Skip to main content

Dangerous Violence

Matthew 2:17 & 18
"17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

Where were you? 
When the planes crashed into the World Trade Center?
When the plane crashed into the Pentagon? 
When the plane crashed into a field?
We gathered and watched. 
We checked on loved ones. 
We looked into the sky. 
We wondered what was going to happen next.
We KNEW this world IS very dangerous.
These events defined our generation. We all have the horror and terror of this event burned deep into our memory. We are NOT able to forget. 

In our verses we are reading the attempt to record and describe the horror and terror of Massacre of the innocents. When king Herod sent soldiers to kill ALL BABIES under two years old in the area around Bethlehem. An event they were NOT able to forget.

To communicate this to his readers, Matthew, recalls another horrific event recorded by the prophet Jeremiah. The siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, in 597 BC. Jeremiah describes people of Israel being hauled off in chains into slavery. The important people of Israel were killed the sons of the king had been murdered in front of him. Afterwards the eyes of the king were poked out! It is a tragedy that causes stress in people hearing about it centuries later. Matthew brings it up to underscore the brutality of the event he is reporting. All the more brutal in that it's their own king and in their own homes and killing their own children.

All the violence in the world doesn't stop. Today we have shootings and MORE. It doesn't STOP. There will always be evil. AND! Evil will NEVER WIN...

The good parts of these daily devotionals are inspired by the sermon at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg Texas. You can watch it by following this link... https://youtu.be/Rj4L7Trb_CI

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

to be taller

Matthew 6:27 "27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus has questions... Beginning our study this week with "Why Do You Worry?" Questions have always been a cornerstone of education, used to assess students’ knowledge, promote comprehension, and stimulate critical thinking. Well-crafted questions lead to new insights, generate discussion, and promote the comprehensive exploration of the subject. It makes sense that GOD would use questions VERY effectively. In yesterday's verses, Jesus asked "Are you not MUCH BETTER than birds?" His questions do not end there. In today's verse we read another one, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is a sentence our culture needs to learn. No anxiety, no thinking, no wanting will alter our bodily height, or any other condition of our life that is fixed by God’s laws. We often wish things were different than they are, but our "wo...

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...

praise Him

Luke 1:51-53 "51 He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." This is Mary's Magnificat. Beginning with verse forty-six Mary's responds to Elizabeth’s blessing is EPIC! In this poem Mary praises GOD for His blessing to her and His faithfulness to Israel.  Mary's Magnificat also highlights a series of reversals in which the proud are humbled and the humble are exalted! Which we read in today's verses; "He hath shewed STRENGTH with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and EXALTED them of low degree. He hath FILLED the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." We should marvel at GOD'S choice of this poor young girl to be the m...