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Tuesday
The First
Lesson
1 Maccabees 3:42-54
42 Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied,
and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for
they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people,
and utterly abolish them;
43 They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed fortune
of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.
44 Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might
be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy
and compassion.
45 Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of
her children that went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden
down, and aliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their
habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the
pipe with the harp ceased.
46 Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and
came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the
place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.
47 Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast
ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes,
48 And laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had
sought to paint the likeness of their images.
49 They brought also the priests' garments, and the firstfruits,
and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had
accomplished their days.
50 Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What
shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away?
51 For
thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are
in heaviness, and brought low.
52 And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy
us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest.
53 How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O
God, be our help?
54 Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.
1st Lesson Questions -
Am I ready to be one of Christ's soldiers? Is there a need for such things today? In what way is God's Church "trodden down and profaned" today? (V. 51) Do my actions (or non-actions) contribute to the building up or breaking down of the Church? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 18:12-23
12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection
with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment
seat,
13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary
to the law.
14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said
unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness,
O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 But
if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look
ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio
cared for none of those things.
18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then
took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria,
and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea:
for he had a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself
entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented
not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this
feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto
you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted
the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went
over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening
all the disciples.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Some people still see religion as merely "a question of words and names." (V. 15) Is it? RESOLVE.