Thoughts on the readings for January 21st (Genesis 36; Psalm 38; Matthew 23)

Thoughts on the readings for January 21st (Genesis 36; Psalm 38; Matthew 23)Genesis 36 contains yet another genealogy – this time Esau’s who settled in the mountains around Petra. This territory is sometimes called Mount Seir (meaning “hairy”. So named because of Esau’s hairy appearance). Esau through his 4 wives produced 12 sons just as his twin brother Jacob had done. However these boys all became dukes in their own right ruling hundreds of years earlier than Jacob’s sons eventually did in the Promised Land. Edom became a powerful nation of hostile men in that region. They later became known as the Nabateans. Their hostility toward Israel was maintained until their oblivion in 70 AD at the hands of Rome. Psalm 38 is a plea from David asking God to never forsake him. David had suffered greatly as a punishment for the great sins he had sought to hide. How foolish of David to think that was possible. David asked his Sovereign to lift the heavy burden of his guilt. Every move that king David made was watched and criticised by his foes. David had chosen to be deaf and mute, rather than listen to the instruction of his Father’s Word. He felt that his enemies would swallow him up and overwhelm him. In verse 15 David tells us that his only hope is in Yahweh. So finally David realised that the only way to resolve his wretchedness was to confess his iniquity. Likewise for us the only way to remove our sins and the sense of guilt which they bring; is to confess our wrongs; to promise to forsake them in the future; and to cast ourselves on the mercy and forgiveness of our magnificent Sovereign (1 John 1 verses 5-10 slowly read aloud. Pause and ponder). The Psalm concludes by David asking the LORD to be swift in David’s defence.