July 5

OT -- 1Chronicles 1:1-2:17

I have to admit this. I do not think I have ever read Chronicles. I knew it was there. I knew it contained the similar stories to Kings. But when I turned to chapter 1 of Chronicles, you could have picked up my chin off the floor. Well, that is probably too exaggerated for today. But I was shocked to see the genealogy from Adam start the book.
And just like when we started Matthew, I found myself going la-la-la over the genealogy. Big mistake. There are stories told here that I do not know.
For example Peleg, son of Eber, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem. vs 19
I know nothing of him. And what does it mean that his time on the earth was divided?
Back I went to my Stone Chumash who tantalizingly makes no comment about Peleg.
But then you go to the web and what do you stumble into? No less than the Mayan calendar conspiracy. I have a link here. Go see what people do in their spare time.
Mayan Calendar and Peleg

But it did point out what that phrase meant 'the earth divided' and when I went back to the Stone, I understood.
Here is what Stone had to say p. 48
"...a fundamental principle of the Torah is that the universe was created ex nihilo, and Adam was the forerunner of the human race. Since the human race was later dispersed over all the earth and divided into different families speaking very dissimilar languages, people might come to doubt that they could all have originated from one person. Therefore the Torah records the genealogy of the nations, why they were dispersed, and the cause of the formation of their different languages."
Immediately after the genealogy of Noah is the Tower of Babel. This is the division of the earth. And Peleg lived to see it.
Interestingly, the conspiracy link above quotes Rashi who is the primary commentator of the Stone Chumash with the dates. I guess even conspirators have good taste to use the best rabbi....
The Tower of Babel occurred when Noah was still alive and guess who else was already born and well into his middle age? Abram, who in another 50 or so years would be Abraham. Makes you wonder why the people of Babel listened to Nimrod (so Rashi says) and not wise old Noah or blessed Shem (remember he is the high priest that brings the first communion to Abraham after Isaac was almost sacrificed) or even "I talk to the Lord and he says leave Ur" Abram.

Oh, oh, oh, how I miss my Jewish commentaries in this section of the OT.

See what I mean about doing the la-la-la? You miss out. I learned a lot just chasing a lead about what Peleg having a name that means divided.

Proverbs 18:14
A man's spirit sustains him in sickness but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Wow, truer words have never been spoken. But the truth of the matter is that only you can lift your spirits and you cannot lift someone else's. We would like to and we certainly can be kind and gentle to one another but we cannot change someone else.
I laughed recently when someone told me the proverb: "Men always want to change their wives into their mothers; women just want to change their men." Well, in my experience, both wants are bound for disappointment.
In the news today was the release of the home test for AIDS and some doctor was on there being all huffy about it. "Now, no one will go to the doctor and who will explain the ramifications of the disease?" Stupid. Anyone in today's world KNOWS the ramifications of the disease. And don't think there won't be some spirit crushing. Some will come through and others will die, obstensibly from the disease but really from soul death. Not all things are bearable to all people. Spirit certainly plays a huge role in it.
A dear friend of mine lost his wife almost 2 years ago. Since then, I have watched this vibrant, funny man lose his spark, his will to live and to be among the living. His spirit died though his body lives on.

May your spark be bright tonight. Tomorrow, who knows? Yesterday, it doesn't matter. Burn bright in the moment.
Much grace and peace.