The scriptures read are Isaiah 16-18, Psalm 31 and 2 Thessalonians 3.
Isaiah 16. The prediction of the devastation of Moab continues. And it will be so bad that God and/or Isaiah, his spokesman, is moved to tears.
And there's a flicker of a Davidic king and/or Messiah setting up a throne where lovingkindness, justice and righteousness will reign.
Isaiah 17, 18. Next up for judgment is Damascus. This land of tall and handsome people will be decimated.
Psalm 31. This is one of those songs based on just a few verses of the psalm but I like the simple tune and the natural sound of this children's choir. So click here.
2 Thessalonians 3. Paul is wrapping up the letter. And he takes time to talk about a problem that the church in Thessalonica is having. There are some lazy people taking advantage of their generosity. Notice that this is not a justification for not helping the poor or unemployed. This is not about people who can't work or who can't find work. This is about fellow Christians who won't work. We are not sure why. Perhaps they are so convinced of Jesus' imminent coming that they don't think they need to work. Anyway, Paul says that if they can work, they should and not live off the charity of their fellow Christians. But as he says in verse 13, this is not an excuse for those who are working to give up on doing what's right, which in the context, seems to mean taking care of the poor. In other words, if you can work, do so. And if you work, don't let lazy busybodies distract and deflect you from your duty to the unfortunate.
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