Archive for 2005
Posted by Tricia at 5:22 pm
I did something this past Thursday that I hadn’t done since this happened: I drove carpool down to Abigail’s school on a regular school day.
We were in a different car than back in April (btw, I’m loving the new van but I don’t recommend breaking your sternum to get yourself one!!); I had a new carpooler with me (another little first grade girl from a neighborhood almost next to ours whom we are delighted to have at Covenant this year); and we got to the school without incident, for which we are most thankful.
It’s been a busy week what with getting used to rising early again, enjoying back to school activities, and attending teacher meetings, and in the midst of it all, I have managed to catch quite a nasty chest cough which I cannot seem to shake. Abigail also had an inauspicious and early end to her first week of school when she got sick in the car on the way home Thursday afternoon, but she has recovered nicely from her short-lived tummy bug. Due to her illness, we all had an unexpected day of rest (sort of) yesterday, so that was a blessing.
I’ll try to post more on each of the children’s return to their respective classes, along with some pictures, hopefully in the next few days.
Posted by Tricia at 9:36 pm
Perhaps there is a factoid somewhere which validates the idea that pregnant women endure not only physical challenges while gestating, but that somehow their brains are affected as well. If not, I can publicly acknowledge that my brain and capacity for intelligent processing have definitely diminished. There are many evidences for this in my life but the most obvious one occurred this afternoon: I ate a whole chocolate bunny.
Those of you with children who have enjoyed Rack, Shack and Benny would probably be willing now to join in a sympathetic round of the Bunny Song with me. Just recalling the lyrics makes me feel stupid. Here is what happened:
It was innocent enough. I finished a not-too-big lunch. And was still hungry. There is little dessert in the house. But it just so happens that there is a certain dark chocolate bunny which I gave my husband for Easter (that was back in March for anyone keeping track) that he has never eaten. And it has stared at me, day after day. Night after night. Taunting me. I have warned him many times over the past weeks and months: “If you don’t eat that bunny soon, I may have to eat it myself!” Tell me this: if you were married to a hungry pregnant woman threatening to eat your dark chocolate bunny, would you be as cavalier about the poor confection animal as Jay has been? I hardly think so.
So folks, it was bound to happen: this afternoon, after my lunch (which was quite tasty!) I devoured the chocolate bunny. Every last morsel. It was very good. And everything was fine, till about an hour or more later, when I began feeling quite dizzy. And ill. After half an hour of this it occurred to me that perhaps my body was dealing with a significant sugar high, then low, brought on by my bunny consumption. Another half hour later there was no doubt. I was miserable. Shaky, nauseous, awful feeling. In due time Jay came home from work, and I confessed my gluttonous sin, and the fact that I was quite literally feeling rather ill over the whole thing.
“What? My bunny? I was going to take that to work with me!” he exclaimed, stricken, it would seem, over this bunny for whom he’d shown no real concern till now. Whatever. I could hardly take his disappointment seriously. But, he enjoyed poking a bit of fun at me until he realized that I was truly in a bad way over this bunny. And spent the rest of the evening being quite helpful while I tried to cope with a few chores, but mainly felt so sick I wanted to die.
It is now 9:30pm. And I feel terrible. I may never look at another chocolate bunny let alone eat one. Next Easter, please feel no need to present me with any chocolate treats of any variety. A basket of fresh fruit will be just fine, thank you. And now before I creep off to lie miserably in my bed continuing to battle the results of my gluttony, I leave you with this parting thought, dear readers:
Taken From Veggie Tales’ Rack, Shack, and Benny:
“The bunny,
the bunny -
whoa, i ate the bunny.
I didn’t eat my soup or my bread
just the bunny.
The bunny,
the bunny -
oh i love the bunny!
But now i feel real sick in the head from the bunny.”
Posted by Tricia at 10:07 pm
I haven’t posted a ton about the pregnancy. This is the first pregnancy during which I’ve had a blog (I started writing shortly after the birth of our third, Nicolas) so I suppose I should spend more time chronicling my experiences, but truthfully, there are many days I am so exhausted that it is enough to take care of my family and survive!!
One of the things I still manage to do despite my fatigue is eat. Eat, eat, and eat some more. I seem to be quite hungry these days. Almost constantly. And yet, in a couple months, when I am ready to give birth, and my scales are tipping at 55 pounds greater than what i regularly weigh in at, I will be shocked. Just as I am always shocked at the end of every nine months (nine months and two weeks with Nicolas!). I am not tall (5′4″, and that’s giving me a 1/2″ of grace!) and that amount of weight on my small frame is um, noticeable, to say the least. I look very prosperous while pregnant. Healthy, well-fed, you get the picture!!
So: what does a hungry pregnant woman eat? Almost everything, it seems. Just about every food known to man tastes so delicious these days. I truly think the pleasure of eating is enhanced while pregnant. Just as smells seem to “sniff” stronger, I believe food tastes more flavorful as well. Fresh fruit tastes like nectar come directly from the door of heaven to me. I consume tons of it every day. Peaches, grapes, watermelon, and cherries are my current favorites. Perhaps in the heat, they are some of the most satisfying and delightful things I have found to eat. But then, meat is high on my list of preferred food lately as well. Steak and grilled chicken, and pork ribs….YUM!!
What does a snack look like these days? Keep in mind that my non-pregnant self doesn’t really snack much, or even feel the need for it. But for me, while gestating, snacks are a must. Pregnant women’s insides start doing strange things when the tummy is empty. So, this afternoon it was (for you, Rita!) a toasted piece of wheat bread spread thickly with gooey, melty peanut butter and a tall glass of icey cold milk. Oooh, delicious. That used to be an entire breakfast for me, now it’s just a midday snack!!
And I actually ate two bowlfuls of ice cream the other night while we watched a movie (Hotel Rwanda, if you’re wondering. Very heart-wrenching, but a good movie and one worth seeing). Jay’s jaw dropped when I came back with the second bowl (it was Bluebell’s Tin Roof, a flavor some friends introduced us to the other night, and I am lovin’ it!). And we wonder why I gain 50+ pounds with each child!! :-O For those who might be curious, Tin Roof is vanilla ice cream with a rich chocolate fudge swirl and roasted peanuts dipped in semi-bittersweet chocolate. Quite delectable. And good for you too: besides the obvious dairy component, did you notice there are peanuts in it??
Other favorite snack items include apple slices with peanut butter on them, wheat thins by the handful, grilled chicken with avocado slices on tortillas, tall glasses of orange juice, and lots of cold, cold milk. I do not often crave “junk” foods, or even sweets, per se, though I do have myself a sweet thing each evening (brownies are a favorite!). But I do not spend time each day stuffing myself with potato chips and cookies. In fact, most of what i eat is actually very nutritious, good food. But eat a lot of anything, and it starts to add up on one’s scale.
Ah well, it is a season of life. One I am really thankful to be able to experience again. And during this time, I am truly grateful for good fresh food and a healthy baby to feed. And for the ability to eat when I am hungry. These are certainly things never to be taken for granted. So, here’s to food!!
Posted by Tricia at 2:23 pm
They say you can’t get good help these days. Well, I have found some! Ordinarily, the children all love to help me in the kitchen. One of their favorite jobs is snapping green beans in two after I cut the little ends off. But since all three can snap, the chore usually goes way too fast for their liking. So, today I decided I’d give them more of the job to do themselves.
I gave the 6 and 4 year old a quick lesson in proper bean cutting (didn’t think I should let the 3 year old try cutting yet, although many of you may gasp when you see the other two wielding knives!). While they cut, the 3 year old snapped fast enough to keep up with both of them. In preparation for supper for company tonight, the children cut and snapped all 2 1/2 pounds of beans entirely on their own. And they did a wonderful job. And were finished way before I would have expected. Not only are they great help, they’re cute too!
Posted by Tricia at 11:24 am
Does anyone remember the lyrics to that Bennigan’s radio commercial that played a few years ago? It was an Irish sounding guy singing something like: “I found 10 bucks in the pocket of my jeans…”. Very catchy tune, but I can’t recall how it goes.
Well, yesterday I put on a pair of jeans shorts that I haven’t worn since my last pregnancy (3 years ago) and I put my hand into one of the pockets only to pull out…..you guessed it: $10!!! As these jeans were washed before being put away, but likely hung to dry (you don’t want any more shrinkage than is absolutely necessary with maternity wear!), the ten dollar bill was crisp and clean, but a little wrinkled. Still perfectly good, though. Now, what shall I do with my newfound treasure??
Posted by Tricia at 12:02 pm
Last night marked a turning point in our youngest’s life. Nicolas finally moved out of the nursery, after almost 3 years in his crib. Truthfully, he’s been sleeping with the bar down in the crib for many months now, so perhaps it was more like a toddler bed, but nonetheless, he sensed the importance of his transition to a real bed, perhaps even more so because it means he now gets to share a room with his big brother.
Jonathan was only too thrilled to make room for Nicolas, and both boys shouted and danced and basically carried on with much craziness last night as Jay assembled the bed frame, moved furniture around, etc.
Here is the result: two happy little boys ensconced on their matching beds, with many an admonition to wake up quietly in the morning, and sit in bed to read their books rather than arouse the other from his sleep.
They did very well for their first night together and it is fun to see them enjoying one another so much! And now our nursery is practically ready for its newest occupant, to hopefully take up residence in another few months.
Posted by Tricia at 10:14 pm
This morning the children and I headed north on our very first berry-picking expedition to the little town of Sadler. We visited Bailey’s Berry Patch, a wonderful place that grows blueberries, blackberries, and muscadine grapes (grapes aren’t in season yet!). I didn’t know exactly how this little adventure would play out, given that two of my children don’t even care for blueberries!!
But, I needn’t have worried. The thrill of picking berries seems to have overshadowed their particular tastes, and all three worked very hard for two hours in the HOT HOT Texas sun, filling their little buckets with blueberries. We had a really fun time picking alongside our buddies and then took a break for lunch and a bit of a rest. After lunch, we determined we would attempt to finish filling our bucket (which, we’d learned, held 5 quarts of the tiny berries when filled to the brim). Jonathan was tired of picking berries by this time, but both Abigail and Nicolas attacked the bushes with renewed interest.
I’ve decided my two year old has an incredible work ethic for someone of his age. He was quite tenacious about his berry-picking, and I think viewed his contributions to the large family bucket I was holding as most important - which of course, they were! Some of the comments from him throughout the day were especially cute (esp to his Mommy!):
“Mom, I pick some berries for you. You like these?”
“Here are some more berries…see? I put them in your bucket.”
“You forgot to say thank you.”
“I’m not done yet, I’ll be done on Tuesday.”
We did indeed manage to fill our bucket, much to our delight, but Nicolas was undeterred from his mission to keep filling his tiny tin pail, and as we tried to get him to quit he exclaimed in frustration, “I not finished yet! My bucket is not full!”
After we managed to tear him away from the berry bushes, we all got to watch as the people who own the patch processed our little crop of berries for taking home. We also purchased some locally-grown tomatoes and cucumbers to enjoy.
This was a lovely way to spend the day, and after naps on the trip home, a big bathtub full of water, and lots of soap, my children were feeling quite themselves again. Here is a picture of them showing off the fruits of their labors: almost all five quarts (we snacked on them a bit!).
Posted by Tricia at 10:46 pm
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we headed to San Antonio for 3 whole days and nights of relaxation and hanging about together. It was wonderful. We traded in some of Jay’s airline miles for a completely free hotel stay (if you don’t count the parking fees!) at the Marriott, which is probably one of the very best locations available on the RiverWalk. On top of the free lodging and breakfasts, they upgraded us to a riverview room so we had this great view from our balcony:
We could walk to pretty much everything we wanted to see within the downtown area, and so walk we did. We enjoyed the lovely paths along the riverwalk (can you find the bird in the picture?),
took in La Villita and some local art, the pretty homes in the King William Historic District, and the original Pioneer Flour Factory and Guenther House. We spent lots of time in old and new bookstores and came home with some lovely treasures for the kids, including 2 beautifully illustrated, like-new volumes of poetry I got for a song at a used bookstore (I’ve recently gotten into children’s poetry, more on that in another entry). Saw a movie, shopped together at our leisure, read a ton, ate whatever we wanted, slept late everyday, and just had a fantastic time.
One highlight of our trip that we have to share with you is our discovery of an amazing little Greek restaurant, Mina and Dimi’s. It has got to be one of the very coolest places we have ever eaten. To say it is unassuming from the outside is an understatement; indeed, we were hesitant to venture inside due to its location in a rather rundown-looking strip mall area.
But once inside, the atmosphere is just amazing and it gets 5 stars from us all around. We were immediately greeted by the sound of Mediterranean music, and the entertainment of a belly dancer. No joke. The waitstaff is among the most friendly we’ve encountered anywhere we’ve been, extremely attentive and helpful, and the food, while quite reasonably-priced, is absolutely divine. We enjoyed Flaming Saganaki, Dolmades, Kalamarakia, and shared the Rack of Lamb. We even sampled a new wine to us, Kouros Patras, which we enjoyed very much, and will try and find locally. If you ever find yourself in San Antonio, you MUST try this amazing little piece of Greece tucked into the northwest side of the city. Here we are enjoying ourselves there:
All in all, it was a great trip and we are so grateful we could enjoy a few days away. What a blessing to be able to celebrate 10 years of marriage together. Many, many thanks to our terrific, and very capable babysitters who cared lovingly for our sweet children while we were away.
Posted by Tricia at 12:47 pm
I commented earlier on all the wonderful help we have received since our car accident and especially as we recover from injuries sustained. Last evening we enjoyed a unique and sweet expression of care from one of Jay’s co-workers whose wife evidently is a phenomenal Vietnamese cook.
Jay’s friend at work told him yesterday morning that in light of what had happened with the wreck, they wanted to do something for us and that if Jay was willing to drop by their house on the way home, his wife would have freshly made egg rolls waiting for him to take home to all of us for supper. Wow! As promised, Jay arrived here a little after 6pm with a huge pan of crispy, just-cooked egg rolls which we proceeded to dig into heartily. They were SO DELICIOUS! What a fantastic treat. Even the kids (well, two of them) enjoyed this meal, and we had fun using all different sorts of dipping sauces to eat our egg rolls. We had our fill, and there were even some left-overs to enjoy at a later time.
We continue to be truly touched by all the different outpourings of care and help we receive from so many different people.
Posted by Tricia at 11:13 pm
It would appear Jay has largely been keeping our family blog going (as he has been largely keeping alot of other things going around our household since the wreck and my injuries). But since I can type, I figure I should pitch in and and offer something to our faithful readers too!
It is not enough to write it here, but I would like to also publicly thank the multitude of people who have given of their time, energies and hearts to aid us in this rather challenging episode of our lives. I cannot believe we are still receiving meals regularly, having people care for our kids, grocery shop for us, drive our kids to school, and even stop in to do dishes and laundry and such. It is truly humbling to see the outpourings of love and deeds just continue. And, believe me: it is so encouraging to us, as we are not yet able to do on our own all that we would “normally” do to care for ourselves and our children.
I echo Jay in the thought that this past week and a half has been stunningly hard, and each day seems to bring another hardship, on top of the obvious “recovering from a car wreck” physical and emotional and logistical challenges. Jay continued to get sicker over the weekend and Monday morning saw him at the doc’s, where he was diagnosed with a whopper of a sinus infection on top of tummy issues. I seem to have succumbed to the Nicolas tummy bug on Sunday, so for the past two days I have dealt with that, and tried to cope with hardly any food intake, while being pregnant (not a good combination!).
This evening when Jay called home to tell me he was coming down with a bad migraine, it felt like the last straw. He has bravely worked through illness, and utter exhaustion, and done remarkably - I am so thankful and proud of him for the way he has cared for all of us - but there is no working through a migraine. And with all that has fallen upon his shoulders of late, I felt so distressed that he must bear yet one more burden. On top of this, he is still the main care-giver in the evenings due to some of my physical limitations, so having him out of commission for the night raised a whole host of issues: how would the children get bathed? the dishwasher emptied? everyone to bed? Stuff that normally I would just do on my own is not an option right now, and so it brought yet another hurdle to overcome, and it just felt like too much.
I fell apart emotionally, wondering why all of this has to happen just now. Well, within half an hour I had two sweet angels of mercy whom I will just call Jamie and Steph, on my doorstep to help. They fed my children dinner, emptied my washer, cleaned my kitchen, bathed my kids, helped me put them to bed, including songs and stories, and then proceeded to wash and fold more laundry. And aside from all their physical help, their presence was such a comfort to me, and to Jay. I heartily thank them for giving us their evening, for ministering to us so willingly. And I am so grateful for friends who love us enough to be here at a moment’s notice to care for our physical needs. Thank you!!
All this week while Jay’s Mom is out of town (she has continued to help us tirelessly every day through all the sickness, esp taking care of little Nicolas - thank you to her and to Dad, John for all the time she’s spent on our behalf!!) we have different friends who are hosting Nicolas for the day, to help care for him since I cannot yet lift him, drive, or bend, etc. He has had a great week thus far with all these fun and loving folks, and we are glad for their help too. There are also many friends helping with Abigail and Jonathan, taking them to parks, ponds, lunch, having them to their homes to play, and just generally helping them to enjoy being kids even if Mommy is not yet up to playing and keeping up with them as much as she’d like.
It is very late and I must get to bed, but I do so this evening with a heart full of thankfulness for all the blessings we have received and continue to witness as a result of the Body of Christ loving us and caring for us. God has continued, even with everything that has gone on, to provide for our every need, not always in the way we might have hoped or planned, but often in an even better way. Thank you to everyone who is a part of that provision - we love you and are grateful for you!
Posted by Jay at 9:47 am
The rain has turned into a deluge, in two senses. First, our situation has seemingly gotten worse, not better, as we’ve dealt with significant illness this past week. Jonathan developed some sort of horrific cough and a fever this past weekend, which lingered for several days. Then on Monday, Nicolas spiked a fever, threw up, and started having horrible diarrhea. Though he only threw up a couple more times (Tuesday night), he continued with the overall problems for a few days. Now I seem to have gotten quite sick… not good.
In this downpour of discouragement, we have seen grace abound, raining down on us in equal measure. We continue to receive wonderful meals from folks at both our church and Abigail’s school, our children are being driven to and from school each class day by others, and we continue to receive much kind concern from all those with whom we interact.
Posted by Jay at 9:48 pm
I recently had the opportunity to speak to a group at church on Psalm 115 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115018" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115018" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p19115001.01-1">To Your Name Give Glory</h3>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v19115001-1">115:1 </span>Not to us, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, not to us, but to your name give glory,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115002.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115002-1">2 </span>Why should the nations say,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>“Where is their God?”<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115003-1">3 </span>Our God is in the heavens;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he does all that he pleases.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115004.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115004-1">4 </span>Their idols are silver and gold,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>the work of human hands.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115005-1">5 </span>They have mouths, but do not speak;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>eyes, but do not see.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115006-1">6 </span>They have ears, but do not hear;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>noses, but do not smell.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115007-1">7 </span>They have hands, but do not feel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>feet, but do not walk;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and they do not make a sound in their throat.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115008-1">8 </span>Those who make them become like them;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>so do all who trust in them.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115009.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115009-1">9 </span>O Israel,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac 'O house of Israel'">[1]</a></span> trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115010-1">10 </span>O house of Aaron, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115011-1">11 </span>You who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115012.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115012-1">12 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> has remembered us; he will bless us;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Israel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Aaron;<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115013-1">13 </span>he will bless those who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>both the small and the great.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115014.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115014-1">14 </span>May the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> give you increase,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>you and your children!<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115015-1">15 </span>May you be blessed by the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>who made heaven and earth!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115016.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115016-1">16 </span>The heavens are the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>'s heavens,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but the earth he has given to the children of man.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115017-1">17 </span>The dead do not praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>nor do any who go down into silence.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115018-1">18 </span>But we will bless the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>from this time forth and forevermore.<br />
Praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>! (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">115:9</span> Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac <em>O house of Israel</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
. As an interesting aside, the invitation came about three days prior to the car crash, and I was specifically asked to focus on verses 9 to 11 and the idea of God as our shield. My preparation was greatly disrupted in one sense, yet in a way I was far better prepared than I could have achieved through mere study.
Anyway, while doing the actual talk I noticed a feature of the text that I had previously missed. Here’s a brief outline of sorts I had drawn up.
A Psalm 115:1-3 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:1-3 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115003" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115003" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p19115001.01-1">To Your Name Give Glory</h3>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v19115001-1">115:1 </span>Not to us, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, not to us, but to your name give glory,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115002.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115002-1">2 </span>Why should the nations say,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>“Where is their God?”<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115003-1">3 </span>Our God is in the heavens;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he does all that he pleases. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
— God’s glory challenged/answered
B Psalm 115:4-8 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:4-8 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115004-19115008" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115004-19115008" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115004.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115004-1">4 </span>Their idols are silver and gold,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>the work of human hands.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115005-1">5 </span>They have mouths, but do not speak;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>eyes, but do not see.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115006-1">6 </span>They have ears, but do not hear;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>noses, but do not smell.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115007-1">7 </span>They have hands, but do not feel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>feet, but do not walk;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and they do not make a sound in their throat.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115008-1">8 </span>Those who make them become like them;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>so do all who trust in them. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
— idolaters like idols (inert, unfruitful)
C Psalm 115:9-11 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:9-11 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115009-19115011" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115009-19115011" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115009.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115009-1">9 </span>O Israel,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac 'O house of Israel'">[1]</a></span> trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115010-1">10 </span>O house of Aaron, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115011-1">11 </span>You who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">115:9</span> Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac <em>O house of Israel</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
— Trust in the Lord (he is your shield)
B’ Psalm 115:12-16 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:12-16 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115012-19115016" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115012-19115016" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115012.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115012-1">12 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> has remembered us; he will bless us;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Israel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Aaron;<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115013-1">13 </span>he will bless those who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>both the small and the great.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115014.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115014-1">14 </span>May the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> give you increase,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>you and your children!<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115015-1">15 </span>May you be blessed by the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>who made heaven and earth!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115016.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115016-1">16 </span>The heavens are the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>'s heavens,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but the earth he has given to the children of man. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
— God blesses, all is fruitful
A’ Psalm 115:17-18 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:17-18 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115017-19115018" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115017-19115018" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115017.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115017-1">17 </span>The dead do not praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>nor do any who go down into silence.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115018-1">18 </span>But we will bless the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>from this time forth and forevermore.<br />
Praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>! (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
— those who praise the Lord, those who don’t
So who are the dead that don’t praise the Lord (Psalm 115:17 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:17 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115017" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115017" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115017.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115017-1">17 </span>The dead do not praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>nor do any who go down into silence. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
)? I’d originally thought this referred to those who had actually died, fitting in with some of the general statements earlier in the Old Testament prior to a more specific doctrine of life after death and resurrection becoming normative.
But that seems to miss the point of the psalm. Who challenges God’s glory at the start of the psalm? Idolaters. And how does the psalm describe idolaters? As dead people. If you read Psalm 115:5-7 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:5-7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115005-19115007" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115005-19115007" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115005.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115005-1">5 </span>They have mouths, but do not speak;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>eyes, but do not see.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115006-1">6 </span>They have ears, but do not hear;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>noses, but do not smell.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115007-1">7 </span>They have hands, but do not feel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>feet, but do not walk;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and they do not make a sound in their throat. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
as a riddle to someone, they would probably think you were talking about a corpse, and Psalm 115:8 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115:8 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115008" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115008" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115008.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115008-1">8 </span>Those who make them become like them;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>so do all who trust in them. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
declares that idolaters become like their corpse-idols.
Such a reading firms up the chiastic structure and helps us read verses 12-16 in their proper context: as an answer to the lifelessness/fruitlessness of idol worshippers. What a great summary of creation and redemption! All creation is created for life, for fruitfulness, for people. Think of Genesis 1 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Genesis 1 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F01001001-01001031" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F01001001-01001031" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p01001001.01-1">The Creation of the World</h3>
<p class="chapter-first" id="p01001001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v01001001-1">1:1 </span>In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001002-1">2 </span>The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.</p>
<p id="p01001003.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001003-1">3 </span>And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001004-1">4 </span>And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001005-1">5 </span>God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.</p>
<p id="p01001006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001006-1">6 </span>And God said, “Let there be an expanse<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'a canopy'; also verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 20">[1]</a></span> in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” <span class="verse-num" id="v01001007-1">7 </span>And God made<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Or 'fashioned'; also verse 16">[2]</a></span> the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001008-1">8 </span>And God called the expanse Heaven.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Or 'Sky'; also verses 9, 14, 15, 17, 20, 26, 28, 30; 2:1">[3]</a></span> And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.</p>
<p id="p01001009.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001009-1">9 </span>And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001010-1">10 </span>God called the dry land Earth,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Or 'Land'; also verses 11, 12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 2:1">[4]</a></span> and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.</p>
<p id="p01001011.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001011-1">11 </span>And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f5" id="b5" title="Or 'small plants'; also verses 12, 29">[5]</a></span> yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001012-1">12 </span>The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001013-1">13 </span>And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.</p>
<p id="p01001014.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001014-1">14 </span>And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Or 'appointed times'">[6]</a></span> and for days and years, <span class="verse-num" id="v01001015-1">15 </span>and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001016-1">16 </span>And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001017-1">17 </span>And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, <span class="verse-num" id="v01001018-1">18 </span>to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001019-1">19 </span>And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.</p>
<p id="p01001020.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001020-1">20 </span>And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f7" id="b7" title="Or 'flying things'; see Leviticus 11:19-20">[7]</a></span> fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” <span class="verse-num" id="v01001021-1">21 </span>So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001022-1">22 </span>And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” <span class="verse-num" id="v01001023-1">23 </span>And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.</p>
<p id="p01001024.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001024-1">24 </span>And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001025-1">25 </span>And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.</p>
<p id="p01001026.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001026-1">26 </span>Then God said, “Let us make man<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f8" id="b8" title="The Hebrew word for 'man' ('adam') is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name 'Adam'">[8]</a></span> in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”</p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p01001027.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001027-1">27 </span>So God created man in his own image,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>in the image of God he created him;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>male and female he created them.</p>
</div>
<p id="p01001028.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v01001028-1">28 </span>And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” <span class="verse-num" id="v01001029-1">29 </span>And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001030-1">30 </span>And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. <span class="verse-num" id="v01001031-1">31 </span>And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:6</span> Or <em>a canopy</em>; also verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 20
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:7</span> Or <em>fashioned</em>; also verse 16
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:8</span> Or <em>Sky</em>; also verses 9, 14, 15, 17, 20, 26, 28, 30; 2:1
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:10</span> Or <em>Land</em>; also verses 11, 12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 2:1
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:11</span> Or <em>small plants</em>; also verses 12, 29
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:14</span> Or <em>appointed times</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b7" id="f7">[7]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:20</span> Or <em>flying things</em>; see Leviticus 11:19-20
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b8" id="f8">[8]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:26</span> The Hebrew word for <em>man</em> (<em>adam</em>) is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name <em>Adam</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
and the creation mandate. And this purpose is found in redemption, through the trust of God and the scorning of idols. God is life, and in him we have our life.
This approach to Psalm 115 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 115 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115018" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19115001-19115018" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p19115001.01-1">To Your Name Give Glory</h3>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19115001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v19115001-1">115:1 </span>Not to us, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, not to us, but to your name give glory,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115002.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115002-1">2 </span>Why should the nations say,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>“Where is their God?”<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115003-1">3 </span>Our God is in the heavens;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he does all that he pleases.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115004.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115004-1">4 </span>Their idols are silver and gold,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>the work of human hands.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115005-1">5 </span>They have mouths, but do not speak;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>eyes, but do not see.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115006-1">6 </span>They have ears, but do not hear;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>noses, but do not smell.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115007-1">7 </span>They have hands, but do not feel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>feet, but do not walk;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and they do not make a sound in their throat.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115008-1">8 </span>Those who make them become like them;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>so do all who trust in them.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115009.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115009-1">9 </span>O Israel,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac 'O house of Israel'">[1]</a></span> trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115010-1">10 </span>O house of Aaron, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115011-1">11 </span>You who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115012.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115012-1">12 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> has remembered us; he will bless us;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Israel;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>he will bless the house of Aaron;<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115013-1">13 </span>he will bless those who fear the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>both the small and the great.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115014.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115014-1">14 </span>May the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> give you increase,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>you and your children!<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115015-1">15 </span>May you be blessed by the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>who made heaven and earth!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19115016.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19115016-1">16 </span>The heavens are the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>'s heavens,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but the earth he has given to the children of man.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115017-1">17 </span>The dead do not praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>nor do any who go down into silence.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19115018-1">18 </span>But we will bless the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>from this time forth and forevermore.<br />
Praise the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>! (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">115:9</span> Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac <em>O house of Israel</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
also seems to lend some nice detail to Jesus’ call to those who have ears to hear, tieing in with Isaiah 6 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Isaiah 6 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F23006001-23006013" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F23006001-23006013" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p23006001.01-1">Isaiah's Vision of the Lord</h3>
<p id="p23006001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v23006001-1">6:1 </span>In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'hem'">[1]</a></span> of his robe filled the temple. <span class="verse-num" id="v23006002-1">2 </span>Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. <span class="verse-num" id="v23006003-1">3 </span>And one called to another and said:</p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p23006003.08-1">“Holy, holy, holy is the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts;<br />
the whole earth is full of his glory!”<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Or 'may his glory fill the whole earth'">[2]</a></span></p>
</div>
<p class="same-paragraph" id="p23006004.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v23006004-1">4 </span>And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. <span class="verse-num" id="v23006005-1">5 </span>And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts!”</p>
<p id="p23006006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v23006006-1">6 </span>Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. <span class="verse-num" id="v23006007-1">7 </span>And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”</p>
<h3 id="p23006008.01-1">Isaiah's Commission from the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span></h3>
<p id="p23006008.06-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v23006008-1">8 </span>And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” <span class="verse-num" id="v23006009-1">9 </span>And he said, “Go, and say to this people:</p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p23006009.10-1">“‘Keep on hearing,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Or 'Hear indeed'">[3]</a></span> but do not understand;<br />
keep on seeing,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Or 'see indeed'">[4]</a></span> but do not perceive.’<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v23006010-1">10 </span>Make the heart of this people dull,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f5" id="b5" title="Hebrew 'fat'">[5]</a></span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>and their ears heavy,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and blind their eyes;<br />
lest they see with their eyes,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and hear with their ears,<br />
and understand with their hearts,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and turn and be healed.”<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v23006011-1">11 </span>Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”<br />
And he said:<br />
“Until cities lie waste<br />
<span class="indent"></span>without inhabitant,<br />
and houses without people,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and the land is a desolate waste,<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v23006012-1">12 </span>and the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> removes people far away,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v23006013-1">13 </span>And though a tenth remain in it,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>it will be burned<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Or 'purged'">[6]</a></span> again,<br />
like a terebinth or an oak,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>whose stump remains<br />
<span class="indent"></span>when it is felled.”<br />
The holy seed<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f7" id="b7" title="Or 'offspring'">[7]</a></span> is its stump. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:1</span> Or <em>hem</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:3</span> Or <em>may his glory fill the whole earth</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:9</span> Or <em>Hear indeed</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:9</span> Or <em>see indeed</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:10</span> Hebrew <em>fat</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:13</span> Or <em>purged</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b7" id="f7">[7]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:13</span> Or <em>offspring</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
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