba, Father 

To Him 

Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His Blood

And made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father,
to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, 

and every eye will see Him, 

even those who pierced Him, 

and 

all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. 

Even so. Amen.

Revelation 1

We thank You, Father, for hearing our prayers.

 Increase the Love showing the Holy Spirit 

and 

help us with the political upheaval and storms. 

We ask Your mercy on the people You have given us. 

Prayers for the Peace of Israel

and less sensationalism headlining from the news.

A Lasting and Sincere Peace

for the Children of Israel.

Thanksgiving, 

For Your Love and care for the people we love. 

We lift up our concerns to You, knowing Your Love.

Amen in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus 

2 Peter 3:11-18 ~ according to His Promise †† †

 Imspired by the Post of January 30, 2017

Is Jesus too busy to hear our Prayers?

Luke 8 tells us Jairus' daughter is dying. And Jairus faced supreme grief to find Jesus was busy and had walked by too late to help his 12-year-old daughter.

Lazarus was dying. Jesus had things to do on His Schedule.

Jesus sent His Disciples to get a colt, He was busy planning an event.

Mary went to find Jesus to tell Him to live safely. But she had to send word to Him via others. Jesus was busy with a crowd of people. 

The mother of James and John wanted to ask Jesus an important question, but she had to wait until all the Disciples had gathered after the crowd had gone.

God Himself gave us Scripture to explain Scripture.




 

2 Peter 3:11-18

What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 

13 But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be the glory 

both now 

and to the day of eternity. Amen.

And let's not forget the Great and Good News of Luke 8. Jairus and his wife found Jesus caused their 12-year-old daughter to Live.

2 Peter 3

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise 

as some count slowness, 

but is patient toward you,

 not wishing that any should perish, 

but that all should reach repentance. 

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, 

and then 

the heavens will pass away with a roar, 

and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, 

and the earth and the works that are done on it 

will be exposed.

I was with some friends from our last Church, and they asked about someone we both know. And I was relating current life events.  The news was shared, this person prays heavily for their children. One grown child is local and is hostile, hostile for many decades. The other adult child has moved for a career and is open-hearted and kind.  After ten years of praying, the local child has returned. Vacations are taken and delight is shown in many photographs. God listens to our prayers!

We rejoice in His Answers! Restoration and Love.

We  went to a party, 15 years ago, with people we have known for over 2 decades. And this is someone who has done youth groups, hosted a Bible Study for people who are not Church goers, and has many friends from their main Church. Then changed Churches to get away from Politics. The husband was telling us he depressed and very angry. Telling us during the party, the 3 children ignore them. One works in the neighborhood and drives within a couple of miles to their family household and doesn't visit for a year.  And, in fact, drives back into the city to have an apartment. Their unspoken favorite child moved many states away and married someone they didn't think was a soul person. Their large, boisterous family house was quiet. Unbelievable to their father.  We have seen the same thing over and over. Children spoken of with heart sadness.

And we have seen life unfold for over a decade. One person who was on retirement pay told me about depression helped by exercising quite a bit. Suddenly a surprise, unplanned, an elderly, elderly uncle left them the cabin he was living in. And the glory and joy was, their grown children, live near the cabin. God is so good. 

But what happened to the people with 3 children, steadfastly being ignored? One was in Colorado and filled every weekend with sports for the children and outdoor mountain sports. Over the next ten years, they began to pull back from their children and their loud tones of direction. And found other aspects of life. And gradually this has improved. I would say the other, gifted cabin people and the people looking to the Lord, have had God's mercy.

Love!

And around town, I see very elderly grandparents being given toddlers and young children to care for. The part I'd like to pray about changing hearts - the elderly parents might have been handed new grandchildren from divorce. Something. My own mother declared she did not want grandchildren - never once babysat them. Eventually wasn't included in their birthdays. Why - no delight in grandparenting. No excitement. Feeling like the little grandchildren are burdens. Don't ever do this to the small children. We need to fill the world with God's Love. 

Warm hearts.  Especially as life hands us events to conquer. Feed the young with love and grateful attention.  Unburden worried minds by doing kindness. 

My Grandmother Bit lived in Oxford, Mississippi. She didn't often travel to see us, my father did not care for her. But in the visits she packed in a lifetime of Love. Her 4 great-grandchilden, 3 are named for her. She really overcame distance to give Love. And she married my step-grandfather when I was 10 years old, moving to Lake Texhoma.  Never know, what God will Bless and Bring.

Love!

And say, we should pray for the healing of the Nation. And hearts. The country of Israel.

2 Peter 3 The first paragraph Agrees with Jesus,

 trouble exists in this life. 

Remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles - have faith in all trials in life.

Scoffers scoff - when will 'that happen' ? 

God says this is part of problem-solving and happens just about the time the problem is finished. 

Eli was told his children had rotted, off with them. Samuel was told his children were rotten, off with them. Hezekiah was told his beloved children would face a life of hardship and never have the comforts Hezekiah had known. Hezekiah didn't even hiccup. These are praying, God filled people who seemed to shrug at the demise of their children. 

Jesus, was told by circumstance, His own family didn't measure up in seeking comfort.  And Jesus... waited for the time to come. Believing God was alive and working. Jesus Himself was patient with His own Mother, Brothers and Sisters

1/3 of adult children in the USA aren't interested in their parents.  

A friend we vacationed with for years, is a psychologist and was suddenly called by a large local Church, he doesn't attend, to do a set of  Church wide problem-solving Wednesday evenings. And he composed in his mind, what he would say, only to find out, the Wednesday evenings were about the sadness of parenting grown adult children. He was shocked to be asked this, nothing he'd thought about for these meetings was this subject. And upon being asked, he realized half of his 2 children, were in this exact situation. 

My husband's family has a history of the legal profession and stock trading. As our sons grew up and apart, we asked, in the last 2 years, upon parental blessing we received as parents passed on, if we could pass to them the ability to stock trade. Meh. And then we offered to give them my mother's good house, to bring them a life experiencing financial security. It was difficult even to get an answer from them.  Astonishing. We asked if we could help pay for a wedding reception to include Edward's 90-year-old mother, and received.... no answer. We have had 10 years doing Youth Ministry. My husband and I planned on a life being close to our sons. 

The Blessing and Example of Jabez

We all want Father God to speak the Blessing of Jabez.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; 

and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 

“Because I bore him in pain.” 

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, 

“Oh 

that You 

would bless me 

and 

enlarge my border, 

and 

that Your Hand 

might be with me, 

and 

that You would 

keep me from harm 

so that

 it might not bring me pain!” 

And God granted what he asked.

Jabez was pretty impudent to ask God. 

Beyond his circumstances labelled by life.

Jesus found Jairus, the synagogue ruler with the dying daughter, to be this honorable. And we do not see Jairus flop like a fish, create a scene, jump up and down saying he ruled the Synagogue. Except, like the woman from Tyre, Jairus really placed Himself at the feet of Jesus. And like the woman from Tyre, Jesus seemed too busy.

The Blessing of Jabez - was not to feel pain.

 Jairus certainly did not give Jesus any pain or harm. He knew Jesus was God. Exactly like the woman from Tyre. The anger of man does not produce the Righteousness of God. According to James, who grew up with Jesus. Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit - especially when addressing God Himself. A Blessing of Jabez, going along with faith and trust in the Goodness of God.

Abraham was told to have hope. God didn't tell him, but to have hope into his 80s. It had to be incredibly difficult when his grown nephew left Sarah and Abraham.  Abraham looked to God and continued to have life, even past Sarah's death. 

Anxiety 

Faith, Fear

and 

the Giant God Gong 

Scripture says people have faced

Jesus

as the wait upon God.

For us, being oddly a worrier or fearful or complaining

to God 

and asking Him about a lot of things 

that might 

Irritate 

the Almighty God of All

Jesus told the woman who reached out and touched the fringe of His Garment without asking - proved - The Spirit prays for us when we need God more than words say. 

And Jesus then recognized Power went out from ... "Him." We do not save ourselves, Salvation is a Gift of God.

Father God tells us, to Him, His Almighty Nature, all hearts are open, no secrets are hidden. Father God tells us to pray impudently to a friend. To ask about everything. And give thanks. Sometimes this genuine thanks can take an hour. To find, now, what was good about that?

Jairus is a declaration of Faith as well.
Jairus asked God and then gave God permission to be God. 

Jairus did quite a few things right.

1. Asking
2. Being impudent to reach past the circumstances of life and ask. Jairus was a 'ruler' and all that, after all.
3. Being humble to God, realizing Him as God. 
4. Being Patient. Believing something good was coming from not flopping like a fish. Pushed to being Strong.
5. Not throwing a jealous fit, God would stop to talk to a mere woman. Bleeding and begging woman. Pushy.
6. Not stopping God by saying, "Too Late!"
7. Like Jabez, Jairus swallowed his own pain to allow God the Majesty of Being God.
8. Jairus lived finding, the meak will inherit the earth.

Abba, Father God,

We Thank You for Renewing Your Mercies Every Day.

 Help us to keep Your truths. 

To be mindful and truly grateful

for Your Blessings.

Help us to build our Blessings 

You've given us people You call as Your Beloved. 

Help us to Please You. 

We ask more of You for Willing Blessings.

When life is overwhelming. 

When our prayers grow in number 

and the times we are frantic, 

we ask Your Love and Your Name carry 

and strengthen us. 

I ask You for the Goodness of God for the People You call Beloved. 

I ask for our Seeking You First 

and 

the Kingdom of Heaven to give us lives of Love, Peace and Joy.

The Disciples You told us in John 6 were fearful. 

You never left them. 

In many different storms, 

You say immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, 

“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Bless all our prayer concerns as we know as You found Nathanael 

- You hear our prayers. 

And we know 

Your Comfort.

To be with the saints in the Number when You march in. To have and find and dwell knowing more Heaven on earth. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Radical Message of the Gospel of Jesus

changed the face of the world. 

16 years after Jesus died, 

the Emperors of Rome began

a 300-year worldwide search to end the Gospels 

we readily have

today.

Romans 8

The University of Michigan 

has 300 intact Chapters of the New Testament 

from the late first century or early 2nd Century 

called Papyrus 46, 

all the Chapters are called Papyrus 46. 

The Gospels changed lives

 to renew Love, 

increase Hope, 

save lives 

and 

change the world.

We will lift up the cares of God's Good Creation 

and put Jesus on the Throne of God 

and 

for His Glory 

we will Trust all the Nations 

to come to His Brightness.

We will join the Communion of the Saints 

asking Jesus for more Heaven on earth. 

Seeking God first. 

And find His Commandment 

to Love one another.

Beloved of God, Jesus live in us always. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord,

 make me dwell in safety.

Putting all of our cares upon the Lord Jesus Christ, 

for He makes our burdens light. 

We find rest for our soul.

Resting all our people, all our beloved, all of our cares in the Steadfast, 

reliable, determined, goodness 

and Love of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus