Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

B.B. and I were in our “green room.”  Arabella was in her new hiding place, on the swooning couch.

B.B. moaned, “Stinker, I had a dream last night.  We finished the book of Psalms in the Sunday school class and I was still pregnant.  Then we were working on something else and my water broke.”

I growled, “B.B., are you helping me teach this class?  Maybe that was a misplaced modifier.  It’s more like you and I were working on something, not related to the Sunday school class, when your water broke.”

B.B. nodded, “Right!  And everything is going to be fine.  But since we have this week’s class and one more, I still have to waddle around for a while.  You know, now that you are a graduate assistant, you need to have more practice teaching meteorology, Stinker.”

A familiar voice came from the swooning couch, “You mean teaching me how to read the radar wasn’t enough?  I think I’m pretty good at that stuff.”

B.B. groaned, “Arabella, the true test is when she can teach those skills to a college student.  You were actually interested, wanting to learn.”

I said, “Correction.  She was interested in Michael.  Michael wanted to learn.  Arabella wanted Michael to think she was interested.  That and she was on camera for our educational lessons on the streaming service.  Being bored gets you replaced with someone else.”

B.B. groaned, “Motivated to learn, motivated to be near her boyfriend, motivated to be on camera on a television channel with limited distribution.  What difference does it make?  Belle was a lot more attentive than usual.”

Arabella huffed, “Hey!  I’m right here, you know.”

I laughed, “Fireball, maybe we have your attention, and you can stay focused through the class.”

Arabella said, “We are in the book of Psalms.  What else do I need to know?”

She opened the door, and we went to the den.

Rev. Joseph was preaching, so B.B. led us in prayer with something her husband had written, and the entire band and choir were ready.  They sang Psalm 36.

I said, “Emmett, that was wonderful, as usual.  And Mike is really going strong on his tubulum.”

Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”

I smiled, “As agreed, we are looking into the book of Psalms again.  Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”

Arabella shrugged, “Nope.  We’ve been at this four weeks.  Did I say it right, That’s my Boy?”

Michael Rowe Casey, Arabella’s boyfriend replied, “Fireball, that was perfect.”

Dr. Ellie said, “I think Michael needs a new codename.  When I say it, it sounds cute.  When his girlfriend says it, it sounds creepy.”

Dr. Ellie (Psalm 78:24) “he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.”

Dr. Ellie said, ”I say something about codenames changing, and Stinker gives me a hard one.  Not hard, but busy. ‘Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’’ (Exodus 16:4).  And then a few verses later…  ‘When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.”’ (Exodus 16:15).  So, the verse from Psalm 78 speaks of God providing manna.  These two verses combine to define manna as the bread from heaven.  Nehemiah reminds the people, ’In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.’ (Nehemiah 9:15).  But to tie it to Jesus… ’Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”’ (John 6:31).  So, God will take care of you.  Sometimes, we get in the way, but God is there for us.”

I snickered, “I guess you are referring to the quail that came when they complained.  They ate so much that they got sick.”

Dr. Ben (Psalm 82:6) ““I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’”

Dr. Ben said, “This is one of the reasons that I love the psalms and what we have been doing.  Ellie read about manna, and now I have God declaring us to be sons of God Most High.  This is a psalm of Asaph.  But then John writes…  ’ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?’’ (John 10:34).”

Michael Rowe Casey (Psalm 86:9) “All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.”

Michael said, “Thank you for giving us the main Scripture and the connecting verses.  I would be lost finding where that verse was quoted, but this talks about all nations worshipping Jesus.  Then in Revelation…’Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4).  So, in the End Times, all nations will come and worship Jesus.”

I smiled, “You are welcome, Michael.  I would call on someone else to read the follow-up verses, but someone started volunteering to read those a few weeks ago and everyone has followed suit ever since.  So, I thank all of you.”

Arabella (Psalm 89:4, 34) “‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’” And then verse 34… I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.”

Arabella said, “Shouldn’t this one go to Blaise or Margie?  It’s a lot of cross references.  The first one is from Psalm 132, ‘“The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.’’ (Psalm 132:11).  Then, we find it in 2 Samuel 7, ‘When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.’’ (2 Samuel 7:12-13). So, the second Samuel passage is the Davidic Covenant.  Then the two psalms speak of this promise from God.  Psalm 132 is one of the songs of ascent, but it is not attributed to anyone.  Psalm 89 was written by Ethan the Ezrahite.  All that comes down to Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 on Pentecost. ‘But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.’ (Acts 2:30).  Wow!  After all that, I need to take a nap.”

I huffed, “Fireball, you rarely stop talking, how could a little bit of reading cause such exhaustion?”

Arabella sighed, “Maybe you have not heard this before, Aunt Jemima, but Sunday is a day of rest.”

Sarah, using her tablet (Psalm 94:11) “The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.”

Using the tablet, Sarah said, “The psalmist is unknown, like Arabella said, unattributed. Then, in First Corinthians, Paul says, ‘and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”’ (1 Corinthians 3:20).  Clay and I got confused on this.  The psalm might be talking about anyone that is not seeking God’s will for their lives.  That could be a non-believer or a Christian that is carnal and not growing in the faith.  Woody Allen said, ‘If you want God to laugh, tell Him your plans.’  Psalm 94 does not sound like a wise person, but 1 Corinthians 3 says that the ‘wise’ have thoughts that are futile.  But when you look up the commentaries, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to teach them to not be proud, not listen to the latest worldly teacher that comes through town, and that worldly wisdom is not very reliable.  So, ‘wise’ here is worldly wise, not Godly wisdom.  Of course, Godly wisdom is a healthy fear of God.”

Arabella growled, “Little Sis, I did not see your lips moving.  Where did all that come from?”

Clay said, “It came from Sarah.  We studied the verses and she did not know if we would get picked, but she wrote an answer to each one.  Maybe her big sister doesn’t give her enough credit.”

Arabella said, “Sorry, Sarah, that was almost too good of an answer.”

Sarah’s lips moved, then the tablet said, “I accept your apology, and maybe I am smarter than you think.”

I laughed, “Okay, moving on, before the sisters start fighting.”

Clay Bell (Psalm 95:7-8) “for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,”

Clay said, “Then in Hebrews 3: ‘So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,’ (Hebrews 3:7-8).  Psalm 95 mentions Massah and Meribah.  Hebrews just talks about rebellion and testing.  Massah means testing, and Meribah means quarrels and complaints.  So they are really saying the same thing.  The same place got both names. ‘And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”’ (Exodus 17:7).  Now there is more in Hebrews 3…  ‘As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”’ (Hebrews 3:15).  And then there is more in Hebrews 4… ‘God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”’ (Hebrews 4:7).  If you had asked for the next few verses of Psalm 95, there is even more in Hebrews 3 and 4.”

I shrugged, “That’s okay, Clay.  You even came up with Exodus 17:7 on your own.  I heard from someone that Sunday is a day of rest.”

Hannah (Psalm 98:1-9, Luther Bibel) “Singet dem HERRN ein neues Lied; denn er tut Wunder. Er siegt mit seiner Rechten und mit seinem heiligen Arm. Der HERR läßt sein Heil verkündigen; vor den Völkern läßt er seine Gerechtigkeit offenbaren. Er gedenkt an seine Gnade und Wahrheit dem Hause Israel; aller Welt Enden sehen das Heil unsers Gottes. Jauchzet dem HERRN, alle Welt; singet, rühmet und lobet! Lobet den HERRN mit Harfen, mit Harfen und Psalmen! Mit Drommeten und Posaunen jauchzet vor dem HERRN, dem König! Das Meer brause und was darinnen ist, der Erdboden und die darauf wohnen. Die Wasserströme frohlocken, und alle Berge seien fröhlich vor dem HERRN; denn er kommt das Erdreich zu richten. Er wird den Erdboden richten mit Gerechtigkeit und die Völker mit Recht.”

Hannah said, “And now in English (Psalm 98:1-8) “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.”

Hannah said, “If this sounds familiar, here is the Magnificat: ‘And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”’ (Luke 1:46-55).  There are similarities in these two passages.”

I said, “That was excellent, Hannah.  How is the pregnancy coming along?”

Hannah smiled, “I am due in two months.  Bonnie checks on me every day and she makes sure that I am eating the basic diet of the Amish.  I so love Scrambled Yeggs’ donuts, but that will have to wait.  Bonnie is due in December and now my mother, Edna, is expecting.  The two houses will be finished within a week or two.  Then, Edna and Bonnie’s unmarried children will move in.  There is much excitement along the County Line.”

I said, “Thank you, but let’s do one more.”

Paddy (Psalm 102:25-27) “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Paddy said, “And this relates to Hebrews 1: ‘He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”’ (Hebrews 1:10-12).  It speaks of God creating everything.  And Jesus being part of Creation and then Jesus not changing.  So, since we are supposed to be seeing Jesus, this is a direct reference to Jesus.

Grannie Fannie (2 Corinthians 13:14) “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke picked up Stormie and strapped her into the carrier.

Credits

I do not see the need for Credits other than a video to sing along with.

Here is Psalm 36 sung by Third Day.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.