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Thursday
The First
Lesson
1 Maccabees 4:52-61
52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which
is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year,
they rose up betimes in the morning,
53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar
of burnt offerings, which they had made.
54 Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it,
even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps,
and cymbals.
55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and
praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.
56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and
offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice
of deliverance and praise.
57 They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of
gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed,
and hanged doors upon them.
58 Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that
the reproach of the heathen was put away.
59 Moreover
Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel
ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should
be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight
days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with
mirth and gladness.
60 At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high
walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should
come and tread it down as they had done before.
61 And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura
to preserve it; that the people might have a defence against
Idumea.
1st Lesson Questions -
Judas and his brethren committed to keep the days of the dedication from year to year. (V. 59) Do I keep the LORD's day with consistency? What do I do, with regularity on Sundays? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 19:8-20
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space
of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning
the kingdom of God.
9 But
when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of
that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated
the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all
they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both
Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs
or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil
spirits went out of them.
13 Then
certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call
over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus,
saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of
the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul
I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled
out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling
at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their
deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books
together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the
price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Are there hardened, disbelieving people in the Church today, like Paul encountered in verse 9? Are there, in our day, folk akin to the "vagabond Jews" of verse 13? RESOLVE.