In his letter to the Roman church, Paul wrote several lines I cling to during times of struggle—words held close ever since Paul’s letter first echoed across that group of original Jesus followers.

Paul first asks, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Then he answers with a list of items that cannot separate us: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, life, angels, rulers, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, or anything else in all creation.

Pretty exhaustive list, none of which separates us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul, the theologian, never shied away from specific instructions and details. He could argue minutiae with anyone. But in this case he’s broad – nothing in all creation can separate a follower of Jesus from the love of Christ.

But notice Paul’s specificity. He mentioned God’s elect. A distinct group of people. Then he reminds his readers of the importance of Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul referred to those who choose to follow Jesus, who made Jesus their Lord. His promise didn’t extend to those who reject Jesus or only merely dabble with religion.

Broad on the hopeful message, specific to whom it applies. Paul left little to doubt.

And doubtless this passage will be read, and prayed over, and memorized until Jesus finally returns and removes any question of separation ever again.

Romans 8:35-39 in week twenty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Simon Rae

The writers from old tell us that God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore (I Kings 4).

Solomon’s famed wisdom surpassed all the wisdom of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. In fact, his wisdom overwhelmed that of Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol.

Wait – who were those guys?

All wise dudes. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote Psalm 89, while Heman penned Psalm 88. Certainly names I should remember, as authors of scripture. The sagacity of Calcol and Darda faded from memory long ago, but no matter, Solomon surpassed them as well.

God gave Solomon unbelievable wisdom, and wonderfully, I hold in my hands much of what he wrote in his sections of the Old Testament. The insights from the wisest mind to ever walk the planet rest on my shelf.

Which does me no good, of course, until I prove myself wise, crack open the good book, and see for myself.

1 Kings 4 in week twenty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Cliff Johnson

As Solomon established his kingship, nagging problems lapped over from the previous reign, specifically in the form of people disloyal to his father. These men deserved death, and looked to remain a thorn for Solomon in coming years.

So Solomon turned to Benaiah. One of King David’s mighty men, Benaiah proved himself as a powerful warrior, even climbing down into a pit on a snowy day to kill a lion. Certainly a guy who knew how to handle a himself in a fight.

Solomon first dispatched Benaiah to snuff out Adonijah, Solomon’s half-brother, who coveted the throne for himself, despite the plan of succession laid out by David. Next, Benaiah settled old scores with Joab, for his murders of Abner and Amasa. Finally, Shimei received a visit from Beneaiah, getting his due for cursing David when he fled from Absalom.

My bad choices, my old sins, usually find me out. We reap what we sow. In these situations where Benaiah worked, I see dramatic examples of sowing and then reaping. To oppose kings with violence often led to violent reprisals, and the men who died at the hand of Benaiah understood this principle as they grasped for power.

But no grasping for Benaiah. He served his kings loyally and without question. He accepted dirty jobs and saw them through to the end. Benaiah fixed problems.

A frightening, yet incredibly valuable, man in the king’s service.

1 Kings 2 in week twenty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Benaiah, depicted killing a man of Moab by William Etty 1829

This weekend we visited cemeteries. Family members spanning three generations took to the curvaceous blacktops along the Missouri-Arkansas line.

Blue Eye Cemetery holds the graves of my father, my maternal grandparents and numerous ancestors on my mother’s side. A pair of great-great-great grandfathers fought in the Civil War, one for the Union and one for the Confederacy. In fact, one switched sides half-way through. Family members abandoned homes and farms as they fled marauding bands of bushwhackers. Chaos ruled the Ozarks in those dark days.

At McCullough Cemetery I visited a later generation of ancestors who relocated into the neighboring highlands following a feud. Great-great uncle Bud shot and killed three men—related to him by marriage—in a dispute over a rail fence. Apparently, they had it coming, and obviously, Bud was good with a rifle. Fearing reprisals, entire families left established farms and homes to start over on rocky glades no one else wanted. Prosperity lagged.

Along with hard times and occasional violence, family members started churches and businesses and families, raising kids and cattle and hogs and chickens and goats. My great-grandfather Martin, present at the feud, opened a general store on Indian Creek. My daughter and I watched for snakes as we tip-toed through the crumbling foundation, today on the bank of the Indian Creek arm of Table Rock Lake. Land buried under impounded waters once held gardens and baseball fields and picnics. I grew up water-skiing over ghosts.

The visits reminded me that life brings challenges and tragedy and decisions and nuance and wonder and change. Always change. But in the midst the Lord remains constant—and in Him lies our hope.

I will utter dark sayings from of old, things we have heard and known…we will not hide them from our children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord…that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, and that they should set their hope in God.

I enjoyed the stories from my mom and aunt, and especially my cousin Connie, the family historian. I appreciated the younger generation who listened attentively. Memorial days such as these help us pass on our hope found in God, the only lasting source of hope throughout the generations.

Psalm 78 in week twenty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover