Saturday, September 03, 2022

Readings for September 4, 2022, annotated, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary 129

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks  will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context. 

 

Information about the meaning the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  It is provided beneath the specific reading the words are in. 

 

Collections of scriptures dealing principles similar to those addressed in particular readings are hyperlinked after those readings.

 

Excerpts collected in yellow  at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. 

 

Excerpts collected in green  at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do. 


 

Reading 1: Wisdom 9:13-18b

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

 

kn0w = γινσκω = ginōskō Blue Letter Bible knowledge as the effect of experience; perceive, feel; "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely"; in its past tenses it frequently means "to know in the sense of realizing"; to know by observation and experience, is translated "to learn;" to become acquainted with; to come to know; idiom: to have sexual relations with; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon come to know, perceive; now by reflection, know by observation; discern, distinguish, recognize; perceive; feel

 

counsel = βουλ  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   will, determination; counsel, design; deliberation; decree

 

conceived νθυμομαι = enthymeomai Blue Letter Bible  to reflect on, ponder, to consider deeply, to bring to mind, revolve in mind, ponder, to think, to deliberate, to weigh in the mind, consider; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  think much or deeply of, form a plan, take care, see to it

 

deliberations = λογισμς = logismos  Blue Letter Bible   reasoning, thought; imaginations; computation;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   counting, calculation; arithmetic; account, reckoning; reasoning; argument; reasoning power

 

timid = δειλο   Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   cowardly; vile, worthless; lowborn, mean; miserable, wretched

 

unsure =πισφαλες  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   prone to fall, unstable, precarious; making to fall, misleading; dangerous; dubious

 

plans = πνοιαι Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   thinking on or of a thing, thought, notion; power of thought, inventiveness; invention, device, conceit; purpose, design; reflection on experience, retrospection

 

knew = γνω  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  come to know, perceive, know; know by observation; discern, distinguish, recognize; form a judgement, think; understand; determine

 

counsel—see above 

 

given = εδωκας  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   give freely; to be ready to give, offer; grant, assign; grant permission; give one leave; hand over, deliver up; grant another to one's entreaties, pardon him at one's request; grant, allow, bring about that . .  esp. in prayers

 

sent = πεμψας Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   send as a present; send up, produce  


Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at: Wisdom Principles--We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It  

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17  

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

 

age = דּוֹר = dôr Blue Letter Bible   period, age, generation (period of time); generation (those living during a period); generation (characterized by quality, condition, class of men); dwelling-place, habitation; a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; circuit of the years of life; forever and ever; including both past and future 

 

refuge = מָעוֹן = māʿôn Blue Letter Bible  dwelling, habitation, refuge, lair

 

teach =יָדַע= yāḏaʿ  Blue Letter Bible  to perceive and see, find out and discern; to discriminate, distinguish; to know by experience; to recognize; be acquainted with; to know (a person carnally); to know how, be skillful in; to have knowledge, be wise;  to be made known, be or become known, be revealed; to be instructed; privy to; seeing; observe with the eyes; be aware of; to get to know, discover; to turn the mind to anything, to care about, to see about

 

number = מָנָה = mānâ Blue Letter Bible count, reckon, number, assign, tell, appoint, prepare; ordain; to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; prepare

 

days = יוֹם = yôm  Blue Letter Bible  day, time, year; a working day, a day's journey; the heat of the day; day time, daily; perpetually; lifetime; daily duties, observances, etc. 

 

gain = בּוֹא = bô' Blue Letter Bible to go in, enter, come, go, come in; to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring upon; carry; fetch; follow; entering into specific relations; walk, associate with

 

wisdom = חָכְמָה = ḥāḵmâ Blue Letter Bible a divine attribute or energy; shrewdness; skill; prudence; cleverness; dexterity

 

heart  = לֵבָב = lebab Blue Letter Bible inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding; mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory; inclination, resolution, determination (of will); seat of appetites; seat of emotions and passions; mode of thinking and acting; will and purpose; intellect

 

return = שׁוּב = shuwb Blue Letter Bible  to return, turn back; to restore, refresh, repair; to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish; to bring back to mind; to turn one’s self

 

pity = נָחַם = nāḥam  Blue Letter Bible to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted;  be moved to pity, have compassion; to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; pant, groan; lament; grieve

 

fill = שָׂבַע = śāḇaʿ Blue Letter Bible  be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited; to have in excess

 

daybreak = בֹּקֶר = bōqer  Blue Letter Bible  morning, break of day, end of night, coming of daylight; bright joy after night of distress

 

kindness = חֶסֶד = ḥeseḏ  Blue Letter Bible   goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful, mercy; kindness especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable; lovely appearance; of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures; redemption from enemies and troubles; in preservation of life from death; in quickening of spiritual life; in redemption from sin; in keeping the covenants; fidelity; abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness); greatness of thy mercy; everlasting; plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness; desire, ardor; zeal; benignity, benevolence, pity, mercy; grace

 

shout for joy = רָנַן = ranan  Blue Letter Bible  to overcome; to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry; triumph

 

gladness = שָׂמַח = śāmaḥ  Blue Letter Bible  to rejoice, be glad; gladden, make glad; to brighten up; make blithe or gleesome; cheer up; make merry; take pleasure in; joyful or cheerful  

 

gracious care = נֹעַם = nōʿam  Blue Letter Bible  kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour; agreeableness, i.e. delight, suitableness, splendor or grace; brightness

 

be ours = עַל = ʿal  Blue Letter Bible  in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over; (of elevation or pre-eminence); surpassing, going beyond

 

prosper = כּוּן = kûn  Blue Letter Bible  to be firm, be stable, be established; to be fixed, be securely determined;  to prepare, be ready; to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up; make provision; to direct; be right, fit, sincere, firm, constant; sure, constant; established, confirmed; enduring; direct one’s face toward; arrange, order

 

work = מַעֲשֶׂה = maʿăśê  Blue Letter Bible  deed, thing done, act; work, labour; undertaking, enterprise; achievement; thing made; product

 

hands = יָד = yāḏ  Blue Letter Bible  hand; strength, power (fig.); means, direction; force; ministry 

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

 

***

 

 

Reading 2: Philemon 9-10, 12-17

I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.

***


I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that 
the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.  So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

 

old man = πρεσβτης = presbytēs  Blue Letter Bible  an old man, an aged man; a senior, elder; ambassador; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   age, seniority

 

prisoner = δσμιος = desmios  Blue Letter Bible  person bound, a captive, prisoner; in bonds; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   binding: metaph., binding as with a spell, enchaining; bound, captive; on leash

 

urge = παρακαλω = parakaleō Blue Letter Bible  Beseech; denotes "to call to one's side," hence, "to call to one's aid;" exhort, urge; summon; to beg, entreat; call for; pray;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon call in, send for, summon; invoke; call upon; demand, require

 

child = τκνον = teknon  Blue Letter Bible   the name transferred to that intimate and reciprocal relationship formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust, just as between parents and children; in affectionate address, such as patrons, helpers, teachers and the like employ: my child; in the NT, pupils or disciples are called children of their teachers, because the latter by their instruction nourish the minds of their pupils and mould their characters;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   a form of address from elders to their youngers, my son, my child 

 

imprisonment = δεσμς = desmos  Blue Letter Bible  a band, fetter, anything for tying; an impediment or disability; band, bond, chain, string; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   band, bond, anything for tying and fastening, as halter, mooring-cable, door-latch,  yoke-strap; any bond of union or connexion; of the laws; bonds, chains; imprisonment; metaph. of moral bondage; ligature; spell, charm, Iamb.

 

heart = σπλγχνον = splagchnon Blue Letter Bible "the bowels," which were regarded by the Greeks as the seat of the more violent passions; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  inward parts; any part of the inwards; the seat of the feelings, affections

liked = βολομαι =boulomai  Blue Letter Bible,  to wish, to will deliberately, the deliberate exercise of the will, acting through the deliberate will, the deliberate exercise of volition.

 

serve = διακονω = diakoneō Blue Letter Bible to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon; to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests; to attend to anything, that may serve another's interests; wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); supply food and the necessaries of life, to relieve one's necessities;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon minister, do service; render a service

 

consent = γνμη = gnome  Blue Letter Bible  the faculty of knowledge, mind, reason; that which is thought or known, one's mind; view, judgment, opinion; mind concerning what ought to be done; resolve, purpose, intention; resolve (counsel, consent, etc.); decree; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon     means of knowing; organ by which one perceives or knows; intelligence, thought, judgement; give heed, attend; to be on one's guard; not without judgement; will, disposition, inclination; of one accord, with one consent, according to one's mind or wishes; judgement, opinion; intention, purpose, resolve

 

good = γαθς = agathos  Blue Letter Bible  useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable; excelling in any respect, distinguished; corresponds to the figurative expression 'good ground', and denotes a soul inclined to goodness, and accordingly eager to learn saving truth and ready to bear the fruits; due to divine efficiency; benevolent, kind, generous; what is salutary, suited to the course of human affairs;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  brave, valiant; good, capable; serviceable; blessing, benefit

 

voluntary = κοσιος = hekousios Blue Letter Bible voluntary, free will; willingly; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon    voluntary; willing; acting of free will

more than = πρ = hyper Blue Letter Bible  for one's safety, for one's advantage or benefit (one who does a thing for another, is conceived of as standing or bending 'over' the one whom he would shield or defend); to be for one i. e. to be on one's side, to favor and further one's cause; in behalf of, for the sake of; on account of, for the sake of, any person; to do or suffer anythingHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  in defence of, on behalf of; in your interests; for, instead of, in the name of; as representative of another; for, because of, by reason of; for the credit of your account; concerning

 

slave = δολος = doulos  Blue Letter Bible  a slave, originally the lowest term in the scale of servitude, came also to mean one who gives himself up to the will of another; a slave, bondman, man of servile condition; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; a servant, attendant; serving, subject to; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  bondman or slave

brother = δελφς = adelphos  Blue Letter Bible   a brother, or near kinsman; a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection; an associate in employment or office; belonging to the same people;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   on of the same mother;  kinsman;  colleague, associate; fellow

 

beloved =  γαπητς = agapētos  Blue Letter Bible  beloved, very dear; esteemed, dear, favourite; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   desirable; beloved, gladly, contentedly

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at: Wisdom Principles--We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It  

***

 

Alleluia: Psalm 119:135   

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

before = פָּנִים = paniym   Blue Letter Bible  person; countenance 

   

shine = אוֹר = 'ôr  Blue Letter Bible   to be or become light, shine; to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine; kindle, set on fire; to become light

 

servant = עֶבֶד = ʿeḇeḏ  Blue Letter Bible  slave, servant, man-servant; bondman, (bond-) servant; Subjects, of chief; servant of servants, the lowest servant 

 

teach = לָמַד = lāmaḏ Blue Letter Bible  to learn, teach, exercise in; to be taught, be trained; to goad; instruct; chastise, discipline; to train, accustom

 

law = חֹק = ḥōq  Blue Letter Bible   statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed; prescribed task; action prescribed; prescribed limit, boundary; commandment, decree, measure; that which is established or definite

 

 

Scriptures using similar imagery or addressing similar principles are collected at:

 

 Wisdom Principles: God = Light, Departure from God = Darkness

 

Wisdom Principles: We Receive Great Blessings If We Seriously Study God’s Ways and Put Them into Practice

 

***

 


Gospel: Luke 14:25-33  

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?  Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?  But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 

In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

travelling = συμπορεομαι = symporeuomai  Blue Letter Bible   to go together with; journey together; to come together, to assemble; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   come, go, or proceed together for some advantage; assemble; consort together, hold intercourse

 

turned = στρφω = strephō  Blue Letter Bible be converted; to bring back; to turn oneself; to turn one’s self from one’s course of conduct, i.e. to change one’s mind; to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively):—convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon turn about or aside; wheel soldiers round; cause to rotate as on an axis; turn upside down; overturn, upset; turn it over by digging or ploughing; change a thing so as to; turn a thing over in one’s mind; return, give back; convert; transmute

 

addressed = λγω = legō  Blue Letter Bible to say, to ask; commanding, or bidding; to call, to call by name; pronouncing, telling or relating; to gather, reckon, account; to tell; affirm over, maintain; to exhort, advise, to command, direct; to call by name, to call, name; to "lay" forth; to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintain; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon  to say, speak; declare; to tell one to do; to speak to the point or purpose; to speak (emphatically)


comes = ρχομαι = erchomai  Blue Letter Bible  denoting either "to come, or to go," signifies the act, in contrast with heko, which stresses the arrival; to come from one place to another; to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; to come to a thing; to go;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  start, set out; come or go; to go a journey; any kind of motion 

hating = μισω = miseō  Blue Letter Bible  Relative preference for one thing over another, by way of expressing either aversion from, or disregard for, the claims of one person or thing relatively to those of another; malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others, whether towards the innocent or by mutual animosity;  detestto love less; to postpone in love or esteem, to slight;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   would not suffer

his own = αυτο = heautou  Blue Letter Bible  in yourselves, in your own conceits; himself, herself, itself, themselves;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon     himself, herself, itself, etc.; itself by itself; his own; one against the other

 

life = ψυχ = psyche Blue Letter Bible the seat of personality; the breath of life; the vital force which animates the body; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  life; the conscious self or personality as centre of emotions, desires, and affections; various aspects of the self; Psyche

 

disciple = μαθητς = mathētēs  Blue Letter Bible  a learner, pupil, disciple; one who follows one's teaching;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconlearner, pupil; apprentice

 

carry = βαστζω = bastazo  Blue Letter Bible  to support as a burden; to take up, carry; to take up with the hands; to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon one's self (something) to be carried; to lift, literally or figuratively (endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.):—bear, carry, take up; to bear away, carry off; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  lift, bear, carry in one’s hand; hold in one’s hands; produce, yield of the land;  endure; bear in mind, consider, deliberate on

 

his own—see above 

 

cross = σταυρς = stauros  Blue Letter Bible  an upright pale or stake; an upright "stake", esp. a pointed one, used as such in fences or palisades;  instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians; to it were affixed among the Romans, down to the time of Constantine the Great, the guiltiest criminals, particularly the basest slaves, robbers, the authors and abettors of insurrections; judicial usage [] compelled those condemned to crucifixion themselves to carry the cross to the place of punishment;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   upright pale or stake; pale for impaling a corpse

 

come—see “comes” above

 

after = πσω = opisō  Blue Letter Bible  back, behind, after, afterwards; to follow; get behind;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   backwards; back, back again; of action that reverses an action or occurrence; come after me, follow me

disciple—see above 

 

calculate = ψηφζω = psēphizō  Blue Letter Bible   to count with pebbles, to compute, calculate, reckon; compute;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   count, reckon, prop. with pebbles; if you add up the numerical values of the letters in the; cast one's vote with a pebble 

 

completion = παρτισμς = apartismos Blue Letter Bible   to finish, complete; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   completion; precisely; rounding off

 

sit down = καθζω = kathizōBlue Letter Bible  to sit down; to dwell; to cause to sit down, set, appoint; to have fixed one's abode; to sojourn, to settle, settle down; continue;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   make to sit down, seat; set, place; take one's seat

 

consider = βουλεω = bouleuō  Blue Letter Bible  consult; to resolve; purpose, to be minded; to deliberate, take counsel, resolve, give counsel; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon    take counsel, deliberate, in past tenses, determine or resolve after deliberation; deliberate on, plan, devise; to be determined or planned; sit in council; determine with oneself, resolve on 

 

successfully = δυνατς = dynatos  Blue Letter Bible   powerful, mighty; strong; able; mighty in wealth and influence; excelling in something; having power for something; capable; strong in soul: to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon    strong, mighty; powerful, able; influential; able to produce, productive; strongly, powerfully

 

oppose = παντω = hypantaō Blue Letter Bible   to go to meet, to meet; a hostile meeting; to encounter; fall in with;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   come or go to meet, either as a friend or in arms; meet, encounter; agree to; reply or object to; come in response, ensue; fall in with; correspond with

 

disciple—see above 

 

renounce = ποτσσω = apotassō  Blue Letter Bible   bid adieu to; set apart, separate; to take leave of, to bid farewell to;  give parting instructions to; forsake, renounce;  take leave of; withdraw one's self from anyone; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   set apart, assign specially; to be fixed, appointed; ear-mark; appoint, settle definitely; remove, exclude;  bid adieu to, part from; renounce, give up

 

every = πς = pas Blue Letter Bible  radically means "all." Used without the article it means "every," every kind or variety; any and every, of every kind, all manner of; in every way or particular; the whole; each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; thoroughly, whatsoever; all manner of; the highest degree, the maximum; always; in everything, in every way, on every side, in every particular or relation; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  when used of a number, all; when of one only, the whole; all, the whole; every; all things as a unity, as a totality; all kinds of things; in all points, entirely, wholly; in every way, by all means, altogether

 

his—see “his own” above

 

possessions = πρχω = hyparchō  Blue Letter Bible   to be, to be in existence; to be ready, at hand; to begin under; come into existence; to exist; to come forth; to belong to; possessions, the things one possesseth; to be contained in; to be left in one's power or disposal; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   take the initiative in; begin; take the initiative in doing; to be the beginning; to be already in existence

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

 

Wisdom Principles--Stay focused on God & what He has given you to do; Don’t Be Distracted by Other Things

 

Wisdom Principles--We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It  

 

***

 

 

What these readings tell us about God’s nature or our relationship to Him:

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
the deliberations of mortals are timid

the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?

thus were the paths of those on earth made straight

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
the gracious care of the LORD

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge

your face shine upon your servant

he turned and addressed them

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 


What these readings tell us to do:

number our days aright

gain wisdom of heart.
the work of our hands 

the work of our hands

the good you do might not be forced but voluntary

your servant

teach me your laws.

traveling with Jesus

carry his own cross and come after me

sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion

first sit down and decide 

renounce all his possessions 

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