Bible Reading Challenge continued
Bible Challenge: Day 314
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1 & Psalm 55
2 Kings 1 records how King Ahaziah accidently fell through the lattice in the upper chamber of his palace. He was seriously injured and sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover. God sent Elijah to admonish him for his apostasy and to tell him that he was going to die. He intercepted the king’s messengers who returned and informed the Ahaziah what they had been told. The king asked them to describe the prophet who had spoken to them and ‘They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”’ Ahaziah sent a captain and fifty soldiers to apprehend Elijah but fire fell from heaven and consumed them at the word of the prophet. The king sent another fifty men, who met the same fiery end. Ahaziah sent another captain and fifty soldiers who pleaded with Elijah to accompany them. After receiving word from God, he did so, and told the king he would not rise from his bed but die. ‘So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.’
Psalm 55 is attributed to David, but it anticipated and has been traditionally applied to Christ. The Lord Jesus said after all, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk.24:26-27). And so, David’s cries and pleas can rightly be taken for the voice of Jesus in this Psalm. He prays, ‘Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked.’ From his betrayal in the Upper Room and Garden to the Via Dolorosa and his Cross, Jesus experienced the ignominy, false accusations, hatred, mockery, and brutal opposition of his enemies. Like David, but even more so, he could have surely said, ‘For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”’ Unlike David, however, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father from the Cross, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ [vv.9-11]. Like David, Jesus lamented his betrayal by Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve whom he had chosen, a ‘companion and friend’ who had sold him out for thirty pieces of silver! [vv.12-14]. Sadly, Judas’ and others’ thoughts, words, and actions against the Son were evil and emanated from their fallen and rotten hearts [v.15]. Like David, Jesus cried to God (the Father) in faith, trusting his crown would follow his cross [16-18]. His enemies had violated God’s covenant of love and the unrepentant would be held accountable for the evil that they did [vv.19-21]. The Psalmist urges all God’s people to ‘22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.’ He concludes by way of contrast. ‘23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.’ Let us eschew evil. Rather let us trust and obey God.
To ponder! who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him… (Heb.5:7-9).
Bible Challenge: Day 315
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 2 & Psalm 56
2 Kings 2 records Jehoash’s renovation work at the Temple. He reigned for forty years over Judah from Jerusalem, and he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Like his predecessors, however, he failed to stop some from worshipping at the ‘high places’. He gladly received instruction from Jehoiada, the high priest. And he commanded the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the LORD, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, 5 let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” Nevertheless, after twenty-three years the work had yet failed to materialise. And so, the king confronted Jehoiada and his fellow priests and demanded to know why they had not renovated the Temple as commanded. He ordered them to take no more money from their donors but to get on with the actual work. Money from worshippers was collected at the Temple and distributed to the carpenters, stonemasons and stonecutters employed. Hazeal, the king of Syria, however, conquered Gath and then turned his attention to Jerusalem. Rather than face him in battle, Jehoash bought him off with the sacred gifts dedicated by Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, as well as his own sacred gifts, ‘and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house’. Hazeal therefore spared the Holy City. Subsequently, Jehoash (Joash is an alternative spelling) was assassinated by some of his own political advisors or courtiers and was buried at Jerusalem. He was succeeded by his son, Amaziah.
Psalm 56 is a Psalm of David which reflects his experience after being captured by the Philistines at Gath. It can also be applied to Christ, the church, and the individual Christian when faced with trials, troubles, and tribulations. It reminds us of the importance of faith and of our need to trust in God through thick and thin. David cries out to God, ‘Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.’ Again, he looks on his extremity as God’s opportunity. His mental and physical suffering is all too real but in hope he looks to God to deliver him from it. He writes, ‘3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?’ The Lord Jesus would say in the days of his earthly ministry, ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’ David’s foes, like Christ’s, were formidable but they are no match for God. ‘5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.’ However, David is confident that they will face God’s judgement. ‘7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!’ By contrast, the omniscient God loves and therefore cares for his beloved children. And so, the Psalmist declares, ‘8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.’
He has assurance of God’s favour, goodness, and love. God will not forget or forsake him. ‘This I know,’ he therefore writes, ‘that God is for me.’ Thus, he will remain faithful. He will trust and praise the LORD who will not break his covenant with his people. ‘10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.’ The same God came in the person of Jesus Christ that we might walk in love in the light. He came that we might have life, enjoy it abundantly, and have it everlastingly. Praise the Lord.
To ponder! The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy’ (Deut.33:27).
Bible Challenge: Day 316
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 2 & Psalm 57
In the chaos of combatting Friday’s flood, I mistakenly commented on 2 Kings 12 rather than 2 Kings 2 and so today we turn back to 2 Kings 2 rather than 2 Kings 3. Here Elijah is translated to heaven without passing through death. The prophets of Bethel came out to meet Elijah and Elisha and told the latter, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” As they approached Jericho, prophets from there too also relayed the same message. At the Jordan River, Elijah rolled up his cloak and struck the water and it parted allowing him to pass over on dry land, accompanied by Elisha. ‘When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”’ While they chatted and made their onward journey what seemed like chariots and horses of fire separated the two prophets and Elijah was carried up into heaven in a whirlwind. ‘And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.’ Elisha tore his clothes and took up Elijah’s cloak. Returning via Jordan, he struck the river, and it parted as it had done for Elijah. And the prophets and people of Jericho saw that the spirit of Elijah now rested with Elisha. He there performed a miracle purifying the water of a nearby spring that the people depended upon. Passing by Bethel some boys mocked him and paid a heavy price when they were attacked by two bears after being cursed by the prophet. He returned to Samaria via Mount Carmel.
Psalm 57 is the prayer of David when he hid in a cave from the murderous intentions of Saul. Like other Psalms it prefigures or foreshadows Christ who willingly faced the storms of destruction for the sin of the world. David pleaded for mercy. ‘Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.’ David’s son and Lord also found refuge in God. And like David, he wholeheartedly trusted in God the Father’s plan and purpose for his mission and ministry. ‘2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.’
David looked to God for deliverance while Jesus looked beyond the cross to his crown. And so the psalmist writes, ‘3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!’ Like David, but even more so, Jesus faced the hostility and violent hatred of his enemies – both spiritual and temporal. ‘4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.’ But they both anticipated God being glorified through their deliverance from the cave and tomb. And so, Christ could cry along with David, ‘5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!’ they both recognised the folly of their persecutors who were bring judgement upon themselves by their opposition and oppression towards the LORD’s anointed. Hence, he writes, ‘6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah’ Therefore, despite their suffering they both praised the LORD and glorified his name. They rejoiced in him and his faithfulness towards them. They would not only be wholly vindicated but they would be exalted. And God’s name was and is glorified through all the earth. And so, the psalmist concludes, ‘7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!’ Amen.
To ponder! Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Ps.17:8b).
Bible Challenge: Day 317
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 3 & Psalm 58
2 Kings 3 records Moab’s rebellion against Israel during the reign of Jehoram, the son of Ahab. While not as bad as his father, he nevertheless did evil in the sight of the LORD by continuing the idolatrous religious policy and practices developed by Jeroboam. Mesha of Moab reneged on a contract to deliver a sizeable quantity of sheep and wool to Israel. And Jehoram responded my mustering his army and marching against Moab. He persuaded King Jehoshaphat of Israel to join in the assault via the wilderness of Edom. After sevens and in need of provisions, they sought word from Elisha, the prophet. For the sake of Jehoshaphat, Elisha told Jehoram, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ 17 For thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, 19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” The next morning around the time of worship, water came from the direction of Edom as prophesied. The Moabite army marshalled its forces and marched against Israel and Judah but were defeated as Elisha had foretold. Mesha sacrificed his own son to his gods but to no avail. And the Hebrews returned to their own land.
Psalm 58 is an imprecatory Psalm in which David prays that justice would prevail against those that do evil, and that God and his ways would be wholly vindicated. He rhetorically asks, ‘Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?’ And he provides the answer, ‘2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.’ We should note once again, the psalmist’s reference to the heart which speaks of the centrality or core of a person’s being. The fallen nature has corrupted man’s affections, emotions, understanding, and will and the evil give full expression to the sin nature. As the Lord Jesus says, ‘For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander’ (Mt.15:19). And thus our need of a new heart which is ours in the new covenant that Jesus, ratified and sealed through his life, death, and resurrection. ‘3 The wicked, David’s notes, ‘are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.’ Comprehending the damage done and the potential danger posed by those that do evil, David pleads with God to disarm, ameliorate, and nullify their power. ‘6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! 7 Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. 8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. 9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!’ He prays that the righteous may have cause to rejoice to God’s justice and that their faithfulness will be richly rewarded. ‘10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
To ponder! Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen.18:25).
Bible Challenge: Day 318
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 4 & Psalm 59
2 Kings 4 records miracles attributed to the Prophet Elisha. He was God’s agent and instrument reminding the children of Israel of their need of God’s grace and of their obligation to walk by faith. He intervened to help a poor widow, who feared losing her sons to slavery due to her inability to meet the demands of her creditors. He ensured that she had an ample supply of oil to pay off her creditors and make ends meet [vv.1-7]. Elisha also returned the kindness and generosity shown to him by a Shunammite woman and her husband who provided him with food, drink, and accommodation. Through the mediation of Elisha (a type of Christ!), God enabled the childless couple to produce an heir, after the woman miraculously conceived [vv.8-17]. When their son was a boy, he appears to have suddenly been struck down dead by a brain haemorrhage or a stroke. The Shunammite woman swiftly travelled to Elisha at Mount Carmel. She persuaded Elisha to return with her. Gehazi, the prophet’s servant confirmed that the boy was dead. God worked through Elisha to restore the boy to life to the great relief of his parents [vv.18-37]. The chapter concludes with a famine at Gilgal and Elisha turning a harmful and therefore inedible stew into a nutritious meal for the sons of the prophets [vv.38-41]. Anticipating the Lord Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 he was also God’s agent there in the multiplication of food to feed a hundred men [vv.42-44].
Psalm 59 like Psalm 58 has obvious Christological overtures, but it was composed by David while Saul’s assassins were watching to take his life. He therefore earnestly prays to God, ‘Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me.’ David pleads his innocence and herein acts as a type of Christ who alone was and is truly without sin. ‘For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, 4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.’ The psalmist urges God to intervene. To come to his aid. To punish the wicked and thereby establish justice. He therefore cries, ‘Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah’ David’s enemies, like the Lord Jesus’ were constantly conspiring to kill him and yet he like Jesus trusted in the sovereignty of God who upholds, strengthens, sustains, and shields his people. ‘6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips—for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.’ Despite the virulent determination of his enemies, whom he likens to vicious pack of wild dogs seeking their prey, David, like Jesus, trusted wholeheartedly in the steadfast love and goodness of God. He is confident that God will guarantee his ultimate triumph over those that sought to take his life [vv.10-15]. He therefore concludes with adoration, admiration, and acclamation in heartfelt praise, declaring, ‘16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.’
To ponder! Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (Ps.2:1-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 319
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 5 & Psalm 60
2 Kings 5 records the healing of Naaman’s leprosy by the instrumentality of Elisha. Naaman was a courageous and loyal commander in the Syrian army and was well respected by his king and the people of the nation. In his household was a young Israelite female servant who had been a victim of war between Syria and Israel. She informed Naaman’s wife of how the God of Israel worked supernaturally through Elisha and suggested he could cure Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman’s wife told her husband who in turn told the king who wrote to the king of Israel. Naaman took the letter to Israel’s king, along with gold, silver, and clothing. The king of Israel was indignant when he read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” On hearing that the king had tore his rich garments, Elisha enquired into the reason why he had done so which in turn led to his encounter with Naaman. Elisha told Naaman via a messenger, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” Naaman, however, was enraged that Elisha had not received him in person. Disbelieving, he pointed out that there were rivers in Syria he could have washed in! Nevertheless, his servants reasoned with him and persuaded him to do as instructed by the prophet. ‘So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.’ Naaman went to Elisha afterward expressing faith in the God of Israel and as a token of his gratitude sought to lavishly reward him but Elisha refused his gift. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, nevertheless caught up with Naaman, told him a lie, and received two talents of silver and two changes of clothes. Despite his denial, Elisha confronted him on his return and said, ‘“Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.’
In Psalm 60 David earnestly prays to God for Israel’s salvation and restoration in the land. In desperation, he asks, ‘O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.’ David recognises God’s hand in the establishment of the nation and their utter reliance on the LORD for their prosperity and protection. God has temporarily forsaken them due to their folly, but the psalmist looks in hope to recovery by God’s grace and mercy. ‘4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!’ David takes hold of God’s promises, relying on the LORD’s covenant faithfulness and steadfast love. Expressing complete dependency on the sovereign LORD, he writes, ‘6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my sceptre. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.’ In faith he therefore beseeches God, ‘11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.’ Let us recognise our continual need of grace and walk by faith which is the way of faithfulness and fruitfulness to God’s glory and our common good.
To ponder! For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. 29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him (Ps.18:28-30).
Bible Challenge: Day 320
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6 & Psalm 61
2 Kings 6 begins with the story of the miraculous retrieval of the iron axe head from the River Jordan by Elisha’s intervention. The prophetic school that grew around Elisha were felling logs at the Jordan for the construction of dwellings when one of the prophets dropped his axe head into a deep part of the river. ‘Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.’ Afterward, Elisha became the focus of the king of Syria’s ire after it was told his that the prophet was relaying the mind and plans of the Syrians to the King of Israel. ‘And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.’ When Elisha’s servant brought word that they were surrounded by the Syrian army, Elisha told him, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed to God to open the eyes of his servant so that he could behold the host of the LORD. And he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. Elisha further prayed to God to render the Syrians blind. He then led them away to Samaria. Elisha told the king of Israel to do them no harm but rather provide them with bread and water and they made their way peacefully back to Syria. Later, King Ben-hadad of Syria besieged Samaria with his entire army. A severe famine followed that resulted in escalating food prices and grave shortages compelling some to resort to cannibalism. The King of Israel was rightly horrified to discover that some in desperation had sacrificed and ate the vulnerable. He tore his clothes and mourned but foolishly attributed blame to Elisha whose head he demanded. The king therefore despatched an assassin but before he reached Elisha, the prophet declared to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?” 33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”
In Psalm 61 David cries to God to strengthen and sustain him. His prayer anticipates and foreshadows Christ whom God raised to reign everlastingly. The psalmist pleads, ‘Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.’ David again expresses his need of God’s abiding grace. God is his rock and refuge, his shelter and strength. Without him he is helpless and without real hope. He expresses his chief desire and delight. He says, ‘4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah’ He prays in a faith that is experiential. He has experienced God’s goodness. God has answered previous prayers and therefore David prays with confidence and conviction. ‘5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.’ He asks the Lord, ‘6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!’ And while God blessed him richly, his words found ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ, his Lord, and ours. He concludes by praising and promising to faithfully serve God. ‘8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.’
To ponder! But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Mt.6:33).
Bible Challenge: Day 321
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 7 & Psalm 62
2 Kings 7 begins with Elisha prophesying the end of great scarcity. The following day flour and barley would be sold at the city gates of Samaria. The king’s captain expressed scepticism, but the prophet told him, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” Nevertheless, four lepers who sat at the city gate, fearing starvation decided to seek refuge in the camp of the Syrians in the hope of finding relief from the famine. However, they found that the LORD had made the Syrians to flee. Believing that a vast army was approaching they had fled in the night abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and provisions. The lepers ate and drank and made off with silver and gold which they hid. Their conscience awakened, they then returned to Samaria and informed the king’s household of what they had found. The king feared a Syrian trap to capture Samaria but was persuaded to send horsemen to take cognizance of the situation. They returned and confirmed that the Syrians had fled. ‘Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.’ The captain that had doubted Elisha’s word from God was sadly trampled to death in the crush for food at the city gate fulfilling the prophet’s word.
In Psalm 62 David expresses his complete confidence in God alone. This Psalm, like others, has Christological overtones and is the prayer of the church militant. The psalmist begins, ‘For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.’ David speaks in quiet assurance for the people of God who may well have cause to tremble at times in their lives. However, they do so on the rock that is God who will never give way under their feet. The Christian finds stability and security in him through Christ. David expresses exasperation at the folly of fallen man who ignores God’s word and tramples his neighbour underfoot for power, prestige, and prosperity. He asks, ‘3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah. By contrast, the psalmist speaks for God’s people when he declares, ‘5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.’ He therefore urges all, ‘8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah’ He furthermore points out the futility and folly of making an idol of wealth. ‘9 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.’ God, he reminds us, is sovereign. We must set our hearts on his steadfast love. All are answerable and accountable to him. ‘11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.’ Amen.
To ponder! For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Rom.8:24-25).
Bible Challenge: Day 322
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 8 & Psalm 63
2 Kings 8 begins with the restoration of the property and land of the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha had restored to life from death. Elisha had forewarned her, and her household, of the famine that would strike Israel for seven years. She consequently had found refuge in the land of the Philistines. She confirmed what Gehazi told the king about the miracles Elisha had done, and her property was restored by royal assent. Elisha was next confronted by Hazael who had been sent by Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, to enquire of the prophet whether he would recover from an illness that had left him bedridden. Elisha informed him that the king would indeed survive his sickness but would nevertheless die. He wept as he saw in a vision the death and devastation that was to be wrought on Israel by Ben-hadad’s killer and successor. Hazael returned and told the king that he would survive the sickness. Shortly afterwards, however, he suffocated his king and assumed control in his stead. Meanwhile, Jehoram succeeded Ahab as king of Israel at the age of thirty-two. He reigned for eight years and like his father, did evil in the sight of the LORD. His reign saw the revolt of Edom from Judah’s control and political and military turbulence throughout the region. In the twelfth year of his reign Ahaziah became king of Judah. He came to the throne at the age of twenty-two, but he followed the ways of Ahab and only reigned for one year. He joined with Joram in attacking the forces of Hazael of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. There Joram was injured in battle and was taken to Jezreel. The chapter concludes with Ahaziah on his way to visit him.
Psalm 63 was composed by David in the wilderness after fleeing for his life. It expresses his deep love of, desire for, and dependency on God. Like so many of the Psalms it anticipates and foreshadows Christ who triumphed over our greatest foe in the wilderness, and who later rose from the earth to reign over all. It also expresses the praise and prayer of God’s church whose desire and delight is to live ‘coram deo’ – before the face of God. The psalmist reveals his personal yearning for God’s presence. He begins, ‘O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.’ He prays in faith founded on personal experience reminding us that the Christian life is one of troughs as well as peaks in our earthly pilgrimage. ‘2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.’ David’s soul, his inner person, found contentment in God. Like Augustine of Hippo, his heart found peace, rest, satisfaction, and delight in God who was ever in his thoughts. And so, he writes in faith, hope, and love in anticipation of God’s gracious self-disclosure to him. ‘5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.’ His faith to rooted in and routed to God to whom he adheres. ‘8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.’ And so it is with all that love the LORD. As the apostle reminds us, all things are working for the good of those that love God. ‘9 But, David ends, ‘those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.’
To ponder! Here’s the first six stanzas of the old Scottish Metrical Version of Psalm 63. I used to regularly sing it to the tune ‘Jackson’, but any common metre tune should work just fine. Singing the psalms helps us to remember their content. These were the hymns that the Lord Jesus sang, and he is revealed therein.
1 Lord, thee my God, I'll early seek:
my soul doth thirst for thee;
My flesh longs in a dry parched land,
wherein no waters be:
2 That I thy power may behold,
and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore
within thy holy place.
3 Since better is thy love than life,
my lips thee praise shall give.
4 I in thy name will lift my hands,
and bless thee while I live.
5 Ev'n as with marrow and with fat
my soul shall filled be;
Then shall my mouth with joyful lips
sing praises unto thee:
6 When I do thee upon my bed
remember with delight,
And when on thee I meditate
in watches of the night.
7 In shadow of thy wings I'll joy;
for thou mine help hast been.
8 My soul thee follows hard; and me
thy right hand doth sustain.
Bible Challenge: Day 323
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 9 & Psalm 64
In 2 Kings 9 Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, king over Israel. When Elisha’s servant arrived, he called out Jehu from the council of commanders and anointed him as instructed by the prophet. He told Jehu to strike down the entire house of Ahab. He informed Jehu that God said, ‘And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Jehu in turn told the commanders what Elisha’s servant had told him and they proclaimed Jehu king. Jehu consequently conspired to murder Joram, who lay injured of wounds of Ramoth-gilead. King Joram and King Ahaziah rode out in their chariots to meet him but he killed Joram with an arrow that penetrated his armour and heart. Ahaziah fled for his life, but Jehu and his men caught up with him and similarly hit him with their arrows. He escaped to Megiddo but died of his wounds there. Finally, Jehu travelled to Jezreel and on arrival ordered that Jezebel be thrown down from her palace window. She died from the violent fall and dogs ate her flesh and licked up her blood in fulfilment of Elijah’s prophecy.
Psalm 64 is another Psalm of David who prays to God, ‘Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.’ This is David’s response to the pursuit of those that sought to murder him. However, his words are equally and possibly even more applicable to the Lord Jesus Christ who was the victim of an evil conspiracy and the greatest miscarriage of justice ever. Unlike the Lord Jesus however, David asked God, ‘2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.’ Jesus nevertheless was the truly and perfectly blameless one who was ever without sin. And hence he was the unblemished Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sin of the world. Like David’s adversaries, Christ’s were determined to destroy him. ‘5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.’ The psalmist’s enemies failed in their wicked schemes because God preserved David. They only succeeded in executing Jesus because it was God’s will for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike. Nevertheless, God will judge the unrepentant. The psalmist therefore notes, 7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.’ Let all God’s people ponder his wonderful providences and praise the LORD. ‘10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!’ Let us rejoice in the Righteous One. He is the Lord our Righteousness. We have a future and a hope in and through him.
To ponder! The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (Mt.27:21-23).
Bible Challenge: Day 324
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10 & Psalm 65
2 Kings 10 records how Jehu consolidated his reign by murdering his dynastic and political rivals. Ahab’s descendants were thereby annihilated fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah. Jehu wrote to the elders and guardians of the sons of Ahab challenging them to military confrontation but afraid of Jehu’s martial prowess and might they pledged their fealty instead. At his command they slaughtered Ahab’s seventy offspring and sent their decapitated heads to Jehu as proof. But their action did not spare them from Jehu’s sword. He ‘struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining.’ At Beth-eked of the Shepherds Jehu encountered relatives of Ahaziah and their entourage and he similarly had them slaughtered also. He then proceeded to destroy all remaining support for Ahab throughout Samaria. Jehu then assembled all the worshippers of Baal in one place feigning a religious celebration to their god and had them killed by his soldiers. ‘So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.’ Ahab nevertheless failed to demolish the golden calves that Jeroboam had erected at Bethel and Dan and he did not walk in all the ways of the LORD. He therein caused Israel to continue in sin. During his reign Israel lost territory to the surrounding nations. Jehu reigned for twenty-eight years and was succeeded by his son, Jehoahaz.
Psalm 65 is another prayer of David expressing praise for God’s amazing grace. God alone is worthy of worship and his people exist to glorify him. David writes, ‘Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.’ God is the hearer of prayer, and the psalmist anticipates the new covenant era when all people will bow before him. ‘2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.’ He conveys gratitude for God’s saving grace, saying, ‘3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.’ God not only redeems but he restores and renews by bringing people into a right relationship with himself through Jesus Christ our Lord. And so, the psalmist declares, ‘4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!’ He articulates awe at God’s sovereignty and at how he not only saves his people and reaches out to all, but how he also provides for and prospers them. ‘5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; 6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; 7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, 8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.’ David concludes in exuberant admiration, and adulation at the abundant and abiding riches of God’s grace. ‘11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.’ Let us do likewise.
To ponder! The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever (Ps.28:8-9).
Bible Challenge: Day 325
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 11 & Psalm 66
2 Kings 11 records the murderous power grab by Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah. When she received news of her son’s death, she ordered that all members of the royal family should be put to death. However, Joash was hidden from her death squads by Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram. Athaliah ruled over Judah. After seven years however, Jehoiada, the high priest made a covenant with the captains of the Carites and the guards to protect the rightful heir to the throne. They proclaimed and anointed Joash, king of Judah. Athaliah cried treason but order was given to put her to death and all who had followed her. ‘And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people, and also between the king and the people.’ And they proceeded to purge the land of all Baal-worship and associated idols. And the Holy City enjoyed a period of peace.
Psalm 66 is a paeon of praise to God for his awesome grace. Reminding the children of Israel of their call to be a witness to all the nations, and anticipating the New Covenant era, the psalmist invites everyone, everywhere, to ‘Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah’ The psalm then invites all to reflect and rejoice in God’s omnipotence and omniscience with specific reference to what he did for Israel. ‘5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations—let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah’ The psalmist therefore calls upon all to worship God who powerfully protects and prospers his people. ‘8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.’ The psalmist representing God’s church in the Old Testament era, personally vows to worship and serve the Lord. Hereby reminding us that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. ‘13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah’ He concludes by inviting all to hear and heed his testimony. The LORD has heard and answered his prayers. And he will receive all in his steadfast love who approach in faith and repentance. Therefore, ‘16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!’ Let us ever draw near to God in and through Jesus Christ, our Mediator, Lord, and Saviour.
To ponder! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Ps.107:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 326
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 12 & Psalm 67
2 Kings 2 records Jehoash’s instigating and overseeing the renovation of the Temple. He reigned for forty years over Judah from Jerusalem, and he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Like his predecessors, however, he failed to stop some from worshipping at the ‘high places’. He gladly received instruction from Jehoiada, the high priest. And he commanded the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the LORD, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, 5 let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” Nevertheless, after twenty-three years the work had yet failed to materialise. And so, the king confronted Jehoiada and his fellow priests and demanded to know why they had not renovated the Temple as commanded. He ordered them to take no more money from their donors but to get on with the actual work. Money from worshippers was collected at the Temple and distributed to the carpenters, stonemasons and stonecutters employed. Hazeal, the king of Syria, however, conquered Gath and then turned his attention to Jerusalem. Rather than face him in battle, Jehoash bought him off with the sacred gifts dedicated by Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, as well as his own sacred gifts, ‘and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house’. Hazeal therefore spared the Holy City. Subsequently, Jehoash (Joash is an alternative spelling) was assassinated by some of his own political advisors or courtiers and was buried at Jerusalem. He was succeeded by his son, Amaziah.
Psalm 67 is a paeon of praise that we sing periodically in worship to the tune Selma. It celebrates Israel’s commission and witness to the world and thereby anticipates and foreshadows the Great Commission and the witness of the church to the world in our New Covenant era. I write the day after reading that Christians are now a minority in the UK for the first time since the Dark Ages. And so, Christ’s call and commission to his church has rarely been of greater significance. And we need not go to the far-flung places of the earth but concentrate in the first instance on our homeland! The psalmist invokes God’s blessing, for unless the Lord builds the house its labourers build in vain (Ps.127). He therefore prays, ‘May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.’ He is reminding us that the church and all who comprise her is utterly dependent on grace – on God’s favour. We are called to go proclaim the gospel in his power. Only God can open hearts and give the increase. And the church must take confidence and find heart in Christ’s promise to build his church. And the goal is that all peoples may know, love and praise God in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Therefore, ‘3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah’ God is good and just. He is calling people into a new relationship with him and one another that is rooted and built up in love. He has come into our world in the person of Jesus to put a-right what has been put so badly amiss by the Fall and the resultant sin-nature. And hence the church has good news of reconciliation, redemption, and renewal in Jesus’ name. ‘5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!’ Worship is the ultimate goal. Let all revere and respect the living and true God.
To ponder! And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt.28:18-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 327
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13 & Psalm 68
2 Kings 13 records the respective reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash in Israel and the death of Elisha. Jehoahaz ruled for seventeen years and did evil in the sight of the LORD replicating the religious practices of Jeroboam and causing the people to sin. God’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, whose raiding parties brought much heartache and hardships. Israel’s army was significantly depleted due to military losses and Jehoahaz consequently cried to God for help but failed to abandon his idolatrous ways. He was succeeded by Jehoash [Joash] who reigned for sixteen years. He followed the wicked ways of his father. He was succeeded by Jeroboam [II]. Joash sought Elisha’s intervention with God while Elisha was in poor health and on his deathbed. ‘Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”’ Elisha instructed him to take a bow and arrows and to shoot an arrow eastward assuring him of victory over the Syrians at Aphek. Elisha admonished the king for only striking the ground three times with arrows. He told him, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.” Elisha died shortly afterward. The body of a man killed by a marauding party of Moabites was later thrown into Elisha’s grave and the man was miraculously revived. God was gracious and showed compassion to Israel for the sake of his covenant with Abraham. Three times Joash defeated Ben-hadad and recovered the cities of Israel as Elisha had prophesied.
Psalm 68 is a celebration of God’s greatness and grace. David urges God’s church to joyfully praise God who will defeat his enemies and lead his people in triumphal procession [vv.1-3].
‘4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.’ The psalmist recounts God’s saving grace in delivering Israel out of Egypt and providing for them in the wilderness. And he meditates and marvels at God’s witness to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai [vv.7-18].
David worships God as Lord and Saviour. ‘19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.’ God will judge the wicked and bring their schemes and opposition to naught [vv.21-23]. The psalmist rejoices with the church in the worship of God [24-27]. He anticipates the day when all the nations will honour the Lord (vv.28-31). And urges all to hear and heed the word of God and praise him in return. He concludes, ‘34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!’
To ponder! I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” (Ps.122:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 328
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 14 & Psalm 69
2 Kings 14 begins with a record of the reign of Amaziah as king of Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he ascended the throne and he reigned for twenty-nine years. He sought to live by the law of God but like his predecessors he did not prevent the people from offering sacrifices at the high places. He took revenge on those that had conspired in his father’s murder. He led a successful military campaign against the Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured the city of Sela, renaming it Joktheel. Overconfident after his victory, he then challenged Jehoash of Israel to military conflict. Ignoring Jehoash’s warning, he was defeated in battle by the superior forces of the northern kingdom. He was captured, Jerusalem was sacked, and its treasures pillaged as a result. Released from being held hostage, Amaziah was deposed by a conspiracy and killed at Lachish. His body was returned to Jerusalem for burial, and he was succeeded by his son and heir, Azariah. Jehoash was also succeeded by his son, Jeroboam, who was to reign for forty-one years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the religious policy and practices of his predecessors. God was merciful nevertheless, and Jeroboam II restored and consolidated Israel’s national borders against her enemies. He was followed on the throne by his son, Zechariah.
Psalm 69 is another Psalm of David which the church from the beginning of the new covenant era attributed to Christ’s passion. Jesus himself refers to it, as does the Apostle Paul. He underwent a baptism like no other for the salvation of the world. And so, the words of David are applicable to Jesus when he begins by crying to God, ‘Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. 3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.’ Like David, but even more so, the Lord Jesus could truly say, ‘4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?’ Unlike David, however, there was no folly in Jesus (5). It was for Love’s sake that he suffered and died and rose again (6-8). He came to his own and own received him not! (. Christ again could truly say, ‘9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.’ He humbled himself even to the point of death and bore the shame and ignominy of the people (10-12). However, he remained resolute in faith, hope, and love, looking beyond his cross to his crown (13-18, 29). His comfort and confidence were in God alone (19-20). Despite his grave thirst, he refused their sour wine to ease his suffering (22). While the psalmist calls for justice to be delivered to his enemies, the Lord Jesus called for grace and mercy for those that would repent and believe (22-28). Despite his imminent death, he would yet praise his Father in the land of the living (30-31). And after his resurrection the good news would provide not only life and liberty but would lead to rejoicing throughout heaven and earth (32-33). Therefore, ‘34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.’
To ponder! Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mk.10:38).
Bible Challenge: Day 329
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15 & Psalm 70
2 Kings 15 contrasts the political stability of Judah with the political turmoil of Israel. It begins with the reign of Azariah. He was sixteen when he assumed the throne and ruled Judah for fifty-two years. Although the people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, he was nevertheless a good and faithful ruler in the eyes of God. Leprosy compelled him to live apart from his household however, and his son Jotham carried out public duties in his name. Jotham succeeded him. By contrast Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam II, came to the throne in Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s rule over the southern kingdom but he was king for only six months. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and was murdered by Shallum in a palace coup. His death witnessed the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jehu. He was replaced by Shallum who only reigned for one month. He was murdered by Menahem who was crowned in his stead. His army sacked Tiphsah, sparing not even pregnant woman. He reigned for ten years in Samaria and like his predecessor did what was evil in God’s sight. He exacted a heavy financial burden upon the people of Israel to bribe Assyria not to attack them. Pekahiah, his son, succeeded him but reigned for only two years. He also displeased God by continuing the religious policy and practices of his predecessor. He was similarly killed and replaced in a coup by Pekah, the captain of Israel’s army, who reigned for twenty years. He also failed to correct the cultic practices of Jeroboam I. Assyria forcibly captured territory belonging to Israel during his reign and became an increasing threat to the nation and its dynasty. Pekah was similarly murdered by Hoshea in a conspiracy against his rule, who replaced him as king of Israel. Meanwhile, in the second year of Pekah’s reign, Jotham became king of Judah on the death of his father. He reigned for sixteen years and did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, although the high places were not removed. ‘In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.’ When he died, his son, Ahaz, ascended the throne.
In Psalm 70 David cries to God for deliverance. The Psalm has Christological overtones and is the prayer of the church when faced with persecution and oppression in the world. The psalmist begins, ‘Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!’ His earnest plea is a prayer of faith that looks to God to help him and deliver him from the hands of his enemies. It is a witness to God’s omnipotence and omniscience. It is a cry for justice in an unjust world. ‘2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonour who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”’ By contrast it is also a prayer of supplication for the church. The psalmist understands that man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. And so, he expresses his desire that all God’s people may have cause to rejoice in their Lord and Saviour. He prays that the people of God may ever praise the LORD for his grace and greatness. He therefore writes, ‘4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”’ He concludes, ‘5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!’ David’s prayer is a model prayer. It is the petition of the humble believer who recognises his or her dependency on God.
To ponder! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Ps.124:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 330
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 16 & Psalm 71
In the seventeenth years of Pekah’s reign over Israel, Ahaz came to the throne in Judah. He ruled for sixteen years and did evil in God’s sight, going so far as to sacrifice one of his sons to a foreign deity. King Rezin entered a coalition with Pekah of Israel and they waged war on Judah, besieging Jerusalem. The Syrians made advances into Judah, conquering Elath which was later occupied by Edomites. Ahaz purchased an alliance with Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with the treasures of his house to help repulse the invading armies of Syria and Israel. The Assyrians captured Damascus and killed Rezin. Ahaz went to meet Tiglath-pileser at Damascus to thank him for his intervention and to congratulate him on his victory. He was greatly impressed by an altar to a foreign god he discovered at Damascus and despite the teaching of God’s word, he had Uriah, the high priest, replicate it in the Temple at Jerusalem. There he made offerings to God and encouraged others to do likewise. And so, Ahaz made changes to the worship of God not in accord with God’s instructions. Ahaz was succeeded by his son, Hezekiah.
In Psalm 71 the psalmist prays to the Lord our Righteousness as his rock and refuge, his strength and stability, and his help and hope (vv.1-3). David’s words are the voice of the church in every generation. He continues to trust in God and therefore cries out to him to rescue him from the schemes of the wicked. He praises God for grace (vv.4-8). The psalmist’s chief desire is to delight in God – to glorify him in thought, word, and deed. He therefore asks God never to forsake him but rather speedily deliver him from his enemies (vv.9-12). His words hereby anticipate and foreshadow those of Jesus whose enemies caballed and conspired to seize him and have him put to death. The psalmist prays that God would judge his accusers (v.13). His hope is resolute, and he is determined to go on worshipping and witnessing to God (vv.14-18). He enthusiastically asserts, ‘19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?’ Despite his trials and troubles, the psalmist is confident that God will restore and revive his fortunes (vv.20-22). He therefore devotedly declares, ‘23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. 24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.’
To ponder! But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor.12:9-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 331
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 17 & Psalm 72
2 Kings 17 records the fall of Israel. During Ahaz’s reign over Judah, Hoshea came to the throne in Israel and he reigned for nine years. Like his forebears, he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Despite his diplomatic endeavours and financial inducements to keep the advancing Assyrian Empire from encroaching on Israelite territory, Shalmaneser invaded Israel. Hoshea’s attempt to muster Egyptian help failed and he was captured and incarcerated by the Assyrians who besieged the capital for three years. The land was conquered and populated by Assyrians. Many of the people of Israel that survived the onslaught were taken back to Assyria as slaves. And this we are told was God’s judgement upon Israel for its continuing apostasy and idolatry. The kings and the citizens turned their backs on God, and he in turn removed his protecting hand and gave them over to a foreign nation. He had sent prophets to call them to repentance and faith but they had ignored his word and stubbornly persisted in their wicked ways which included child sacrifice (vv.13-17). Only the southern kingdom of Judah remained of the tribes that settled the promised land. Assyria resettled the land with various peoples. Made aware of God’s displeasure the new occupants known as Samaritans introduced a syncretistic or hybrid religion which accommodated aspects of Israel’s ancient faith and cultic practices. ‘So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away... So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children's children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.’
Psalm 72 is a prayer of David that was possibly included among the praise items at royal coronations. Taking hold of God’s covenant promise that one of his descendants would reign forever (2 Samuel 7) David poetically anticipates that day. It is therefore a messianic psalm that prefigures God’s Christ and the reign of the Lord our Righteousness. David prays that one of his descendants will establish justice for all (vv.1-2, 14). He longs for the day when the people will practice and prosper in righteousness and end evil (vv.3-4) and provide for and protect the poor and vulnerable (vv.12-13). He looks for that day when all will reverence God and will keep his law of love forever (v.5). When God’s greatness and goodness are universally acknowledged and celebrated (vv.6-11). The psalmist foresees Messiah’s reign of peace, prosperity, and piety (vv.15-16). And so, he enthusiastically concludes, ‘17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!’ Here ends the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.
To ponder! I often used to end a Communion Service by the congregation singing Psalm 72:17-19 in the words of the old Scottish Metrical Version. Here’s the said verses which were regularly sang here in Scotland to the tune ‘Effingham’ but most common metre tunes will fit.
His name for ever shall endure;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be blessed in him, and blessed
all nations shall him call.
18 Now blessed be the Lord our God,
the God of Israel,
For he alone doth wondrous works,
in glory that excel.
19 And blessed be his glorious name
to all eternity:
The whole earth let his glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.
Bible Challenge: Day 332
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18 & Psalm 73
2 Kings 18 begins with the reign of Hezekiah who was king of Judah for twenty-nine years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He removed the high places and the idols to foreign deities. He even smashed the bronze serpent that Moses had made because it had become an idol to the people. Hezekiah ‘trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered.’ He refused to kowtow to the Assyrians and repelled the Philistines. It was during his reign that the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians under the command of Shalmaneser and its people carried off into exile ‘because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.’ In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked Judah compelling Hezekiah to confess his fault in making an alliance with Egypt. Hezekiah made reparations of gold and silver which he extracted from the Temple. Rabshakeh, one of Sennacherib’s commanders, addressed Hezekiah’s advisors and the men guarding the city walls of Jerusalem and said, ‘do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The LORD will deliver us.” 33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?’ The people remained silent, and the advisors reported Rabshakeh’s words to the king.
Psalm 73 is the first of the psalms of Asaph. In it the psalmist affirms God’s goodness to his people, but he confesses how his faith had been severely tested by the power, prestige, prosperity, and pride of the wicked (vv.1-9). They appeared to flourish at the expense of the poor and the pure in heart whom they exploited. And rather than criticise or condemn them, more often than not, the people venerated them and fed their bloated egos. ‘10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.’ They even claimed that God was either ignorant of them or indifferent to their ways, and so the wicked appeared to be always at ease (vv.11-12). Exasperated by the ways of the world, the psalmist declares, ‘13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.’ He entertained the thought of compromising his convictions in order to prosper like the wicked but was suddenly struck by God’s revelation in the place of worship (vv.15-17). He realised that God set such people in slippery places and would bring those that remained unrepentant to ruin (vv.18-20). Asaph confesses the fallacious and foolish nature of his ungodly thoughts and turns to God in trust and obedience (vv.21-23). He believes that God will continue to guide him and receive him to glory in the fulness of time (v.24). He concludes with words that have provided comfort and confidence to God’s people ever since by asking: ‘25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.’
To ponder! Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Pro.3:5-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 333
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 19 & Psalm 74
In 2 Kings 19 Isaiah provides reassurance to King Hezekiah. Hezekiah, in a state of grief, had sent messengers to Isaiah in response to the Assyrian army’s siege of Jerusalem and Rabshakeh’s vaunted boasting. He asked the prophet to pray for Judah. Isaiah told his emissaries, ‘“Say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumour and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”’ Rabshakeh duly returned to Assyria having after receiving word that Sennacherib had left his capital in pursuit of the Cushites. He had failed to capture the capital. Yet Hezekiah again received word from Sennacherib that Judah was no match for their Assyrian army and therefore it would be better to surrender than fight and face annihilation. Hezekiah went to the House of God and earnestly prayed. “Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19 So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.” Isaiah sent word to the king that his prayer had been heard, and the prophet proceeded to prophesy Sennacherib’s downfall on account of his mocking pride (vv.21-28). God assured his servant, the king, via Isaiah, that the Assyrians would not capture the Holy City and that Judah would prevail and prosper because the LORD was with them and would protect and provide for them. An Angel of the LORD then struck down 185,000 Assyrians and Sennacherib was assassinated by his sons while offering sacrifice to one of his gods.
Psalm 74 is a lament and a plea for help. Expressing a sense of abandonment, Asaph cries, ‘O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?’ He asks God to mercifully remember his people and restore their fortunes. God had dwelt in their midst, but the Holy City has been trodden underfoot by their enemies and the Temple has been pillaged and desecrated and its interior destroyed (vv.2-6). Their enemies have profaned God’s name in word and action without apparent consequence. God has been silent. He appears indifferent (vv.7-9). And so, the psalmist pleadingly asks, ‘10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!’ Asaph invokes the memory of God’s saving power and wondrous works in the past. He poetically acknowledges God’s sovereignty over his creation and beseeches the LORD to intervene for the glory of his name and the good of his people (vv.12-19). He prays, trusting in God’s faithfulness to his covenant with his church. And therefore, he concludes by begging the LORD to ‘20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 21 Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23 Do not forget the clamour of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!’
To ponder! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Ps.124:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 334
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 20 & Psalm 75
2 Kings 20 begins with Hezekiah bedbound with a serious illness. Isaiah informs him that he will not recover. The king wept and prayed earnestly to God who heard his cries and responded via Isaiah. “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” And Isaiah ordered that a cake of figs be applied to Hezekiah’s boil that helped to heal it. The king also asked and was given a sign to reassure him that Isaiah’s word was from God. Having heard about Hezekiah’s sickness, the king of Babylon sent an envoy with letters and precious gifts and Hezekiah provided them with hospitality, showing them around his house. Isaiah later told him, “Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Hezekiah built a pool and conduit to provide Jerusalem with water. He was succeeded by his son, Manasseh.
Psalm 75 is a paeon of praise to God for his righteous judgements. The psalmist is the voice of the church and therefore he writes in the plural, ‘We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.’ He hereby expresses gratitude to God for his abiding presence (immanence) and for his amazing grace shown to his people. God is sovereign. And he will judge all impartially and fairly. ‘2 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.’ The proud wicked who boast in their power and prosperity will not escape his judgement (vv.3-5). The psalmist expresses his confidence that God is in control and that his people should trust him rather than political and military alliances. ‘6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.’ God will pour out his judgement upon those that do evil. ‘8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.’ The psalmist, in the voice of Christ’s church, will therefore ever praise God who will condemn the wicked but exalt his righteous people. ‘But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.’
To ponder! “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Mt.25:31-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 335
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 21 & Psalm 76
2 Kings 21 records that Manasseh was twelve years of age when he began his reign over Judah. He ruled for fifty-five years, and he did much evil in the sight of the LORD. He reintroduced the foreign deities that Hezekiah, his father, had purged from Judah. He introduced a statue of Asherah into the Temple at Jerusalem and encouraged apostasy. He even sacrificed one of his sons to the false gods and consulted fortune-tellers, mediums, and necromancers. He led his subjects ‘astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel. His rule was also characterised by violence and murder. Manasseh provoked God to anger. The LORD declared, “And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, 15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.” After his death, his son, Amon, who was twenty-two years old, succeeded him as king. He followed his father’s religious policy and practice and abandoned faith in the LORD altogether. His reign was cut short when he was murdered by his own courtiers in the royal palace and his son, Josiah ascended the throne under the rule of guardians.
Psalm 76 is another song of Asaph that commemorates and celebrates God greatness and goodness to his people. It is a reminder to all that gratitude, trust, and obedience are the rightful response to grace. The psalmist begins, ‘In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.’ God dwells amid his church. He is ever with his people. He is with us and for us in Immanuel, typified, foreshadowed, and anticipated in the Old Testament scriptures. He preserved and protected his ancient people and dumbfounded and defeated their enemies. ‘3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah 4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains full of prey. 5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.’ Consequently, Asaph extols God’s immanence and invincibility, his power and justice, and calls all people to rightly fear and reverence him. ‘7 But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? 8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, 9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah.’ Reflecting on God’s sovereignty, the psalmist asks, ‘10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.’ He therefore bids all, ‘11 Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, 12 who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.’
To ponder! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov.1:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 336
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 22 & Psalm 77
2 Kings 22 records the reign of godly King Josiah. He came to the throne at eight years of age and ruled Judah for thirty-one years. He did what was right in the sight of God. He rebuilt and reordered the Temple which had been desecrated by his father, Manasseh. Hilkiah, the high priest, discovered the Book of the Law while the renovations were taking place. Shaphan, the king’s secretary, read it to Josiah. The king declared, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” And so, Shaphan, Hilkiah, Ahikam, and Achbor consulted Huldah, the prophetess. She confirmed that disaster would come upon Judah, Jerusalem, and the Temple but it would be delayed on account of Josiah’s faith and penitence.
In Psalm 77 Asaph laments his feeling of forsakenness. Despite his cries to God, day and night, God appears distant to him in a time of trial and trouble. ‘I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah’ The psalmist can find no rest as he reflects on the past in the dead of night – a symbol of the dearth of peace in his soul. ‘4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago. 6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search:’ He asks himself, ‘7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favourable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah’ Just then, Asaph reminds himself of God’s goodness, greatness, and favour towards him and his people. ‘10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.’ God changes not. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! His faithfulness is infinite and everlasting. Therefore, the psalmist takes comfort and finds confidence in the covenant keeping God, his Saviour and Helper. Just as God redeemed his people in the past, so he will come to his aid also. He will guide and direct him to pastures green and still waters. He will restore his soul (vv.15-20). And what God will do for Asaph he will do for all his beloved children who turn to him in faith and repentance.
To ponder! I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure (Ps.40:1-2).
Bible Challenge: Day 337
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23 & Psalm 78
In 2 Kings 23 Josiah assembled the people at the Temple and read the Book of the Covenant to them. ‘And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.’ And Josiah ordered Hilkiah and the priests to purge the Temple of all idols which were incinerated outside of Jerusalem. He then proceeded to destroy all idols to foreign deities and purge the land of all places of worship contrary to those established by God as contained in the Book of the Law. He even demolished the altar at Bethel set up by Jeroboam I. He then proceeded to purge Israel as he had done Judah before returning to Jerusalem. Josiah then restored the Passover Feast which had been neglected since the days of the Judges. And yet, despite Josiah’s love and loyalty to the LORD judgement was coming upon Judah for the sins of his father, Manasseh. Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo and was succeeded by his son, Jehoahaz who was twenty-three when he ascended the throne. He did what was evil in the sight of God but ruled for only for three months. Pharaoh Neco had him taken hostage at Libnah and made Eliakim, his brother king in his place. Jehoahaz died while in captivity in Egypt. Jehoiakim (Eliakim)
was twenty-five years old when he became king. He reigned for eleven years and similarly did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Psalm 78 is a Psalm of Asaph in which he teaches the church of God the importance of its history, heritage, and inheritance. It recounts the remarkable story of the children of Israel whom God had chosen and called apart to be a light to the world. It rehearses God’s revelation of himself to them and others in his deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt and the gracious provision he made for them during their wandering in the wilderness before bringing them into the Promised Land – a land overflowing with milk and honey. It not only recounts God’s grace, love, and mercy but it also records the stubbornness and sinfulness of Israel so that Asaph’s generation and subsequent ones might learn not only from the good but from the bad in their history. Therefore, Asaph begins, ‘Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.’ Let us be acquainted with the biblical story and its teaching. Let us know our history. We have a wonderful heritage and an even more glorious inheritance awaiting us. And let us pass these things on to our children and our children’s children until the Parousia. That is our God-given responsibility.
To ponder! And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deut.6:6-7).
Bible Challenge: Day 338
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 24 & Psalm 79
2 Kings 24 records the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the subjugation of Judah as foretold by the prophets. King Jehoiakim broke his treaty of obligation to Babylon thereby leaving Judah vulnerable to attack from various hostile nations. Jehoiakim was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin at a time when Babylonian power was unmatched throughout the region. Even the mighty Egyptians were no match for it and retreated from the international arena of power politics. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he ascended the throne, but he only ruled for three months in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He and the royal household were captured and taken into captivity by the Babylonians who looted the palace and the Temple. ‘And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valour, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war. 17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.’ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he was appointed a vassal king and he occupied the throne at Jerusalem for eleven years. He eventually rebelled against Babylon but did evil in the sight of God, and consequently the LORD cast Jerusalem and Judah from his presence.
Psalm 79 is a Psalm of Asaph and was a particular favourite among French Huguenots and Scottish Covenanters in times of fierce persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is particularly appropriate for today’s Bible Challenge given we have just been reading and reflecting on the Fall of Jerusalem, the Holy City, to the Babylonians. In it the psalmist’s cry is understandably full of pathos and lamentation for what has taken place. For what he has witnessed. ‘O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbours, mocked and derided by those around us.’
He therefore earnestly prays, ‘5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?’ He pleads with God to turn his wrath against their enemies who have desecrated the Temple, murdered the priests and people, and brought such devastation upon the city and the land (vv.6-7). For love’s sake, Asaph prays on behalf of the remnant to God for mercy, forgiveness, and salvation from the brutal and bloody hands of their enemies. He pleads, ‘8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!’ The psalmist asks God to vindicate his name, restore his church, and vanquish their enemies that mocked and poured scorn upon the name of the LORD (vv.10-12). He concludes, ‘13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.’ Such is the way of faith, hope, and love.
To ponder! Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way? 18 And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? 19 Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts (Jer.2:17-19).
Bible Challenge: Day 339
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 25 & Psalm 80
2 Kings 25 continues the story of Jerusalem’s fall. Nebuchadnezzar lay siege to the Holy City. The inhabitants not only faced an imminent threat from the Babylonians but confined within the city walls and cut off from external provision, they also faced famine. When a breach was finally made in their defences, Zedekiah and the royal household attempted to escape but were pursued and captured. Zedekiah’s sons were slaughtered in his sight and then his eyes were gouged out before he was bound in chains and transported to Babylon. A Babylonian army under the command of Nebuzaradan torched Jerusalem, including the Temple and the King’s House. The people that survived were taken into exile except for some of the poorest who were left to cultivate and harvest the land. Gold and other precious items were pillaged and everything else was destroyed. Seraiah, the chief priest, and other leading officials were similarly taken back to Babylon and were executed before the king. ‘So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.’ Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah governor of Judah. He was murdered by Ishmael and many fled to Egypt afraid of the Chaldeans. In the thirty-seventh year of exile, Jehoiachin was freed from incarceration by King Evil-merodach of Babylon and was given a place of privilege in the kingdom. He even dined at the king’s table.
Psalm 80 is a prayer for the restoration and renewal of Israel’s fortunes. The psalmist pleads with Almighty God, ‘Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!’ The psalmist cries out to God in faith and hope. He believes that the church’s extremity is God’s opportunity. God must save them. Salvation is of grace. He longs for a return to the days when God’s people walked before him in the beauty of holiness. When they walked ‘coram deo’ – before the face of God. They have been under judgement for their folly and failure to keep God’s commands. They have suffered greatly at the hands of their enemies, but the psalmist sees the hand of Providence in the nation’s fall. Asaph therefore asks, ‘4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbours, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!’ He recounts the history of God’s remarkable favour towards the children of Israel, of how he had brought his people into the Promised Land and made rich provision for them. ‘8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.’ And then he asks, ‘12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.’ The psalmist entreats God to glorify his name in the restoration of his people. He pleads with God, ‘14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!’ Anticipating and foreshadowing the coming of Messiah, Asaph adds, ‘17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!’ That life, along with light and love are to be appropriated in the Son of Man whose life, death, and resurrection were for the life of the world. Asaph concludes with the refrain, ‘19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!’
To ponder! And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in (Isa.58:11-12).
Bible Challenge: Day 340
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1 & Psalm 81
1 Chronicles 1 records genealogical lists from Adam to Abraham, and from Abraham to Jacob. It includes the kings of Edom who reigned before Israel had a king of its own. It sets the scene for what will follow and is a reminder of the importance of lineage, heritage, and inheritance in the biblical narrative. Moreover, it indirectly highlights God’s covenant faithfulness to his people and anticipates and prepares the way for God’s Christ.
Psalm 81 is a paeon of praise that recounts God’s gracious interaction with the children of Israel. It evidently serves a didactic function in teaching God’s people their history and reminding them of God’s greatness and goodness, and of their need to trust and obey him. The psalmist begins, ‘Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.’ God’s people are called to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Worship is not peripheral to the church but primary. And God alone is worthy of it. The church responds to God’s amazing grace with gratitude and gladness. ‘5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah’ God’s people are called to hear and heed him, even when, especially when his word reproves, rebukes and corrects them. Therefore, God says, ‘8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!’ Alas the church of the Old Testament like the one of today foolishly failed to keep God’s commands and brought much needless hardships and heartaches upon itself. The psalmist reminds us of these things so that we might learn from the past and not repeat the errors of our forebears, and contemporaries! God declares, ‘9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”’ Praise God for the riches of his grace towards us.
To ponder! But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph.2:4-7).
Bible Challenge: Day 341
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 2 & Psalm 82
1 Chronicles 2 provides a genealogy of David. It again reminds us of the importance of heritage and inheritance in the biblical storyline. And more importantly it reaffirms God’s covenant faithfulness in fulfilling his promise to his people and preparing the way for the Seed of the woman who would come in the fulness of time to defeat, disarm, and destroy the Serpent. Through David’s line came God’s Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, who would be given the name Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. How perilous the line of descent through which he came appeared at times, and yet God preserved it, and David’s son and Lord was indeed born in the little town of Bethlehem in God’s time. He is now King of kings and Lord of lords. One day every knee will bow to him, and every tongue confess that he is Lord.
Psalm 82 is a plea for justice. In it, Asaph laments the injustice of those in authority – the powers that be ordained of God (cf. Rom.13:1-4). It also has Christological significance, as is clear from the Lord Jesus’ words in John 10:34. He was the victim of the greatest and gravest injustice ever and yet its final verse, ‘8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!’ anticipates and foreshadows his glorious resurrection to reign at God’s right side. He will one day judge the world in perfect righteousness. The psalmist reminds us that God is not ignorant of or indifferent to injustice. He begins, ‘God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment’. He therefore asks of the authorities that showed partiality, ‘2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah’ He reminds them of their duty before God and their neighbour. ‘3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”’ Yet, the psalmist complains, ‘5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.’ The powers that be have forgotten and forsaken their duty and responsibility under the heady influence of power, prestige, and prosperity. And yet they will one day face God’s judgement. ‘6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”’ Asaph pleads with God to intervene and establish equality and fairness before his law of love. ‘8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!’
To ponder! And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Heb.9:27).
Bible Challenge: Day 342
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3 & Psalm 83
1 Chronicles 3 records the descendants of David down to the time of its compilation, including his royal successors. It was through this line of descent that the promised Messiah, David’s son and Lord, would eventually come. And therefore, it is designed to demonstrate God’s providential preservation and faithfulness in keeping his promise to his people. God keeps his word.
In Psalm 83 Asaph cries to God on behalf of the Old Testament church to come to their aid. He prays for God’s deliverance from the violent hands of their enemies who have conspired and formed a military coalition against them to supplant them in the Promised Land. He therefore pleads, ‘O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! 2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. 3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. 4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”’ Their coalition against God’s children is a direct attack on God and his kingdom. The psalmist is specific in prayer and so names those that have made a covenant to capture the land and destroy Israel (vv.5-8). Citing historical divine interventions (vv.9-15, Asaph petitions God to ‘16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. 17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, 18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.’ The psalmist is only too conscious of Israel’s need of God and his grace. His confidence is in God alone who must protect and provide for his people lest they perish. They in turn must trust and obey God as their Hope and Help. What was true of God’s people in the Old Testament period is equally true in this New Covenant era.
To ponder! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps.46:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 343
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 4 & Psalm 84
1 Chronicles 4 lists the descendants of Judah and Simeon respectively and highlights once again the importance of heritage and inheritance in the Old Testament sacred scriptures. These ancient genealogical records would have been particularly precious and useful when the people returned to the land after the Babylonian captivity. Of note, is verse 10 which mentions the example of Jabez who prayed to God, ‘“Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.’ Here is a prayer of faith asking God for grace to be both faithful and fruitful in the service of God and others.
Psalm 84 is a praise song by the sons of Korah. It is a psalm that we are likely familiar with as it features periodically in our corporate worship. In it the psalmist extol the presence and praise of God. ‘How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!’ Speaking in the voice of the church, the psalmist declare his desire and delight in the LORD. ‘2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.’ Poetically pondering how the sparrow and the swallow nest within the Temple precincts, he highlights how there is a place for all in the worship of God. ‘3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah’ Accompanying ‘belonging’ is God’s blessing upon his people – upon all who call upon his name in truth and love. They are recipients of his grace, and they go from strength to strength in the faith. ‘5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca [a desert place] they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.’ The psalmist therefore prays to God acknowledging his dependency on God and God’s goodness in return. ‘8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.’ He concludes hence, ‘12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!’ May our faith be firmly in the living and true God and may his rich blessings flow into and out through our lives for his glory and our mutual good.
To ponder! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Ps.107:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 344
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 5 & Psalm 85
1 Chronicles 5 continues with genealogical lists and includes those of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Reuben was the firstborn, but he lost its privilege and place to Joseph. By the time of Saul, the Reubenites had dispossessed the Hagrites and occupied the region east of Gilead. The son of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah. These tribes provided good fighting men, highly skilled in the use of sword and shield. The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, including Senir and Mount Hermon. These tribes departed from the ways of God and found themselves carried off into exile like others in Israel.
Psalm 85 is another Psalm of the sons of Korah. It is a prayer for revival and restoration. The psalmist looks back on better days and calls God to turn away his indignation from the Old Testament church on account of its folly and failures to hear and heed him. He begins, ‘LORD, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.’ And therefore, just as God showed Israel grace, love, and mercy in the past, he pleads for more of the same. ‘4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?’ The psalmist recognises how dependent God’s people are upon his grace. He asks God, ‘7 Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.’ The psalmist prays in faith and hope that God will hear and answer his prayer in the affirmative. He prays moreover, not only for himself but for the church. ‘8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.’ Longing for and anticipating better days, he declares, ‘9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.’ The good news is that these things are ours in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
To ponder! Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God (Ps.98:1-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 345
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 6 & Psalm 86
1 Chronicles 6 contains the genealogical lists of the priestly tribe of Levi. One and Two Chronicles are written from a priestly perspective and are primarily concerned with the worship of the Tabernacle and Temple. It follows the line of descent from Levi to Jehozadak who was forcibly exiled during the Babylonian captivity, and beyond. It names those that King David put in charge of the praise of the Tabernacle after it was brought to Jerusalem and was replaced by the Temple in his son, Solomon’s prosperous reign. The Levites enjoyed exclusive command of the worship and all things pertaining to it at the Tabernacle and Temple. They had responsibility for the furnishings and the holy things pertaining to the Temple worship. The high priest also came from their order. And he was charged with offering sacrifice within the Holy of holies once a year on the Day of Atonement anticipating Christ’s once and for all sacrifice for the sin of the world. The chapter delineates their dwelling places among the tribes when not on active service.
Psalm 86 is a personal prayer of David in a time of trial and trouble. In it the psalmist acts as the voice of the church when faced with dark and difficult providences. He prays, ‘Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.’ David cries to God consistently and continually for grace, confident in God’s goodness and willingness to answer his pleas. ‘3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.’ The psalmist extols the uniqueness and greatness of God as well as his goodness which gives him confidence in prayer. ‘8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.’ He asks God to enlighten and encourage him. ‘11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.’ He will yet express his gratitude to God for his amazing grace. ‘12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.’ Confronted by a ruthless and wicked conspiracy against him, David is determined to trust in God. ‘14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favour, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.’ God is the Helper and Comforter of his people. In him we must trust.
To ponder! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor.1:3-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 346
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 7 & Psalm 87
1 Chronicles 7 provides genealogical lists for Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. The narrative records the number of fighting men each tribe was able to provide in the event of war. Again detail is provided regarding territory occupied by certain tribes.
Psalm 87 is a paeon of praise to God by the sons of Korah for Zion, the Holy City, which acts as a type of which the church is the anti-type and fulfilment. One can imagine the pilgrims singing this psalm as they made their way up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. This was the place where God chose to dwell with his people in a unique and special way symbolised in the presence of the Temple, which is turn anticipated and foreshadowed Jesus Christ, our Immanuel. The psalmist writes, ‘On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah’ God’s church like his city is the work of God’s grace. He founded it, and it belongs to God in Christ. He loves his people with a love that is infinite and eternal in Jesus. And bestows his grace and glory on his church. Others recognise the divine favour given to it. ‘4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—“This one was born there,” they say.’ The living God not only establishes his Zion, the church but he builds and beautifies her. The names of all his children are written in his book of life. ‘5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The LORD records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah’ And this is cause for celebratory praise. ‘7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”’ We are again reminded that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
To ponder! So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,[c] and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken (Jn.2:18-22).
Bible Challenge: Day 347
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 8 & Psalm 88
1 Chronicles 8 records the genealogy of Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes of Israel. They played an important role in the history of the nation, particularly in the days of King Saul who was a Benjaminite.
In Psalm 88 the psalmist expresses fear and despair at the thought of death. A superficial reading of the psalm might conclude that the writer is without faith and hope but that is not the case as he begins, ‘O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. 2 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!’ This prayer echoes the first part of Psalm 22 with its cry of dereliction, and like it has evident Christological overtones. One of the beloved companions of the Lord Jesus not only shunned him but betrayed him! Here the psalmist expresses his worries and woes. He writes, ‘3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, 5 like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.’ Recognising that God is sovereign, he sees the hand of Providence in his predicament but also its solution. ‘6 You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah’ Even his companions have abandoned him, and he feels the despair of loneliness. ‘8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.’ And yet, the psalmist continues to pray in earnest, looking to God to come to his aid and deliver him from the depths of dejection and despondency. ‘Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.’ He asks God, ‘10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah 11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?’ He tells God, ‘13 But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.’ Despite his incomprehension, concerns, and fears he will continue to plead before God knowing that his help must come from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. ‘14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? 15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. 16 Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. 17 They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. 18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.’ Psalm 88 reminds that we must continue to pray to God when the clouds of anxiety block the joyous rays of the light. God is still present in the darkness. He is our Comforter and Deliverer. And we have his promise in and through Jesus Christ that he will never forsake us.
To ponder! Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isa.41:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 348
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 9 & Psalm 89
1 Chronicles 9 records the genealogy of those that returned from exile in Babylon. And the first to return were the priests, Levites, and temple servants. They were accompanied by some from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who reoccupied Jerusalem. There follow the names of those the served the House of God and a description of their roles with emphasis given to the Temple worship. The chapter concludes by repeating the genealogy of Saul.
Psalm 89 is a song of praise written by Ethan the Ezrahite. He gladly declares, ‘I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.’ Speaking of King David but anticipating and foreshadowing the Lord Jesus Christ he extols God for his everlasting covenant. For his Chosen One will reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords (vv.2-4). The psalmist praises God’s holiness. He is altogether unique, great, and glorious (vv.5-8). He is sovereign over the heavens and the earth which he made and sustains (vv.9-13). ‘14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.’ Ethan expresses the blessedness of God’s people who exist to glorify and enjoy God forever. They show gratitude for grace in their worship, work, and witness (vv.15-18). Speaking of God’s Christ, who will address God and say, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation”, the psalmist anticipates his triumph over the wicked (vv.19-26). ‘27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. 29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.’ Yet, God will discipline his followers that fail to keep the faith by departing from God’s commandments (vv30-37). Ethan then turns to the present and laments Israel’s fortune. The people had defied, and disobeyed God and he has disciplined them sorely (vv.38-45). He therefore desperately asks, ‘46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man! 48 What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah’ The psalmist pleads God’s precious promises and further asks, ‘49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 51 with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.’ Trusting in God, the psalmist concludes, ‘52 Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.’
To ponder! O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (Jn.17:25-26).
Bible Challenge: Day 349
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 10 & Psalm 90
1 Chronicles 10 records the death of King Saul and his sons who were killed by the Philistines in battle. Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua were slain on Mount Gilboa. Saul fell on his own sword after incurring a fatal injury by an arrow which penetrated his armour. His army and the Israelites in the region retreated and the Philistines conquered territory. The Philistines also located the bodies of Saul and his sons. They placed Saul’s armour in the temple of their gods and fixed his severed head to the Temple of Dagon to declare their superiority. Brave men from Jabesh-gilead nevertheless retrieved Saul and his sons’ remains and buried them with due ceremony at Jabesh. ‘So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.’
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses in which he pleads with God to turn away his righteous anger and show instead his divine favour and steadfast love to the children of Israel. He begins by acknowledging Israel’s dependence upon the Lord who is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He writes, ‘Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.’ He ponders man’s mortality in comparison with God’s immortality. ‘3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.’ Moses also reflects on God’s omniscience. Man’s sin is therefore not hidden from him. ‘8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.’ He muses on the brevity of life and asks God to teach people his ways – to grant wisdom to use their time faithfully and fruitfully. ‘10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.’ Moses prays on behalf of the Old Testament church for restoration and renewal in their relationship to God and one another. He concludes, ‘13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Grace is not a reward for our worship, work, and witness but must precede as well as follow them. Let us like Moses acknowledge our dependence on the living God.
To ponder! ‘Give what you command, and command what you will’ (Augustine of Hippo).
Bible Challenge: Day 350
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 11 & Psalm 91
1 Chronicles 11 records Samuel’s anointing of King David at Hebron and the covenant made between Israel’s new king and the people. Unsurprisingly it focuses on David’s conquest of Jerusalem and of how he built it up as his capital city. It became known as the City of David. ‘And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.’ The chronicler then provides a record of David’s mighty men and describes their exploits in defending, consolidating, and expanding the kingdom against Philistines, Moabites, and Egyptians. And so, Jashobeam, Eleazar, Abishai, Benaiah, and others are named and their exploits documented.
Psalm 91 is a prayer of confidence in God’s provision and protection. It has obvious Christological overtones as the Lord Jesus defeated, disarmed, and will destroy the forces of darkness on behalf of his church. The Evil One himself, familiar with scripture, sought to twist the meaning of its words when he confronted our Lord in the wilderness. However, he was no match for Jesus who used the occasion to teach his people about presumptuous sin (see Mt.4:5-7). This Psalm was prayed by the religious in the West at compline but in the East in the morning and at noon. It is appropriate at any time of the day and has often provided comfort to Christians at a funeral. The psalmist begins, ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”’ These are the words of biblical faith which comprises confidence, conviction, and commitment to God. Therefore, the psalmist, writing from personal experience assures his readers, ‘3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.’ God is our Protector. ‘5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.’ Writing poetically, the psalmist adds that God will providentially look after his people. ‘11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.’ Finally, he speaks prophetically on God’s behalf and concludes, ‘14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”’ That salvation is ours in and through Jesus Christ who triumphed over our foes to provide everlasting love, light, and life. Blessed are all that trust in him.
To ponder! “Pray also at the sixth hour, because when Christ was attached to the wood of the cross, the daylight ceased and became darkness. Thus you should pray a powerful prayer at this hour, imitating the cry of him who prayed and all creation was made dark for the unbelieving Jews” (Hippolytus, from The Apostolic Tradition, c.AD 210).
Bible Challenge: Day 351
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 12 & Psalm 92
1 Chronicles 12 continues the theme of the mighty men that served under David in warfare. They were not only courageous on the battlefield, but they were highly skilled in the use of the weapons of war. Many are named as a lasting memorial. The words of Amasai, a chief of thirty men, are applicable to all those that served with David. “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” We are further informed that ‘For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.’ Then follows a record of the sizeable numbers of soldiers that joined in service to David from various tribes of Israel. ‘All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.’ His coronation was a time of great feasting and festivities.
Psalm 92 is a song that was written for the Sabbath Day. It has been regularly sung or prayed by Christians individually and the church collectively on the Lord’s Day in this new covenant era. The psalmist begins, ‘It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.’ Day and night sacrifice of praise is offered to God in gratitude to him for his amazing grace. And so, the psalmist speaking on behalf of God’s people, writes, ‘4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!’ He laments the folly of the wicked who flourish only for a season but are doomed to destruction unless they repent. ‘6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O LORD, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.’ By contrast, the LORD exalts the humble and holy. And therefore, the psalmist concludes, ‘10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ God’s people continue to flourish by faith in Jesus Christ in whom they have access to the Father and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Even into old age they continue to bear fruit which is the Father’s will for our lives. They do so by his faithfulness and favour. He alone is worthy of worship. It is our privilege and pleasure to call upon his name and serve him in worship, work, and witness.
To ponder! Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life (Pro.16:31).
Bible Challenge: Day 352
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 13 & Psalm 93
1 Chronicles 13 begins with David gathering the people and priests together. He urged the assembled throng, “let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” And the people consented. And so David brought the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim and they transported the Ark of the Covenant to the house of Abinadab, Uzzah, and Ahio with celebratory praise. However, on route to the City of David, Uzzah took hold of the Ark to steady it after the oxen had stumbled and was struck down by the LORD. Afraid of further repercussions, David had the Ark kept at the home of Obed-edom, the Gittite. ‘And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.’
Psalm 93 is a paeon of praise to Almighty God, extolling his glory and greatness. As the catechism reminds us, he is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. The psalmist therefore begins, ‘The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.’ He is omniscient – all powerful. He is regal and rules over his creation. ‘Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.’ God is sovereign and his plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. The psalmist writes, ‘3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.’ But concludes, ‘4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!’ He is holy, holy, holy. He is steadfast in his covenant love and is therefore ever faithful. ‘5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.’ He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He changes not. He alone is worthy of faith and the worship that flows from it. Praise the LORD.
To ponder! “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev.4:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 353
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 14 & Psalm 94
1 Chronicles 14 begins by informing the reader that David built a suitable royal palace at Jerusalem with skilled masons, craftsmen and cedar sent by Hiram, the king of Tyre. ‘And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.’ It then explains how David took wives and fathered sons and daughters which are named, establishing his dynasty. By God’s enabling, he also repulsed and defeated a Philistine armies at Baal-perazim and from Gibeon to Gezer. David incinerated the Philistine idols that were left behind. ‘And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.’
In Psalm 94 the psalmist cries to God for vengeance against the wicked. He desires God to vindicate his name, protect his people, and provide justice for all. He begins, ‘O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!’ He poses the perennial question of how long the wicked are permitted to flourish by exploiting and doing evil to others. ‘3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”’ The psalmist points out the folly of wickedness. God takes note of such wrongdoing and will judge the wicked for their actions. He reminds them of the brevity of life considering eternity. ‘8 Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? 10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—11 the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.’ By contrast, blessed are those whom the LORD disciplines and who keep his commandments. He will not forsake the righteous. ‘12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.’ The psalmist, foreshadowing the Lord Jesus Christ, is therefore heartened that God upholds and sustains him against the wicked who conspire to take his life. He asks, ‘16 Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? 17 If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 18 When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. 19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. 20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? 21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.’ He expresses his confidence in God as his shield and shelter, his rock and refuge. The LORD will condemn the unrepentant wicked.
To ponder! And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Heb.9:27).
Bible Challenge: Day 354
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 15 & Psalm 95
1 Chronicles 15 records how King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. A place was prepared for it and David in accordance with the divine law instructed the Levites and priests only to transport the Ark to his capital city. ‘And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites’. Conscious of what happened previously, David commanded the priests to consecrate themselves for this special task. ‘So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.’ David also commanded the priestly singers and musicians to praise God before the Ark enroute to the Holy City. He, along with the elders and commanders of Israel accompanied the Ark and its priestly procession with celebratory worship. ‘And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.’
Psalm 95 is a paeon of praise and summons to worship God. Traditionally, referred to as The Venite’ (Oh come) it was daily sung at matins in the church catholic. It continues to be a favourite among Psalm-singing congregations in Scotland to this day. The psalmist begins, ‘Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!’ Here the psalmist reminds us that worship is the right response to God’s saving grace and greatness. He here urges God’s people to draw near to the LORD in celebratory praise like David and Israel in today’s other reading. ‘2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!’ Thanksgiving and gratitude are the appropriate response to grace. Moreover, we are summoned to praise him for who he is as well as for what he has done. He is our Creator, Benefactor, Ruler, and Judge as well as Saviour. ‘3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.’ Therefore, our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We are to praise him in the beauty of holiness and humility. And so the psalmist adds, ‘6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.’ He provides for and protects his people. The psalmist concludes with a warning not to take God’s grace for granted but learn from the church’s history. ‘Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” 11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” God’s people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ for good works done in love. Therefore, the psalmist urges all to remain faithful and not to forsake the LORD and his ways. While saints, we are sinners still this side of the grave and must guard our hearts.
To ponder! The words of a classic country song spring to mind and are a useful summary of what the psalmist conveys concerning our relationship with God in the latter part of Psalm 95. ‘I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine, I walk the line. (Johnny Cash).
Bible Challenge: Day 355
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16 & Psalm 96
1 Chronicles 16 records how the Ark of the Covenant was placed in a specially prepared tent at Jerusalem. There King David offered burnt and peace offerings before the LORD, blessed the people of Israel, and had a loaf of bread, portion of meat, and cake of raisins distributed among them. He appointed Levites to minister before the Ark, and musicians and singers praised God regularly from the Tabernacle. There follows David’s song of praise where he begins by urging the people to worship God – to express gratitude for grace. He therefore calls upon all Israel. ‘Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! 12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered, 13 O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!’ He urges the people to remember the covenant that God has made with them. He reminds them of their history, heritage, and inheritance and of how God their Saviour provided for them and protected them. However, recognising Israel’s call and anticipating the New Covenant era, he invites all people everywhere to worship God. ‘Worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness; 30 tremble before him, all the earth’. The people of Israel gladly added an amen in response. And David and the people departed to their homes leaving the priests to continue the daily rounds of sacrificial worship and praise.
Psalm 96 is another paeon of praise to the LORD. The psalmist urges all the earth to praise God who is the only Lord and Saviour of all the world. He begins, ‘Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples!’ As our forebears remind us, based on this Psalm and other portions of sacred scripture like it, our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We were made by him and are saved by him alone to be new creations that are rooted and built up in love. ‘4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.’ He alone is worthy of worship as Creator, Benefactor, Judge, and Redeemer. ‘6 Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.’ Therefore, the psalmist invites all people to ‘7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!’ Extolling not only God’s sovereign grace and faithfulness but also his righteousness or justness, the psalmist poetically adds, ‘10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.’ Praise the LORD indeed! Our Lord and Saviour is coming again to judge the world in perfect righteousness and lead his people into everlasting blessedness, peace, joy, and glory.
To ponder! “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” (Rev.5:13)
Bible Challenge: Day 356
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 17 & Psalm 97
1 Chronicles 17 contains God’s covenant with King David and David’s response in prayer. David sought the counsel of the Prophet Nathan concerning the construction of a Temple for the Ark of the Covenant. God however, revealed his will to Nathan and told him “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.” God promised to be with David and to bless him with progeny, but his son and successor would build the House of God. Nathan therefore conveyed God’s word to David saying, “When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” God’s covenant was and is ultimately fulfilled in David’s son and Lord, Jesus Christ our everlasting King and Saviour! David humbly prayed in response and gave thanks to God for his grace and greatness. He concluded, “And now, O LORD, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O LORD, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
Psalm 97 is a song of praise extolling God’s sovereignty, righteousness, and grace. It begins, ‘The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!’ God is on his throne and his will be done. Echoing the imagery associated with God on Mount Sinai in the days of Moses, the psalmist continues by highlighting something of the mystery, holiness, and glory of God, ‘2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.’ While those that worship false gods are shamed, God’s people rejoice in him and take confidence in his judgements. ‘7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD.’ The psalmist makes clear that God alone is LORD. ‘9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.’ He therefore urges those that love God to hate evil and trust wholeheartedly in the LORD. ‘10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil! For God, he declares, ‘…preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.’ Therefore, ‘12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!’ And lest we forget, God is truly with us and for us in Emmanuel, Jesus Christ whose kingdom is everlasting.
To ponder! Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God (Rev.4:4-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 357
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 18 & Psalm 98
1 Chronicles 18 charts King David’s victories, as well as his territorial and material gains over the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites. It records the numerical strength of the armies and the armaments that David and the Israelites triumphed over. We are specifically told that ‘…the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.’ He acquired gold and bronze which Solomon would use in the construction of the Temple. Rather than face David in the field of battle, Tou, the king of Hamath, paid tribute to him in gold, silver, and bronze which David dedicated to the LORD. He did the same with precious metals acquired from the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites. ‘So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.’ The chapter concludes by naming some of David’s key administrators. He was not only dependent upon God’s grace but on reliable ministers which were given key roles in the government of the nation.
Psalm 98 is another song of praise exalting God for his amazing grace. It begins, ‘Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.’ The psalmist extols God for the revelation of his salvation and righteousness. He has definitively demonstrated his covenant love and faithfulness to his people. ‘2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.’ In response, the psalmist urges everyone, everywhere to ‘4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!’ Anticipating God’s righteous judgement of the world, he poetically concludes, ‘7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.’ God is not only gloriously gracious, but he is impeccably just.
To ponder! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2Cor.5:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 358
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 19 & Psalm 99
In 1 Chronicles 19 King David travelled to Ammon to pay his respects to King Hanun on the death of his father, Nahash. There had been good relations between the two monarchs and their respective kingdoms which David hoped would continue. Hanun’s advisors, however, convinced him that David’s intentions were bad and that he was merely surveying the lay of the land in readiness for an invasion. ‘So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; 5 and they departed.’ David was understandably disgusted and when word reached the Ammonites, they prepared for war by hiring additional mercenaries from the surrounding nations to bolster their army. They won the support of the Syrians who agreed to assist them militarily. David marshalled his forces under the commands of Joab and Abishai and they met the Ammonites and Syrians on the battlefield. The latter armies fled before the mighty men of Israel. The Syrians attempted to reinforce their army for another assault on Israel but David received intelligence of their intention and rose to meet them in the field on the far side of the Jordan River. There David won a decisive victory and killed Shophach, the Syrian commander. The Syrians were compelled thereafter to break their alliance with the Ammonites and seek peace with Israel and serve their interests.
Psalm 99 is another paeon of praise to God in which the psalmist exalts the awesomeness, holiness, righteousness, and mercy of God. He calls upon the people to worship God who is great and gracious. He begins by reminding the church that God is on his throne. He is the sovereign ruler of all. ‘The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!’ He highlights the majesty as well as the goodness of God. He is altogether perfect and unique – ‘infinite, eternal, and unchangeable’. ‘2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!’ The LORD delights in and delivers justice to his people. ‘4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.’ The psalmist therefore bids the church, ‘5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!’ He invokes Israel’s history to remind God’s people of the greatness and graciousness of God as well as their heritage and inheritance. ‘6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.’ He concludes by again urging the church to worship their holy God. ‘9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!’
To ponder! “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev.4:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 359
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 20 & Psalm 100
1 Chronicles 20 records the capture of the Ammonite city of Rabbah under David’s army commander, Joab. David subsequently stripped the local king of his crown and wore it himself as a symbol of his conquest. And the Ammonite people were forced to serve Israel in manual labour. ‘And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.’ The remainder of this short chapter details subsequent victories in war against the Philistines and the triumph of certain courageous men of Israel over the descendants of Goliath of Gath in combat. ‘These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.’
Psalm 100 is a song of praise that the church continues to sing regularly in its public worship. The psalmist, anticipating our new covenant era, begins by urging all people to join in celebratory praise to the LORD. ‘Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!’ He calls us to ‘Serve the LORD with gladness!’ and to ‘Come into his presence with singing!’ Worship is our ultimate end. God alone is worthy of it. And it is the goal of the church’s mission – to bring people into a right relationship with God that they might worship him in spirit and in truth. The psalmist therefore bids God’s people to ‘3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.’ The Good Shepherd laid down his life and took it up again for his flock. He leads us to green pastures and still waters. He restores our souls. He gives us eternal life. Let us therefore show our gratitude to him for his amazing grace. Let us ‘4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!’ Why? ‘5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.’ Praise him now and always.
To ponder! My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand (Jn.10:27-28).
Bible Challenge: Day 360
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 21 & Psalm 101
1 Chronicles 21 begins with David who was incited by Satan to number Israel. He therefore commanded Joab “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” He dismissed Joab’s objections and insisted he carry out his order which he did. Joab reported back to the monarch that there were 1,100,000 fighting men in Israel and 470,000 in Judah. David’s action, however, not only displeased his chief commander but it also angered God who gave the king a choice of punishment. David chose disease! ‘So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from the calamity.’ David earnestly repented before God and urged him, “Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” The angel of the LORD also communicated God’s will via Gad and so David travelled to and purchased the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite, and there built an altar to God and offered burnt and peace offerings and called upon the name of the LORD for mercy. God consumed his offerings by fire as a sign of acceptance and forgiveness and David saw the angel of the LORD sheath his sword. Nevertheless, the fear of the LORD prevented him from going up to Gibeon where the Tabernacle was then located.
Psalm 101 is a Psalm of David in which he praise’s God for his covenant love and righteousness. He begins, ‘I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.’ David reflects on God’s justice, and yearns for a heart aflame with love for God and others so that he might walk before God and the people with integrity, moral probity, and wisdom. He desires to live ‘coram Deo’, before the face of God, or in the presence of God, ever conscious of his nearness as well as his transcendence. ‘2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.’ The psalmist expresses a loathing of apostasy and the abandonment of God and his ways. He pledges to avoid such wickedness that emanates from the fallen nature. He writes, ‘I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.’ He vows, moreover, as king of Israel, to uphold and implement God’s moral law. He therefore declares, ‘5 Whoever slanders his neighbour secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.’ On the contrary, he will show favour to and fellowship with the faithful. ‘6 I will look with favour on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.’ However, he gives a warning that ‘7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.’ David hereby anticipates the fulfilment of Christ’s kingdom and the eternal state where God’s people will live forever in the presence of God in perfect righteousness, peace, and joy.
To ponder! My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isa.32:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 361
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 22 & Psalm 102
1 Chronicles 22 focuses on the preparation and building of the Temple in Jerusalem in the respective reigns of David and Solomon. Although God prohibited David from building the Temple, he nevertheless took the initiative in providing materials and setting masons, loggers, and blacksmiths to work cutting stone, gathering timbers from afar, and making nails in readiness. ‘For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.’ David explained to his son, Solomon, how it was God’s will that he should build the Temple. He urged him, moreover, to keep God’s commandments and to exercise wisdom in the form of discretion and understanding. He told his son, “Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.” David furthermore provided sizeable quantities of gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and timber, along with skilled craftsmen and workmen for the project. And commending Solomon to God he bid him arise and work. King David commanded the leaders of Israel to support his son in the building of the House of God in the Holy City.
In Psalm 102 the psalmist expresses faith and hope in God in a day of deep distress and dejection. Anticipating the Lord Christ’s cry of abandonment from the Cross, he cries, ‘Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! 2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!’ The psalmist feels demoralised, desolate, and drained. He is unable to sleep on account of his worries and woes. And his enemies taunt and curse him (vv.3-8). He feels the weight of God’s judgement upon him and seeks relief. ‘9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, 10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. 11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.’ The psalmist aware that God does not change, earnestly prays for grace and mercy not only for himself but for the Israel of God, the church. ‘12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favour her; the appointed time has come.’ He looks to God for revival, restoration, and renewal and trusts wholly in the LORD to bring these to pass (vv.14-17). And anticipating the new covenant era, he desires that his words and example be recorded for the benefit of future generations that will worship God (vv.18-22). Pondering his physical mortality in comparison with God’s immortality, the psalmist contrasts the brevity and transitory nature of our world with the infinite, eternal, and unchangeable nature and purpose of God and concludes, ‘23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. 24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days—you whose years endure throughout all generations!” 25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.’
To ponder! He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isa.40:29-31).
Bible Challenge: Day 362
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 23 & Psalm 103
1 Chronicles 23 records David’s organising the Levites twenty years old and above in readiness for service in the Temple worship. There were 38000 and they were divided into three divisions based on ancestry through Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. There follow the names of the most prominent among them within this tripartite division. King David addressed them and said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” Their duty was now to solely assist the priests in the service of the Tabernacle and the forthcoming Temple. They had responsibility for the fabric and furnishings, as well as the offerings made in worship. ‘And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD.’
Psalm 103 is another paeon of praise to God for his glorious grace, limitless love, and measureless mercy. It is a particular favourite of mine, probably on account of its prominence at Communion Seasons. The psalmist begins, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!’ Herein, we are reminded that our chief rather than subordinate end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Worship is not only primary; it is also our ultimate end! The psalmist praises God for his goodness, forgiveness, and fellowship. ‘2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.’ It is God who redeems and renews his people, who in turn bless him for his amazing grace. The psalmist reminds the church that the LORD is righteous and is a God of justice. ‘6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.’ Because we fall short of the glory of God and fail to keep his commandments, he wonderfully adds, however, that ‘8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.’ This he does for Christ’s sake who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. ‘13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.’ The psalmist reminds us of our frailty and of the brevity of our lives in this world. ‘15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.’ However, God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. Therefore, the psalmist edifies and encourages the church in the knowledge, ‘17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.’ God not only saves but he calls us to good works done in love. We are called to faith, faithfulness, and fruitfulness, ever dependent on God’s grace and guidance to persevere and prosper not only in the present but everlastingly. Look up and praise the LORD. ‘19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.’ Let all creation praise the Creator, Benefactor, Judge, Ruler, and Saviour. ‘20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.’ Let each of us gladly say along with the psalmist, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul!’
To ponder! But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph.2:4-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 363
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 24 & Psalm 104
As in the previous chapter which records how David organised the Levites to serve in the Tabernacle and forthcoming Temple and there assist the priests, so in 1 Chronicles 24 the aged king organises the priesthood. The chapter begins, ‘The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.’ David set the priesthood in sixteen divisions depending on their genealogical descent. There follow the names of the heads of the priestly families. ‘These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.’
Psalm 104 is a song of praise extolling the greatness and glory of God in poetic language. The psalmist begins, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendour and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.’ The psalmist paints a beautiful word picture of God as sovereign maker and sustainer of his creation. His rich provision is abundant and abiding (vv.3-12). The psalmist gladly proclaims, ‘13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.’ The psalmist not only delights in God’s natural revelation in the form of flora, fauna, and topography but he marvels at the seasons as well as the ordering of day and night via the sun and the moon (vv.16-23). After surveying God’s creation, he concludes, ‘24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.’ He then turns his attention to the sea which also teems with life (vv.25-28). And reflects on the creatures dependency on God (vv.29-30) and exclaims, ‘31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!’ The psalmist ends with a paeon of personal praise. ‘33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!’ His pledge ought to be the declaration of the church in every day and generation. We are called to worship God and labour for his kingdom of love.
To ponder! Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Mt.6:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 364
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 25 & Psalm 105
1 Chronicles 25 records how after organising the Levites and the priests for service in the Tabernacle and forthcoming Temple, King David turned his attention to the musicians responsible for the praise therein. The chapter therefore begins, ‘David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals.’ There follow the names of the chief of these by genealogical descent who would lead the singing of psalms and the playing of musical instruments. ‘The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.’ The remainder of the chapter lists the division of labour among the musicians and singers.
Psalm 105 is another song of praise that recounts God’s amazing grace to the Old Testament church. The psalmist begins, ‘Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!’ Reminding us that God’s people are called to worship and witness. ‘2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!’ And we are to do so enthusiastically and joyfully. ‘3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!’ The church is to seek the LORD consistently and continually as dependent upon his grace, love, and mercy. ‘4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!’ She is to read, reflect upon and remember his saving deeds on behalf of his elect. ‘5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!’ The church is to keep in mind God’s covenant faithfulness always and the favour he has shown towards them (vv.7-15). There follows an account of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the instrumentality of his chosen servants, Moses and Aaron. And of his rich provision and protection of his people through the wilderness to the Promised Land, despite their dearth of faith and folly, at times (vv.16-41). We are hereby again reminded of the importance of the biblical story, and particularly of the Exodus which anticipated and foreshadowed Christ’s gospel and kingdom that awaits its culmination and fulfilment at the end of our New Testament era. Moreover, we are taught indirectly here to value our church history. It is not incidental but rather important to our understanding of our heritage. The psalm concludes by rightly focusing of the faithfulness and grace of God. ‘42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. 43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. 44 And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, 45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!’ God’s people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ for loving service to God and others – for worship, work, and witness.
To ponder! Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you (Deut.32:7).
‘Christian faith is being touched by God and witnessing to him’ (Benedict XVI).
Bible Challenge: Day 365
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 26 & Psalm 106
1 Chronicles 26 records King David’s organisation and division of the gatekeepers who were the descendants of Korah, Meshelemiah, and Asaph. ‘These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in the house of the LORD. 13 And they cast lots by fathers' houses, small and great alike, for their gates.’ Afterwards, he made a further division among the Levites, assigning some treasury and other officials for the Tabernacle and forthcoming Temple in Jerusalem. These had oversight of income, expenditure, donations, and gifts set apart for a holy use. Others were appointed to external duties as administrators, officers, and judges throughout the kingdom.
Psalm 106 is a song of praise thanking God for his goodness and greatness. It begins, ‘Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’
God is love and he calls his people to walk before him and one another in love which is the summation of the moral law contained in the 10 Commandments. The psalmist asks, ‘2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise?’ And adds, ‘3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!’ Dependant of God’s grace and understanding that he is a member of the church, the psalmist prays, ‘4 Remember me, O LORD, when you show favour to your people; help me when you save them, 5 that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.’ The psalmist then asks God’s forgiveness for his own and Israel’s sins, past and present. ‘6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.’ He then goes on to recall and rehearse the sins of his fathers in the Exodus and Wilderness period remembering their faithlessness and folly in engaging in apostasy and idolatry and God’s resultant judgements but he also more crucially reflects of God’s grace, love, and mercy (vv.7-42). And so, he writes, ‘43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.’ In remembering these past events, and understanding that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the psalmist prays to God to intercede in the present. He cries, ‘47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.’ The Bible teaches that God saves in order that his people may glorify and enjoy him forever! The psalmist therefore concludes, ‘48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!’ The work of gathering in God’s people continues in the Gospel Commission to all nations. One day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
To ponder! Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15).
Bible Challenge: Day 366
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 27 & Psalm 107
1 Chronicles 27 continues the theme of King David’s spiritual and temporal organisation of his kingdom. It begins, ‘This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000’. There follows the said division among the leadership of David’s army and the soldiers under their command so that Israel was ever ready to defend her borders and repulse invading forces. The names of the leaders of the tribes or clans called to serve for each month of the year is therefore recorded. Nevertheless, ‘David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the LORD had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.’ The remainder of the chapter lists those charged with the king’s treasury and stewardship offices.
Psalm 107 is another beautiful song of praise celebrating God’s goodness and steadfast love towards his people. The refrain, ‘Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!’ perfectly encapsulate the purpose of the song as a Psalm of thanksgiving. I used to regularly take verses 23-30 to be sung to the tune ‘Loch Broom’ when ministering in the Western Isles. Anticipating our New Covenant era, the psalmist begins, ‘Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.’ The Psalm expresses joy in and gives thanks for God’s person, presence, promise, providences, provision, and protection and implicitly reminds its reader of the importance of faith and repentance and that gratitude is the rightful response to grace. ‘7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.’ Let everyone praise the LORD ‘9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.’ God hears the cry of his people and comes to their rescue. He is the LORD our Helper. Let us bear witness to his salvation in songs of joy. Let us trust him who stills the storms and calms the waves. His name is Jesus. He will bring us to the desired haven. God makes our deserts bloom and provides us with the water of life. He ‘raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.’ Therefore, ‘43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.’ Thank God.
To ponder! I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Ps.121:1-2).
Bible Challenge: Day 367
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 28 & Psalm 108
1 Chronicles 28 records King David’s charge to the leaders that served the kingdom of Israel. He explained that while he had desired to build the Temple in Jerusalem, and had made appropriate preparations, God had intervened and informed him that he was not to build a house for his name because he was a man of war who had shed blood. Nevertheless, God promised David that Solomon his son would build the said house. He assured David, ‘I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ David urged Israel to study and keep the commandments of God ‘that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.’ The king then addressed Solomon and urged him to serve God wholeheartedly and added, “Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”. He then acquainted Solomon with his plan and preparations for the Temple, including its ministry and furnishings which he had received from God. He told his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. 21 And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”
Psalm 108 is another paeon of praise. The psalmist acting as the voice of the church, expresses his wholehearted love and devotion to God. He begins, ‘My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!’ He begins the day with praise making this an appropriate prayer or song for matins. He extols God’s love and faithfulness. ‘3 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.’ Anticipating and foreshadowing the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation that is uniquely found in him, he exclaims, ‘5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!’ The psalmist praises God for and asks God to fulfil his promises to his people, reminding us of God’s commitment to his covenant. God keeps his word. He writes, ‘7 God has promised in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my sceptre. 9 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”’ God is sovereign over the nations. The psalmist concludes by again affirming his and the church’s total reliance upon God’s grace. ‘10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. 12 Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.’ We are hereby reminded that the Christian’s comfort and confidence is in God. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
To ponder! And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt.28:18-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 368
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 29 & Psalm 109
1 Chronicles 29 records King David’s last words and his son, Solomon’s, anointing as his successor. The chapter begins with David making precious resources available for the construction and beautification of the House of God. The leaders of Israel followed his example. ‘Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.’ David praised the LORD and prayed before the people. He firstly expressed adoration to God for his greatness and goodness. He prayed, “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” David went on to humbly thank God for the favour he had shown to him personally and to the children of Israel collectively. He acknowledged that out of the abundance of good things that God have given to them they were giving back to God out of their time, talents, and treasures for the construction of the Temple. He similarly acknowledged God’s call upon their lives to walk before him in uprightness of heart. And he asked God to bless his son and successor. “Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” He concluded by urging the assembly to praise the LORD. And they all worshipped God with gladness. David reigned for forty years and died at a good age. Solomon was formerly anointed a second time by Zadok the High Priest in the presence of the people. ‘And he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 25 And the LORD made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.’
Psalm 109 is a Psalm of David when he was confronted with betrayal and rebellion. As is clear from the New Testament Gospels and chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles (v.20) this psalm anticipates and foreshadows the betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot, and others. David begins, ‘Be not silent, O God of my praise! 2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. 3 They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.’ And so it was with the Lord Jesus, especially in Holy Week. David pleads his innocence. His enemies were returning evil for good and hatred for love as they would to Christ. David’s cry for vindication and vengeance is a cry for justice against those that unjustly speak and act against him and therein trample God’s law of love underfoot (vv.4-20). The Lord Jesus similarly will warn the wicked of the condemnation that awaits them if they continue unrepentant and faithless but unlike David, he will cry from the Cross, “Father, forgive them for they no not what they do.” Nevertheless, the same Lord Jesus also said with reference to Judas Iscariot, “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” David prays to God to graciously intervene and save him from his enemies. His words will be echoed by Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal and on the Cross when confronted by his detractors and accusers (vv.21-25). David confidently looks to the LORD, as Jesus would later do, conscious that his Cross had to precede his Crown. Confident that God would intervene and give him cause for rejoicing (vv.26-31). As we read above in 1 Chronicles 29, God delivered and blessed David who praised God in the great assembly of his people. So, God raised Jesus that every knee should bow, and tongue confess that he is Lord. He is coming again to judge the world in righteousness. He assures his church not only of vindication but more gloriously, of victory.
To ponder! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb.10:31).
Bible Challenge: Day 369
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 1 & Psalm 110
2 Chronicles 1 begins, ‘Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.’ That opening verse reminds the reader of God’s promise to David and his faithfulness to keeping his word. Solomon assembled the leaders and people of Israel and lead them to the high place at Gibeon where the Tent of Meeting established by Moses at God’s prompting was located. And there they offered sacrifices to God and gave thanks to him for his goodness to them. Later, God appeared to Solomon at night and bid him “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon prayed to God, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” And God additionally promised him in return, “riches, possessions, and honour, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” Subsequently, Solomon and his kingdom prospered. ‘He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.’ He furthermore imported the finest commodities from the surrounding nations ensuring his fame spread internationally.
Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm attributed to David. Traditionally it was prayed or sung at vespers on the Lord’s Day throughout the Western Church. The Lord Jesus Christ reveals his identity by quoting its opening verse in the New Testament synoptic Gospels (Mt.22:44; Mk.12:36, Lk.20:42). ‘The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Here we are made mindful of the Lord Christ’s divine and hence eternal nature as well as his human one – for to us a child is born, to us a Son is given. It communicates his great triumph over the forces of darkness and his subsequent coronation and reign at the right hand of the Father in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. Where he must reign until his enemies are made his footstool. He came forth from Zion and has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ‘2 The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty sceptre. Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ His church, as the recipients of grace, will gladly trust, obey, and follow him who is our wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Therefore, the psalmist proclaims, ‘3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.’ David also reminds his readers of the unchangeable commission and covenant faithfulness of God in Christ. ‘4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”’ The Apostle Paul (or undisclosed author) in chapter 7 of his Epistle to the Hebrews expands upon the significance of these words and they should be read in conjunction with this psalm. Melchizedek was the Priest-King of Salem who appeared to and received homage from Abraham (see Gen.14:17-24). He had no beginning and no end, symbolising and foreshadowing God’s Christ who is God’s Servant and the one and only Mediator between God and man. He is the King of Righteousness and Prince of Peace who bestows these graces upon all who receive and rest in him. He will defeat and destroy the powers of evil and judge the world in perfect righteousness. ‘5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.’ And he will lead his people in triumphant procession. Praise be his high and holy name.
To ponder: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb.1:1-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 370
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 2 & Psalm 111
2 Chronicles 2 records Solomon’s preparations for building the Temple and his royal palace. He assigned 70,000 foreign resident men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. He secured and purchased skilled craftsmen and workers, along with raw materials from King Hiram of Tyre. He nevertheless humbly acknowledged, ‘The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?’ Hiram, responded favourably stating, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.” He sent Huram-abi, an architect and skilled builder to assist in the construction of the Temple. The chapter concludes by informing the reader how Solomon had ordered a census of all resident foreigners in Israel before putting the men to work quarrying stone and bearing burdens.
Psalm 111 is a beautiful paeon of praise to God. It was traditionally referred to as one of the ‘Hallelujah Psalms’ (111-118) and was prayed or sang during the Passover Meal and later throughout the Western Church at Sunday Vespers. It extols God’s greatness and glory, faithfulness and favour, holiness and justice. He is altogether worthy of worship. And so, the psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.’ We exist as the church to glorify God and enjoy him individually and corporately as the body of Christ. We are called to reflect and rejoice in his common and saving graces. ‘2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.’
The psalmist again reminds us that gratitude is the rightful response to grace. ‘4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.’ We must hear and heed his voice and do his revealed will. Why? Because ‘7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.’ He has saved us in and through Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, for this purpose – that we might walk before him and serve him in reverence and love. ‘9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.’ Lest we forget in today’s secular culture, ‘His praise endures forever!’
To ponder! And when they had sung a hymn (one of the Hallelujah Psalms), they went out to the Mount of Olives (Mt.26:30).
Bible Challenge: Day 371
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 3 & Psalm 112
2 Chronicles 3 provides a record of the Temple built by Solomon on Mount Moriah at Jerusalem where God provided a ram for Abraham as a sacrificial substitute in place of his son, Isaac. ‘He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.’ There follow details of the Temples measurements, design, and its beautiful adornments with gold and precious stones.
Psalm 112 praises God for the blessed man (male or female) who walks before God in faith, hope, and love. The psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!’ The blessed man reveres and respects God as his Maker, Redeemer, Benefactor, Lord, and Judge. He delights in God and desires to glorify him by keeping his commandments. This is the way of faith and love. We are called to walk by faith. And the Lord Jesus insists that our love for him is displayed in trust and obedience – by keeping his commandments. The blessed man prospers thereby. He sets an example to his children in faith, integrity, and righteousness. ‘2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.’ The blessed man is not only enlightened but he lets his light shine before others. He not only loves God, but he loves his neighbour and thereby makes a positive contribution to both church and society. The psalmist writes, ‘4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.’ The blessed man is steadfast in the faith. He trusts wholeheartedly in God. ‘6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. 7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.’ The blessed man gives freely and generously of his time, talents, and treasures. He is compassionate, considerate, and caring towards others. He is honourable. ‘9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honour.’ The blessed man eschews the ways of the wicked which will ultimately perish. ‘10 The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!’ God bless.
To ponder! Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1Pt.2:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 372
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 4 & Psalm 113
2 Chronicles 4 provides another record of the lavish and decorative furnishings of the Temple made for King Solomon under the oversight of Huram-abi. It itemises their dimensions and the materials they were made from. The chapter concludes, ‘So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.’
Psalm 113 is a Song of Praise, a Hallelujah Psalm, extolling and exclaiming the glory and goodness of God. It is titled, ‘Who is like the LORD our God?’ He is incomparable and hence beyond superlatives. The psalmist therefore urges all God’s people, ‘Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!’ Again, we are reminded that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. He alone is altogether worthy of worship. And accordingly, the psalmist invites us to praise his omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being. He writes, ‘2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! 4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?’ He marvels at God’s grace and how he can wonderfully transform peoples’ fortunes to enable them to flourish. ‘7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.’ Such is the goodness of God. He exalts the humble. Let us like the psalmist, ‘Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD (Isa.55:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 373
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 5 & Psalm 114
2 Chronicles 5 recounts the completion of the building of the Temple, along with its fabric and furniture and the placement of the Ark of the Covenant within the House of God. Solomon assembled the elders and leaders of Israel for this special ceremony. ‘And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up.’ And Solomon and the elders offered sacrifice of thanksgiving and the priests in solemn procession placed the Ark of the Covenant within the inner sanctuary of the Temple known as the Most Holy Place. Inside the Ark were the Ten Commandments on the two tablets of stone Moses had received from God. The Levitical musicians and choir praised the LORD singing, “For he is good, his steadfast love endures forever.” And the glory cloud, a symbol of God’s presence, filled the Holy Place.
Psalm 114 is another song of praise that poetically recalls God’s deliverance of the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The psalmist begins, ‘When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.’ By God’s grace, the people of Israel retained their identity in a foreign land and God rescued them and remained with them. He was their strength and shelter. Likened to rams and lambs they were no match for their enemies, but God was with them and for them and despite their faithlessness and folly at times, he graciously and wonderfully brought his people over Jordan to a land flowing with milk and honey. Hence the celebratory poetic or picturesque language that follows. ‘4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? 6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.’ God is sovereign. Nothing is impossible for him. God’s people have cause to take heart through the Lord Jesus Christ who will lead his church in triumphal procession into the everlasting Land of Promise – the new heavens and new earth. Praise God who does all things well.
To ponder! Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph.3:20-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 374
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 6 & Psalm 115
2 Chronicles 6 contain King Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple in Jerusalem. He firstly gives thanks to God for graciously and faithfully fulfilling his promise to David his father. He then blessed the people of Israel and declared, “Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel.” Then Solomon, knelt in front of the altar of the LORD on a raised bronze platform constructed for the special occasion. And before God and the assembly he lifted his hands heavenwards and prayed. Pleading God’s promise to his father, he prayed that his dynasty would remain faithful to God by keeping his commandments and would forever sit upon the throne. His prayer was ultimately fulfilled in the everlasting reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Solomon prayed for God’s blessing upon the Temple and that God’s ears would be ever open to the prayers that ascended to heaven from it. He asked God to judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous. He prayed that God would be merciful and forgiving to Israel when she sinned but repented. That God would also provide, protect, and preserve them in times of famine, disease, and invasion. He asked the LORD to bless non-Israelites who acknowledged God and visited the Temple to pray and praise his high and holy name. Solomon concludes his prayer, “Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place. 41 “And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness. 42 O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”
In Psalm 115 the psalmist asks God to glorify his own name, reminding the church that her primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him. Our praise and perspective like the psalmist’s ought to be Theo-centric or God-centred. He alone is worthy of worship. Mention of his ‘name’ communicates all that God reveals himself to be – God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. The psalmist therefore begins, ‘Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!’ He asks, ‘2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”’ The psalmist’s desire and delight are for God not only to be known near and far but to be trusted and obeyed. He praises God’s dominion and sovereignty. ‘3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.’ Surveying the idols of the surrounding nations, and the folly of worshipping them as gods, he adds, ‘4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.’ He therefore passionately urges God’s people to eschew idolatry and apostasy by trusting wholeheartedly in the LORD. ‘9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.’ God will provide, protect, preserve, and prosper his church. He confidently declares, ‘12 The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; 13 he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.’ The psalmist then intercedes for God’s people asking God to richly bless them. ‘14 May the LORD give you increase, you and your children! 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!’ He urges the Israel of God to worship and serve God always. ‘16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. 17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.’ Let his concluding words be ever upon our lips, ‘Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me (Jn.14:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 375
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 7 & Psalm 116
2 Chronicles 7 begins, ‘As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.’ This visible manifestation of God’s power and presence struck awe in the people of Israel, and they bowed down and worshipped the LORD saying ‘For he is good, his steadfast love endures forever.’ King Solomon and the people offered sacrifices to God and then proceeded to dedicate the House of God to the worship of God. It was a holy place set apart for praise and prayer. Singing accompanied by music followed from the Levites. The king consecrated the court area before the House of the LORD after which there was celebratory feasting for seven days. ‘And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the LORD had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people.’ Afterward, God appeared to Solomon and said, ‘When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ God assured the king of his blessing upon the Temple and that he would hear the prayers of his people. He furthermore reassured Solomon that he would keep the covenant he made to his father, David. God however gave a solemn and serious warning that if Israel abandoned the faith and failed to keep God’s commandments, they would bring disaster upon themselves.
Psalm 116 anticipates, foreshadows, and finds its fulfilment in the passion of God’s Christ. It is for that reason that it has featured prominently in traditional Scottish Presbyterian Communion services, being sung as communicants make their way and take their place at the Lord’s Table. It is an expression of the believers’ love and faith which are but an echo of the Lord Jesus’ love for his people, and faith in his Father and the mission he came to accomplish for the salvation of the world. The psalmist hence begins, ‘I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.’ And adds at verse 10 ‘I believed’. Faith and love ought to adorn the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ. The psalmist anticipating Jesus’s sorrow and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed, ‘2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”’ He does so, trusting wholeheartedly in God who is gracious, righteous, and merciful (v.5). God strengthens, sustains, and saves. He comforts, consoles, and gives confidence to his people. ‘6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.’ Therefore, the psalmist declares, ‘9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.’ Jesus came that we might have life, have it abundantly, and enjoy it everlastingly. He willingly took the cup of martyrdom that his people may take up the cup of salvation. ‘10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.’ Christ has defeated and disarmed death of its sting. He has gone to prepare a place for his people, referring to the intermediate state, when the souls of believers at death enter the presence of God and their blissful rest. Moreover, the psalmist’s words anticipate the eternal state, when Christ leads his church clothed in resurrection bodies into the new heavens and new earth. And so, ‘15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.’ The word ‘saint’, means sanctified, set apart, and special – by grace through faith, in Jesus Christ. Let God’s people therefore love and serve God in the present in preparation for eternity. Let us show gratitude for grace. Let us praise and thank him for his limitless love, measureless mercy, and glorious grace, now and always. Let us say along with the psalmist, ‘16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
To ponder! For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1Cor.11:26).
Bible Challenge: Day 376
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 8 & Psalm 117
2 Chronicles 8 records Solomon’s achievements after the completion and dedication of the Temple. He consolidated and embellished his reputation throughout the region. He further built up the nation of Israel inherited from his father, David, expanding her borders, fortifying, and beautifying her towns and cities. He secured supplies of food and improved trade links. His army contained skilled charioteers and horsemen. He built an effective administration to oversee good government throughout his dominion. And yet, in keeping with the culture of the time, he relied on the slave labour of non-Israelites for menial tasks like quarrying and carrying stone. These included Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites whose descendants had formerly inhabited the land. He built a house in Jerusalem for Pharoah’s daughter who became his wife. He worshipped at the Temple and dutifully kept the feast days appointed in the law. He organised and oversaw the division of the priests and Levites for service in the House of God. He received gold as tribute from neighbouring kings, like Hiram. And the kingdom flourished under his rule.
Psalm 117 is the shortest song of praise or prayer in the psalter. It reminds us of God’s call upon Israel to be a light to the nations and anticipates our New Covenant era, the Great Commission, and the catholicity or universality of the church. It summons all people to adore and express adulation to God. The psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD, all nations!’ Worship is our chief and ultimate end. The word ‘nation’ does not refer to political, geographically defined and contained states as such but rather to ethnic groups. And hence the Lord Jesus’ command to his church to disciple the nations. As if to provide confirmation, the psalmist adds, ‘Extol him, all peoples!’ Again, he uses the plural ‘peoples’ to emphasise that all people everywhere throughout the earth are called to worship God. Why? Because God is Creator, Benefactor, Lawgiver, Judge, Ruler, and Redeemer. The universal call corresponds to the universal need! The psalmist therefore acting as the voice of the church catholic declares from personal experience, ‘2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.’ God is love. His love is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He summons all to receive and reciprocate his love in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him will not perish but have eternal life.’ God’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise him for ever keeping his covenant of grace. Praise him for fulfilling his promises to us in Christ. God keeps his word. We can trust wholeheartedly in him. Let us therefore, ‘Praise the LORD!’ Let all people everywhere praise him now and forevermore.
To ponder: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 377
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 9 & Psalm 118
2 Chronicles 9 records King Solomon’s death but before doing so it retells the story of the Queen of Sheba’s visit. She came with a vast retinue and gifts of spices, gold, and precious stones for Solomon after she had heard of his great wisdom. She was hugely impressed by what she witnessed of Jerusalem, of the etiquette and opulence of Solomon’s palace, and of the Temple of God. And she was astonished by the king’s knowledge and wisdom and told him so. She added, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” Solomon exhibited hospitality and generosity to Sheba before her departure. The chapter goes on to emphasise and itemise Solomon’s wealth. Not only the king but Israel prospered politically, economically, socially, and spiritually under his rule. She enjoyed good trading links and lived in peace with the surrounding nations. ‘Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.’ And lavished gifts upon Israel illustrious monarch. Solomon reigned for forty years. After his death, his remains were interred in Jerusalem and Rehoboam, his son, succeeded him as king.
Psalm 118 is the last of the Hallelujah Psalms. It is another Messianic Psalm, and I have often wondered if the last words that the Lord Jesus sang on the night of his betrayal after celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples in the Upper Room, where he instituted the Lord’s Supper, were ‘I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD’? The psalmist begins with what might be described as the refrain of the Psalm, ‘Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!’ God fulfils his promises to his people in and through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And his steadfast love is most wonderfully displayed in the Passion of the Christ, who is God’s love gift. He is Love personified. This Psalm understandably was traditionally sung or prayed at Sunday matins throughout the church catholic. And featured prominently in Scottish Presbyterian Communion services because of its focus upon Christ’s saving work – his defeat of the Devil and Death and triumphant resurrection on the first day of the week which the church renamed the Lord’s Day in his honour. The psalmist therefore bids the church to praise God for his steadfast love which endures always (vv.2-4). Speaking from personal experience but also as the voice of the church, the psalmist anticipates Christ’s victory over the forces of darkness and death. ‘5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.’ Jesus willingly took the cup of martyrdom that we might take the cup of salvation! We are therefore reminded in the words of the psalm and the example of the Lord Jesus that ‘8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.’
The psalmist reminds us of how God’s Christ faced the opposition and persecution of Jew and Gentile alike as he died for the sin of the world. God the Father strengthened and sustained him therein (vv.10-14). Moreover, he saw beyond his Cross and death to his deliverance and Coronation (15-17). And therefore, anticipating his glorious resurrection, the psalmist adds in the voice of the Saviour and his church in him, ‘18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.’ Let the church delight in him and devote themselves to his kingdom and cause. Why? Because, ‘27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.’ Let us rely wholeheartedly on the Lord Jesus Christ and worship, work and witness to his everlasting praise and glory. ‘Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.’ Let us summon everyone, everywhere, ‘29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!’ Now, that’s good news!
To ponder! Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Lk.24:22-27).
Bible Challenge: Day 378
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 10 & Psalm 119:1-8
2 Chronicles 10 records the rebellion against King Rehoboam. Returning from exile in Egypt, Jeroboam confronted Rehoboam at Shechem and implored the king, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” Rehoboam consulted his elder advisors who were men of experience and wisdom. And they advised him to lighten the tax burden on his subjects to win their approval and loyalty. Rehoboam, however, rejected their counsel and responded, “And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” Jeroboam and the people pleaded with the king to reconsider but he dismissed their pleas. He was determined to reign with an iron fist. The people of Israel under Jeroboam’s leadership rebelled against his rule, murdering one of the king’s chief taskmasters. Rehoboam retained the loyalty of the tribe and territory of Judah.
Psalm 119 is a song of praise comprising twenty-two stanzas corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It calls God’s people to faith and faithfulness as the means to fruitfulness. It reminds its readers of the importance of hearing and heeding God’s word. And summons the church to worship God and do his will revealed in the word in scripture and the Word Incarnate. We shall examine each stanza in turn. And so, our focus today will be upon verses 1 through 8. The psalmist begins, ‘Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!’ Blessedness is the fruit of grace, but it is achieved through trust and obedience to God in Christ. The blameless keep God’s commandments. This is the way of love and it ought to be a way of life. Hence, we are to ‘walk’ therein which strongly implies that this is to be a regular or constant manner of being and doing. It suggests progression thereby. We grow in grace, knowledge, and service as we trust and obey God. We similarly grow in sanctification, which is Christ-likeness. The psalmist anticipates the Lord Jesus herein because he is truly and definitively the only blameless one who personally, perpetually, and perfectly kept and fulfilled God’s law of love. The psalm also reminds us that we must seek God wholeheartedly. It states, ‘2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!’ God graciously gives his people a new heart, comprising the affections, emotions, intellect, and will, in the New Covenant, that we might walk before him and one another in love by keeping his commandments. These, we are taught, are to be kept conscientiously and dutifully. ‘4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.’ And therefore, the psalmist speaking in the voice of the church faithfully and sincerely declares, ‘5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.’ By these means the believer glorifies and enjoys God and can meaningly say, 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!’ Even when we sin and fall short of the glory of God, we are here reminded of the need for regular repentance before God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By these means we continue in the way of faith, righteousness, peace, and joy.
To ponder! “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt.22:36-40).
Bible Challenge: Day 379
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 11 & Psalm 119:9-16
In 2 Chronicles 11 Rehoboam returned to his capital and marshalled an army of 180,000 from the men of Judah and Benjamin to put down the revolt of the other tribes of Israel. However, God communicated his will via the Prophet Shemaiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.’” Rehoboam obeyed the word of God which averted civil war in the nation. Nevertheless, Rehoboam fortified and provisioned the cities of Judah and Benjamin as a precautionary measure against attack from the ten other tribes that comprised Israel. Priests and Levites settled in Judah and Jerusalem for service in the Temple. Many were expelled from the region of the rebellious tribes ruled by Jeroboam, who established cultic worship at Dan and Bethel and prohibited the people from going to the Temple in Jerusalem. Rehoboam had eighteen wives and sixty concubines by whom he produced many progeny, strengthening his dynasty. He ‘appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.’ We are furthermore told that ‘he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them.’
In Psalm 119:9-16 the psalmist teaches God’s church by precept and personal example of how to grow in knowledge and grace. He hereby provides a simple formula or recipe for faith and faithfulness to enable every Christian to deepen their love for and adoration of God. This is the goal of our daily Bible Challenge. He begins by asking, ‘How can a young man keep his way pure?’ Living, as we do, in a fallen world that is estranged from God and often at enmity with him, and confronted by endless temptations and the vestiges of the fallen nature how can God’s people walk before him and one another in love, righteousness, peace, and joy? Well, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he provides us with the answer, ‘By guarding it according to your word.’ God’s word, in other words, which the Spirit applies to his people, challenges, convicts, compels, changes, keeps, and guards us in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The word in scripture not only reveals the Word Incarnate to us but it refashions us in his image and likeness. The psalmist therefore declares, ‘10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!’ For Love’s sake we are called to keep God’s commandments and God has given us a new heart in the New Covenant to do so. The Word is not only Righteousness but is our Sanctification. We are to read and respond to God’s word that we might eschew sin and walk before God and one another in love. Therefore, the psalmist writes, ‘11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.’ Recognising his dependence upon grace, he praises God and asks God for the Spirit of enlightenment. ‘12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!’ He is determined to fulfil his chief end thereby. ‘3 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.’ Let us like the psalmist take delight in God and walk in his ways. His paths are peace and pleasantness. Let us say along with the psalmist, ‘15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.’
To ponder! But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt.4:4). Therefore, “Tolle lege, tolle lege” which is Latin for “Take up and read.”
Bible Challenge: Day 380
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 12 & Psalm 119:17-24
2 chronicles 12 informs the reader that five years into Rehoboam’s reign he neglected and rejected God’s commandments. Judah and Benjamin were attacked by Shishak, the king of Egypt whose army was bolstered by the inclusion of Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. The towns and cities he had fortified fell to the invaders who surrounded Jerusalem. The Prophet Shemaiah, told the Rehoboam, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.” The king, his family and courtiers humbled themselves before the LORD in repentance and God protected Jerusalem but let it be known that they would be subject to Egyptian political influence to do their ruler service. The Egyptians also acquisitioned the treasures from the Temple and Royal Palace, including the shields of gold Solomon his father had made. King Rehoboam and the kingdom of Judah, despite their satellite status, nevertheless recovered and prospered to a degree. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he ascended the throne and he reigned for seventeen years. Sadly, ‘he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.’ There was perpetual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam who commanded the Northern territories. When Rehoboam died, he was buried alongside his Solomon and David in Jerusalem and was succeeded by his son, Abijah.
The author of Psalm 119 is not divulged but tradition attributes the Psalm to either David or Daniel. It is certainly written by someone who experienced significant opposition and enmity for keeping the faith. Herein it anticipates the Lord Jesus who perfectly kept and fulfilled God’s law of love in the face of vociferous and violent hostility before laying down his life and taking it up again for the salvation of the world. In verses 17-24, the psalmist prays to God ‘Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.’ The psalmist recognises his need for God’s enlightening and enabling grace in order to faithfully serve the Lord and others. Herein he provides a good example to the church which is called to trust and obey God’s word. He asks God, ‘18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.’ Like the psalmist we ought to come to the sacred scriptures prayerfully and purposefully to learn about God and his will for our lives. God speaks to us therein. The Bible gives up its treasures to those that mine for them. It rewards regular reading and reflection. The psalmist likens himself to a pilgrim in this world. He must, like all of us, journey by faith and therefore he writes, ‘19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.’ He is determined to walk the narrow way, looking to Jesus, the Word made flesh, as the Author and Finisher of his faith. He furthermore observes the recklessness of those that neglect and reject God’s commandments and is determined to avoid their path to calamity and condemnation. ‘21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.’ Notwithstanding the conflicts and pressure to conform to the ways of the world, like those that conspired against him, the psalmist is resolved to remain faithful. He therefore pleads with God to ‘22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies . 23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.’ Let us, along with the psalmist, meaningly declare, ‘24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counsellors.’ It is for our good, the good of others, and the glory of God. Amen.
To ponder! For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God (1Cor.7:19).
Bible Challenge: Day 381
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 13 & Psalm 119:25-32
2 Chronicles 13 records the reign of Abijah. He succeeded his father Rehoboam and ascended the throne when Jeroboam had ruled the northern kingdom of Israel for eighteen years. Abijah marshalled an army of 400,000 valiant soldiers and confronted the army of Jeroboam which was twice its size in battle. Abijah taunted Jeroboam and his army from Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim declaring them rebels and making clear that God was on the side of Judah and its rightful royal descendant of King David. He highlighted Jeroboam’s religious policy which had no warrant from and was contrary to God’s word. He concluded, “Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.” Ignoring Abijah’s counsel, Jeroboam ordered his army to engage by stealth but their manoeuvre was repulsed and Judah’s decisively defeated Israel which lost 500,000 solders slain. Abijah pressed home his victory by recapturing cities and villages thereby extending his territory and influence. With his fourteen wives he fathered twenty-sons and sixteen daughters.
In Psalm 119:25-32 God’s people are taught that in times of trials and troubles they must continue to trust and obey the word of God. The psalmist implicitly reminds the reader that it is God that revives and renews his beloved children. He therefore begins by humbly beseeching God to restore and revitalise his soul. ‘My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!’ He approaches God as the hearer and answerer of prayer. He comes before him with experiential faith of God’s love and goodness. He writes, ‘26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!’ We too must pray relying on our Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who empathises and sympathises with our needs and the needs of others. The psalmist, furthermore, desires a better understanding of God’s word which like the balm of Gilead comforts, heals, and strengthens. ‘27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. 28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!’ Dependant on grace, he prays that he might mortify sin and remain faithful to God by keeping God’s commandments. ‘29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. 31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!’ Recognising his reliance on God renewing his heart (inner being), he confidently declares, ‘32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!’ May God so work in all of us by his Spirit in and through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
To ponder! And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezek.36:26-27).
Bible Challenge: Day 382
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 14 & Psalm 119:33-40
2 Chronicles 14 highlights the reign of Asa, son of Abijah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, keeping God’s commandments and purging his kingdom of idols. The country enjoyed comparative peace and prospered during his reign. He sought to re-fortify its cities and towns. He declared, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” He rearmed his army comprising valiant men from the territories of Judah and Benjamin. By God’s enabling he repulsed a numerically superior Ethiopian army under the command of Zerah in the valley of Zephathah that had sought to invade his kingdom. He cried to God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” God heard his prayer and gave Judah victory. Asa and his army returned to Jerusalem greatly enriched by the plunders and spoils of war.
In Psalm 119:33-40 the psalmist is again the voice of the church and every Christian who is part of it. He begins, ‘Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.’ Recognising his call to hear and heed the voice of God, he approaches the word of God humbly, prayerfully, and hopefully. Acknowledging his dependence upon God he prays for the Spirit of enlightenment that inspired the sacred scriptures to grant him understanding of them. God is teaching us herein that we too must read the Bible prayerfully in order to know God and understand his will for our collective and personal lives. Hereby, like the psalmist, we discover what it means to walk by faith. The psalmist desires understanding and is wholeheartedly determined to follow God’s ways. He writes, ‘34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.’ We are here reminded that if the heart is right with God then everything else falls into place. God must have chief place in our hearts. His flame of love must burn brightly therein. Then we will delight in God and the ways of God. The joy of the Lord will be our strength. And so, the psalmist adds, ‘35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.’ Our focus, like the Psalmist’s, is on the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are called to live ‘coram Deo’ - before the face of God. As his beloved children we are commanded to walk before him and one another in love. We are to put on Christ and keep his commandments for Love’s sake. He are to adorn our worship, work, and witness with the beauty of holiness. Let us like the psalmist affirm God’s steadfast love and goodness. Let us plead God promises as recipients of the New Covenant that was ratified and sealed by the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us trust in the Lord our Righteousness now and always. ‘38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!’
To ponder! But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments (Ps.103:17-18).
Bible Challenge: Day 383
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 15 & Psalm 119:41-48
2 Chronicles 15 records Asa’s religious reforms. God’s will was communicated to the king via Azariah who told Asa, “The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” Asa was left in no doubt as to the magnitude of the work before him but he was called to be faithful and exercise fortitude for God’s blessing upon his reign and kingdom. Asa responded positively and courageously began the work of reformation by purging the land of idols erected to false gods. He repaired and renovated the Altar of the LORD. He assembled his subjects and after offering sacrifices to God they made a covenant on pain of death to faithfully serve God and keep his commandments. ‘And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.’ Asa even stripped his mother of her royal title and prerogatives for her idolatry, destroying her image of Asherah. He generously provided treasures for the Temple. And while the high places remained, Asa’s reformation was good in the sight of God and his kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity for thirty-five years.
In Psalm 119:41-48 the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. Therein he not only anticipates the Lord Jesus who delighted in and fulfilled God’s law, but he also again acts as the voice of the church. And he provides a good example to those that comprise her. He begins, ‘Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.’ The psalmist’s faith in God is resolute. And faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. God’s word is the sword of the Spirit by which his people can defend themselves against the taunts of the wicked and make progress in their pilgrimage of faith. Thereby we grow in knowledge and grace. And so the psalmist pleads with God, ‘43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. 44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, 45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.’ God’s word is the path of peace and pleasantness. It is the narrow way. It is our compass and light to lead us to Christ and keep us in him. The word in scripture reveals the Word Incarnate, God’s definitive and everlasting Word. God’s word is a call to action. It demands our application and affirmation. Thereby we worship, work and witness. Therein we discover the regulative principle for our profession and practice. It is the way of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. And therefore, the psalmist concludes this stanza by declaring, ‘46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. 48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.’ Let us, like the psalmist, regularly read and reflect upon the word of God. May it regulate our belief, belonging, and behaviour.
To ponder! But he [Jesus] answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt.4:4).
Bible Challenge: Day 384
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 16 & Psalm 119:49-56
2 Chronicles 16 focusses on the later years of King Asa’s rule over Judah. Confronted by the building of Ramah by Baasha on the border of Israel-Judah, he made an alliance with Ben-hadad of Syria by enticing him with treasures. Consequently, the Syrian army launched an attack on Israel, compelling Baasha to abandon the construction of Ramah and turn his immediate attention on the Syrian invasion. Asa therefore acquisitioned the stone and timbers that were being used in in building of Ramah and put them to good use in constructing his own cities of Geba and Mizpah. Hanani the Seer, however, told Asa, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” Enraged, Asa, imprisoned God’s messenger, Hanani, and inflicted unjust cruelties on others. In the final two years of his reign, Asa became incapacitated through illness. While he sought a cure from his doctors, he did not pray to God. He died in the forty-first year of his reign and was buried with his fathers in Jerusalem.
Psalm 119:49-56 reminds us of the importance of faith and faithfulness in the face of afflictions and provocations. The psalmist again hereby represents God’s beloved children. He will adhere to and plead God’s precious promise – his steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. His trust and hope are firmly in God whom he gladly serves by obedience to his word. He therefore prays, ‘Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.’ God’s word not only provides conviction and confidence but is also gives him comfort and consolation in a day of dark providences. God in Christ says to his church, and behold, I am with you always. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Despite the derision of those who know not the LORD or who have forsaken him, the psalmist is determined to abide by God’s law of love. He hereby provides us with a good example to model in our increasingly secular and antagonistic western world. He notes, ‘51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. 52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. 53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.’ Like the psalmist, may we all be able to affirm ‘54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. 55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.’ Faith, with repentance when we fail and fall, is the way to God’s benediction and benefaction upon our lives. Let us thereby say along with the psalmist elsewhere, ‘The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.’
To ponder! What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me. (Q & A 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism).
Bible Challenge: Day 385
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 17 & Psalm 119:57-64
2 Chronicles 17 records the faithful and flourishing reign of Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa. ‘The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.’ He removed the high places and the idols erected to foreign deities through his kingdom. He fortified Judah’s defences against Israel. He personally and the country collectively prospered financially during his rule. In the third year of his reign he sent officials and Levites to teach and implement the law of the LORD from the sacred scriptures. Respected near and far, Judah enjoyed peace and prosperity. Philistines and Arabians brought tribute to Jehoshaphat who strengthened Judah’s defensive capability against would-be invaders.
Psalm 119:57-64 is part of a prayer or song that again reminds the church of the necessity of faith and faithfulness and of showing gratitude to God for his amazing and abiding grace. The psalmist begins by highlighting the privilege of being a beloved child of God. He writes, ‘The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.’ God chooses and calls his people to walk by faith as he did the great cloud of witnesses whose names are recorded in Hebrews 11. The priority for the Christian is to trust and obey. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy his forever and that must start in this present earthly life. And the Christian life is one of dependence on God characterised by prayer and the application of his word and sacraments. The psalmist therefore adds, ‘58 I entreat your favour with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.’ He genuinely seeks the LORD and desires to grow in knowledge, grace, and service to God. God’s word is a lamp to his feet and a light for his path. ‘59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; 60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.’ Hardships, heartaches, provocations and even persecution will not deter or dissuade him from the truth. ‘61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.’ On the contrary he will praise God at the end of the day. ‘62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.’ He is moreover determined to keep fellowship with the family of God which is the faithful church – his brothers and sisters in Christ. He recognises and reminds us of the value of communion, crucially with God but also with his people. Thereby we share in one another’s gifts and graces, and edify and encourage one another in the body of Christ. Therefore the psalmist rightly declares before God, ‘63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.’ He praises God for his steadfast love and asks the LORD to enlighten him. ‘64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!’
To ponder! Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb.11:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 386
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 18 & Psalm 119:65-72
2 Chronicles 18 records how Jehoshaphat, who enjoyed great wealth and respect, entered into a marriage alliance with King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Samaria. Ahab invited him to accompany and support him in warfare against Ramoth-gilead and he responded, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.” Jehoshaphat nevertheless asked Ahab to seek God’s will before taking up arms. Ahab gathered four hundred prophets, yes men, who assenting to their king’s will, gave their assurance of God’s approval. Unsatisfied by their response, and possibly doubting their sincerity, Jehoshaphat asked if there was yet another prophet that they could consult. He was told of Micaiah whom Ahab hated “for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” Micaiah was duly summoned while the other prophets continued to press their claim that God would show his favour and grant victory to Ahab and Jehoshaphat. Micaiah told the kings, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” The prophet faithfully told Ahab that he would be killed at Ramoth-gilead and that a lying-spirit had entered the other prophets to entice him to his death. He again unequivocally and plainly said, “The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.” Zedekiah struck Micaiah in anger and King Ahab ordered that he be imprisoned and be fed meagrely. ‘27 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”’ So, the kings went up to Ramoth-gilead. Ahab disguised himself but persuaded to Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes into battle. The LORD protected Jehoshaphat, but a stray arrow mortally struck Ahab between his scale armour and breastplate. Propped up in his chariot he died at sunset. Just as Micaiah had prophesied.
In Psalm 119:65-72 the psalmist, as the voice of the church, expresses thankfulness for God’s favour and faithfulness. ‘You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.’ Understanding God’s call upon his life to serve him and others in love, he furthermore, asks God to edify and encourage him that he might continue to grow in grace, wisdom, and theological discernment. ‘66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.’ He has learned from past failures to keep God’s commandments and is determined by God’s gracious enlightenment and equipping to remain faithful. ‘67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.’ Unlike his enemies who appear to wallow unconcerned in the mire of sin he will wholeheartedly keep God’s word. ‘69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.’ He confesses that even his afflictions have benefitted him by compelling him to seek God and rely on his remedies and recipe for righteousness, peace, and joy. ‘71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.’ Finally, he concludes this section of the Psalm by declaring the immense value of God’s word which is more precious that gold or silver. ‘72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.’
To ponder! The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward (Ps.19:7-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 387
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 19 & Psalm 119:73-80
In 2 Chronicles 19 King Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem and was confronted by the Prophet Jehu who asked him “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?” He told him that God’s wrath was kindled against him for his alliance with wicked King Ahab but God would show him mercy for he had set his heart on seeking the LORD. Jehoshaphat travelled the length and breadth of his kingdom to ensure that God alone was worshipped, and his commandments were kept. He appointed judges to uphold God’s law of love with impartiality and justice. He said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment.” He similarly appointed priests and Levites, and heads of families to arbitrate and settle disputes among the people. He charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart… Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!”
In Psalm 119:73-80 the psalmist acknowledges his indebtedness and dependence on God as Creator, Lawgiver, Benefactor, and Saviour. He represents the church which was purchased by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We not only have our being from God in Christ in the Covenant of Grace, but we belong to him. We are his beloved children by the grace of election and the Spirit of adoption. And so, the psalmist begins this stanza, ‘Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.’ He wants to please God. He desires to lead a purposeful and productive life in the service of God and others and therefore he asks God to enlighten him. He is determined to set a good example for others. This is what it means to be salt in an unsavoury environment and light in a dark world. He therefore declares, ‘74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.’ He expresses spiritual maturity in recognising the hand of Providence even in trials and troubles which cause him to trust and cling to God’s promises for comfort and consolation. ‘75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76 Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. 77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.’ The psalmist takes great delight in God’s grace, love, and mercy. He knows that God will convert or condemn his enemies who are arrogant and speak lies. He will continue to eschew their wicked ways but rather he will read, reflect, and respond positively to God’s word. And he urges others to do likewise. He writes, ‘78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. 79 Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.’ He concludes this section of Psalm 119 in the voice of the church praying that he might wholeheartedly always trust and obey God. ‘80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!
To ponder! “Other masters teach me by rote to speak parrot-like of heavenly things. But, by these three masters alone (oratio [prayer], meditatio [on God’s word], and tentatio [affliction – trials, troubles, and temptations], I learn to speak with feeling and understanding.” – Martin Luther.
Bible Challenge: Day 388
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 20 & Psalm 119:81-88
2 Chronicles 20 records King Jehoshaphat’s prayer after a coalition of hostile nations attacked Judah from Edom. Jehoshaphat commanded a fast be held throughout the land and assembled God’s people to seek the LORD’s provision and protection. The king prayed before the people. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty over the nations and his goodness to the children of Israel in delivering them from their enemies and blessing them with a land flowing with milk and honey, he pleaded with God, “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” After his prayer the Spirit of the LORD moved Jahaziel to declare, Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.’ The prophet told the king and people of Judah not to be afraid or dismayed but rather they were to stand firm and face the enemy in the knowledge that God their Saviour would give them victory over the coalition forces. Jehoshaphat, the priests, and the people humbled themselves before God and worshipped him with thanksgiving. The following day Jehoshaphat led his troops into the wilderness of Tekoa and addressed them saying, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And they sang as a great congregation, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” The LORD then set an ambush for their antagonists who in confusion routed one another. Judah enjoyed the spoils of war and Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem with great rejoicing. And the fear of the LORD gripped the surrounding nations, ensuring that Judah enjoyed peace. Jehoshaphat reigned for thirty-five years and kept God’s commandments. ‘The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.’ Moreover, he failed to learn from his previous folly when he entered an alliance with King Ahab of Israel, because he agreed to a joint enterprise to build ships to go to Tarshish with King Ahaziah. Subsequently, Eliezer prophesied against him, and his ships were wrecked in a storm.
In Psalm 119:81-88 the psalmist as the voice of the church expresses his longing for God to fulfil his promises. He earnestly desires the fulness of God’s salvation for himself and all God’s people in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. And therefore, his hope is in God’s word. His comfort is found in the God of all comfort. He prays, ‘My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. 82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”’ The psalmist, nevertheless, presently feels bereft of spiritual life. His soul feels shrunken and dried up like a wineskin in the smoke but he is determined to cling to God’s word by faith faced, as he is, with trials and troubles. ‘83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 84 How long must your servant endure?’ He pleads with God to judge his persecutors and vindicate his truth. He therefore cries to God for help. ‘When will you judge those who persecute me? 85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. 86 All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!’ Anticipating and foreshadowing Christ, the psalmist concludes this stanza by stating that while his enemies had almost succeeded in their evil schemes, he has remained faithful. ‘87 They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.’ Wholly reliant on grace, he supplicates God asking, ‘88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.’
To ponder! Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil.2:12-13).
Bible Challenge: Day 389
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 21 & Psalm 119:89-96
2 Chronicles 21 focuses on the reign of Jehoram who succeeded his father Jehoshaphat. Fearful of their wealth and potential political influence and challenge to his crown, he cruelly had his brothers murdered. He ascended the throne at the age of thirty-two and ruled Judah for eight years. He eschewed the godly example of his father and instead followed the religious ways of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. He married a daughter of the wicked King Ahab and did evil in the sight of God. ‘Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.’ Jehoram warred against the neighbouring nation of Edom when it rejected and rebelled against his hegemony in the region. He re-established the high places and promoted apostasy and idolatry. The Prophet Elijah confronted Jehoram and condemned him in God’s name. He declared moreover, “behold, the LORD will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, 15 and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.’” God withdrew his beneficence and protection. Consequently, the Philistines and Arabians invaded and plundered Judah, capturing and taking Jehoram’s wives and children into captivity. Only his youngest son, Jehoahaz evaded the enemy. Afterward, in fulfilment of Elijah’s word, Jehoram was struck with an incurable bowel disorder and died in agony. ‘And he departed with no one's regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.’
Psalm 119:89-96 is a reminder to us that God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable and that his word abides forever. And so, the psalmist begins, ‘Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.’ God’s covenant and hence his promises are established and must be fulfilled. History is his story. He created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. He knows the end from the beginning and will bring to pass his plans and purposes. Lest we should forget in a day of small things or a time of trials and troubles, all things are working for the good of those that love God (Rom.8:28). The psalmist therefore confidently declares, 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.’ The psalmist speaks for the church in expressing his gratefulness to God for the grace, guidance, and gladness he finds in God’s word. ‘92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.’ And he is determined to hear and heed the word of God as a means of light and life. ‘93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.’ The psalmist looks to the Lord his Saviour as a beloved child of God. He writes, ‘94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.’ He concludes by noting the limitation and finitude of all things in the present but God’s word, like God himself, transcends all things and has no bounds. ‘96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.’ Similar sentiment is expressed by the wise man in Ecclesiastes where he similarly concludes, ‘The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Eccl.12:13).
To ponder! 'His decrees are the spring of our happiness (Eph.1:4-5). His providence carries us with full sail into the ocean of glory.' - David Clarkson.
Bible Challenge: Day 390
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 22 & Psalm 119:97-104
2 Chronicles 22 records the respective reigns of Ahaziah and Athaliah over Judah. Ahaziah was the youngest and only surviving son of Jehoram. His older brothers had been killed by Arabian invaders. He was twenty-two years of age when he became king but only ruled for one year. Sadly, he followed his father in doing evil in the sight of the LORD and was heavily influenced therein by his mother, Athaliah, the daughter of wicked King Ahab. Swayed by his counsellors, he willingly entered an alliance with the Northern Kingdom of Israel and went to war with them against Hazael, the king of the Syrians. Joram, king of Israel was injured in the battle at Ramoth-gilead and Ahaziah went to visit him. While there he, along with his nephews were pursued and put to death by Jehu who executed judgement on the House of Ahab and its allies. ‘And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.’ When word reached Athaliah of her son’s death, she acted swiftly to seize and consolidate power over Judah. She executed all members of the royal household with the exception of Joash, Ahaziah’s son, whom Jehoshabeath, a daughter of Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada, the high priest, rescued and hid him in the House of God where he remained for six years. Thereby ensuring in the Providence of God that the royal line through which the Christ was to be born would continue as God had promised.
In Psalm 119:97-104 the psalmist represents the voice of God’s Christ and his people by expressing his heartfelt admiration and affection for the word of God. It is love that moves and motivates him to read and reflect regularly upon it. Therein he encounters Love personified. Therein he learns God’s will for his life. Therein he discovers the path of peace and pleasantness. Therein he finds the way of faith, faithfulness, and fruitfulness. And so, he begins this section, ‘Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.’ God’s word makes him wise. It is his light and rule. He recognises his indebtedness to it and how much he benefits from its counsel and commandments. He writes, ‘98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.’ He hears and heeds the voice of God in the written word. It provides him with comprehension, confidence, and strengthens his commitment to God, his church, and cause. It enables him to say, ‘100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.’ It teaches him the difference between good and evil. ‘101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.’ The psalmist is determined to follow God’s word as the perfect rule in matters pertaining to faith and morality, and practice. ‘102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.’ God’s word, he declares, is a treasure trove of innumerable blessings. ‘103 How sweet are your words to my taste,’ he writes, ‘sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.’
To ponder! But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God (Mt.22:29).
Bible Challenge: Day 391
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 23 & Psalm 119:105-112
2 Chronicles 23 records the successful revolt against Athaliah’s rule over Judah that was led by Jehoiada and a coalition of prominent leaders with the support of the priests and Levites. In the seventh year of Athaliah’s tyrannical governance, Jehoiada assembled opposition and declared, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David.” And so a plan was devised and was implemented at the Temple in Jerusalem that protected Joash, the surviving son of Ahaziah, and had him anointed king although still a minor. Athaliah cried treason but she was swiftly seized and was put to death by the sword at the entrance to the King’s House. Jehoiada, acting as regent, entered a covenant with the young king and the people to govern by God’s law. He offered support to the priests and Levites and encouraged the worship of God at the Temple. He purged the capital and the kingdom of Judah of idols to foreign deities and put a stop to Baal worship. ‘And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the king's house. And they set the king on the royal throne. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.’
Psalm 119:105-112 begins with the psalmist expressing his dependence upon God’s word to govern his life and guide him on his journey of faith. He again speaks for the church when he declares before God, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ God’s word not only leads us to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but it is the way of faith and faithfulness, of grace and glory, of light, love, and life. The psalmist has resolved to faithfully keep God’s word as a rule of life. ‘106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.’ Despite facing trials, troubles, and temptations he hopes in God’s promises found therein. ‘107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!’ It is the regulative principle of his life and he freely praises God for it and asks God for enlightenment thereby. He hereby reminds us again that it is a treasure trove that continues to deliver its riches. We are but disciples and therefore we are ever learners this side of glory. He therefore prays, 108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. 109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.’ Anticipating Christ who perfectly fulfilled God’s law and ever trusted his word, the psalmist is determined to remain true to God, even in the face of unjust persecution by the wicked. ‘110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.’ God’s word is his and our heritage and inheritance and ought to be our chief joy and delight. Like the psalmist therefore, let God’s people gladly affirm, ‘111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.’ Thereby we follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
To ponder! My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn.10:27).
Bible Challenge: Day 392
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 24 & Psalm 119:113-120
2 Chronicles 24 records King Joash’s renovation of the Temple. He was seven years old when he was crowned king and he reigned for forty years and did what was right in the eyes of the LORD under the supervision and support of Jehoiada, the high priest. His two wives gave him sons and daughters to consolidate his dynasty. He consulted and commanded the priests and Levites to collect the taxes designated for the Temple and its worship in the law that had been misappropriated during the rule of Athaliah. The revenue raised purchased materials and craftsmen for the refurbishment of the House of God. And once the renovation was completed the remainder of monies collected was used to fashion new utensils and vessels of gold and silver for use in the place of worship. Jehoiada died at the age of one hundred and thirty. And afterward, in the absence of his influence, the king, princes, and leaders increasingly grew careless and complacent in keeping faith with God. They turned back to idolatry and worshipped foreign deities. God sent prophets urging them to repent but they refused to listen, incurring the wrath of God. ‘Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’” The king and others conspired and had Zechariah murdered. The high priest’s last words were, “May the LORD see and avenge.” Within a year, and in the providence of God, the Syrians invaded Judah and defeated a larger Judean army and plundered the nation. Joash was badly injured and was put to death by his own servants while confined to his bed in revenge for Zechariah. He was buried with his fathers in Jerusalem.
In Psalm 119:113-120 the psalmist expresses his hatred of hypocrisy. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he hereby reminds God’s church that orthopraxy must follow orthodoxy. In other words, our conduct must match our confession, our practice, our profession of faith. He begins, ‘I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.’ His hope is firmly in God’s special revelation which is his word. God is his shelter and strength. In God he trusts. ‘114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.’ He is determined to shun evil doing. Rather he will keep God’s commandments. ‘115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.’ He clings to God’s covenant promises and finds confidence and comfort therein, despite the provocations of the wicked. He therefore cries to God, ‘116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! 117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!’ He is mindful of the folly of those that ignore or forsake God’s commandments who bring condemnation upon themselves. 118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.’ The psalmist is resolved to walk in the fear of the Lord. He concludes this section of the Psalm by declaring, ‘120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.’ He hereby reminds us that ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight’ (Pro.9:10).
To ponder! But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1Tim.6:11-12).A
Bible Challenge: Day 393
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 25 & Psalm 119:121-128
2 Chronicles 25 records the reign of Amaziah. He was twenty-five years old when he ascended the throne of Judah and he reigned for twenty-nine years. He was half-hearted in his service to God and his people. Once he had secured the crown, he put to death those that had conspired and murdered his father, Joash. Amaziah marshalled the fighting men of Judah and Benjamin and prepared them for war against the neighbouring Kingdom of Edom with its king of Seir. Seeking to strengthen the fighting strength of his army, he purchased a large mercenary force from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. However, to the consternation and anger of the mercenaries he was persuaded to dismiss them by a prophet of God. The LORD gave Judah victory over Seir but the Israelite mercenaries raided cities of Judah enroute home, plundering and killing three thousand people. Tragically, Amaziah brought home with him idols from Edom and worshipped and made sacrifice to them. God’s prophet admonished him but he paid little heed. Full of pride after his military victory, Amaziah then sought to make an alliance with Israel but the King Joash of Israel rebuffed his overtures. The two nations then clashed militarily and Amaziah was defeated in battle and taken captive by Joash. Jerusalem besieged and plundered of her riches. Amaziah lived for another fifteen years after the death of Joash of Israel. He was forced to abandon his capital by a conspiracy of own people who killed him at Lachish. His remains were brought back to Jerusalem and interred with his fathers.
In Psalm 119:121-128 the psalmist pleads for God’s help, confronted as was with vociferously unjust and violent opposition and persecution. He hereby provides a model for the church to follow in a day of dark providences. Anticipating the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, he has only ever sought to keep God’s commandments by loving God and his neighbour and yet the wicked wish him harm. He therefore prays, ‘I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.’ He seeks a sign that God is still with him and for him. God is his Rock and Refuge, and he looks to the LORD for renewed comfort and confidence in the storms of life. Faith and hope compel him to trust in God his Saviour. ‘123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.’ He trusts in God’s abiding love and guidance. He not only enlists God’s aid but he asks God to enlighten him. ‘124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!’ The psalmist longs for God to act on his behalf and to vindicate his name. ‘126 It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.’ God’s commandments are precious to him, and he is therefore determined to keep them by God’s enabling grace. And so, he concludes this section of the Psalm, ‘127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.’ Let the church of today be so minded.
To ponder! For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” – Isaiah 41:13.
Bible Challenge: Day 394
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 26 & Psalm 119:129-136
2 Chronicles 26 records the reign of Uzziah as king over Judah. He succeeded his father Amaziah at the age of sixteen and ruled Judah for fifty-two years. ‘He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.’ He extended his wealth and kingdom by the acquisition of territory and possessions formerly belonging to the Philistines and Arabians whose armies he defeated in battle. He reorganised, reformed, and rearmed his army and fortified his nation’s defences. He similarly improved irrigation networks and added towers in the wall at Jerusalem. He gained the respect of nearby nations. Nevertheless, power corrupted him, and he became proud. He ignored God’s commandments concerning worship and the ceremonial duties reserved for the priesthood alone, and despite the protestations of the priests at the Temple, he usurped their place and burned incense before the LORD. Spurning their rebuke, God struck him with leprosy. ‘And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.’ When he died, he was buried in a field belonging to the royal household. He was succeeded by his son, Jotham.
In Psalm 119:129-136 the psalmist conveys the experiential faith of God’s people. He has tasted and found that God is good, and that God’s blessing flows from trust and obedience. He begins, ‘Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.’ God’s word, in other words, has come to regulate his belief and behaviour. This is what it means to walk by faith. This is what is means to hear and heed the Word made flesh – to follow Jesus. The psalmist earnestly desires to please God. He is determined to walk in God’s ways for God’s glory as well as his own and others’ good. ‘131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. 132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.’ He loves the LORD and is ever reliant on his grace. He therefore prays, ‘133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.’ Hereby, the psalmist speaks for the church and reminds the saints that they are sinners still this side of glory. We must put on the full gospel armour and cleave to God to keep his commandments. As the apostle Paul makes clear, we must mortify the poisonous fruits of the flesh and cultivate the wholesome fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5). The psalmist reminds us that good works are the fruit of grace. He writes, ‘134 Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your precepts. 135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.’ It grieves him greatly that so many bring misery and woe upon themselves and others by their failure and rejection of God and his law of love. He thus concludes, ‘136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.’ Let us trust God. Let us keep his commandments. Let us thereby show that most excellent way – the way of love.
To ponder! Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein (Jer.6:16).
Bible Challenge: Day 395
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 27 & Psalm 119:137-144
2 Chronicles 27 highlights the reign of Jotham who succeeded his father Uzziah as king over Judah. He was twenty-five years of age when coronated and he ruled as king for sixteen years. He followed the ways of God and sought to keep God’s commandments. Yet many of his subjects continued in ungodliness and immorality. Jotham, like his father, commissioned building projects throughout the nation. He constructed cities and improved his kingdom’s fortifications. ‘He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD and did much building on the wall of Ophel.’ He won decisive victories over the Ammonites in battle, compelling the neighbouring nation to pay significant reparations and tribute in silver and cereals. After his death his remains were interred at Jerusalem and he was succeeded by Ahaz, his son.
In Psalm 119:137-144, the psalmist extols the LORD for his perfect justice. God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his moral perfection and purity. He is altogether righteous, holy, and good. There are no imperfections or impurities in God. He is infinitely wise, his word is true, and his commandments are for the blessing of his people. They articulate righteousness. The psalmist therefore begins this section of Psalm 119 by declaring, ‘Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.’ God has revealed his righteous standards. ‘138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.’ God’s moral law not only shows fallen humanity what is good, but it demonstrates how we all fall short of the glory of God and are dependent on his grace, love, and mercy in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God’s people are called to keep his commandments for Love’s sake in order that they might grew in love or Christ-likeness, which is our sanctification. The psalmist is again the voice of the church in expressing his earnest desire that all people would trust and obey God. ‘139 My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words. 140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.’ He speaks not merely in a theoretical fashion but from personal experience having tasted and found that God is good. Despite ongoing trials, troubles, and temptations the psalmist wills to remain faithful to God by God’s enabling grace. ‘141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.’ He takes great delight and finds inner contentment in keeping God’s commandments ‘143 Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.’ He prays for greater illumination of the word by the Spirit that he might live before the face of God, enjoying fellowship in righteousness, peace, and joy.
To ponder! Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (Jn.17:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 396
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 28 & Psalm 119:145-152
2 Chronicles 28 records the evil reign of Ahaz. He inherited the throne from his father, Jotham, at the age of twenty and ruled over Judah for sixteen years. As if to demonstrate that grace or godliness does not run in the blood, he rejected the faith of his fathers and reintroduced Baal worship with its idols and wicked practices which included child sacrifice. God removed his gracious and providential protection and Judah was invaded and militarily defeated by the Syrians, who also took captives back to Damascus. God also gave Judah into the hand of the king of Israel whose army decimated Judah’s defence force, killing 120,000 fighting men. Ahaz’s son and closest commanders and confidantes were also killed. Israel plundered Judah of her treasures and took captive over 200000 women and children. The Prophet Obed admonished Israel for attacking Judah and commanded them to send back those taken captive “for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.” Certain leaders in Israel responded positively to the prophet’s words, and showing compassion and kindness to the captives, escorted them back to Jericho. Meanwhile, weakened by military defeats and depleted of capable fighting men, Judah suffered further attacks from the Edomites and Philistines. Ahaz sought help from the king of the Assyrians, but rather than assist Judah, Tiglath-pileser merely took advantage of the situation to enrich himself at Ahaz and Judah’s expense. Rather than turn to the LORD in repentance and faith, Ahaz foolishly embraced the gods of his enemies and made sacrifices to them. He stripped the House of God to make altars for idols throughout Jerusalem and his kingdom. After his death, his remains were buried in Jerusalem but not in the tombs of his fathers. He was succeeded by his son, Hezekiah.
In Psalm 119:145-152 the psalmist invokes God’s grace to strengthen and shelter him against those that sought him harm. He seeks the LORD wholeheartedly, determined to remain faithful in the face of unjust hatred and persecution. And herein he anticipates and foreshadows the Lord Jesus Christ who was ever faithful to complete his saving mission, turning the evil that was against him to the greatest good imaginable. The psalmist is similarly the voice of the church militant in a day of vociferous and violent opposition. He earnestly prays, ‘With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes.’ He is resolved to remain faithful, but he recognises his need of God’s help therein. And so he pleads, ‘146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.’ As an aside, we are indirectly reminded here in the psalmist’s words that God saves his people not because they have faithfully kept his commandments but in order that they might do so. Grace precedes good works done in love (Eph.2:8-10). The psalmist finds confidence and comfort in God. His hope is in God’s words of promise. And so he prayerfully and regularly reads and ruminates upon sacred scripture. He even ponders its meaning while in his bed. ‘147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. 148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.’ Trusting in God’s covenant love he asks God to justly intervene - to come to his aid against his unjust accusers and antagonists. ‘149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. 150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.’ He trusts in God who’s word is truth through thick and thin. He has personal experience of God’s goodness and the blessing that follows obedience. He understands that God’s word and promises stand firm. ‘151 But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. 152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.’ May we similarly hear and heed the word of God and thereby faithfully follow the God of the word.
To ponder! Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you (1Pt.1:22-25).
Bible Challenge: Day 397
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 29 & Psalm 119:153-160
2 Chronicles 29 records the reign of godly King Hezekiah. He was twenty-five years of age when he inherited the throne from his wicked father, Ahaz, and he reigned for twenty-nine years. He renovated, reformed, and restored the House of God and the true worship of God in Jerusalem and throughout his kingdom. He reassembled and reconstituted the priests and Levites to serve the LORD and his people. He told them, “My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” Consequently, the ministry and place of worship were duly consecrated and cleansed by recourse to the word of God. And so, Hezekiah purged the Temple and the land of the idols erected by his father and re-established the church’s worship on the basis of the word of God. This is what theologians refer to as the regulative principle. Burnt and sin sacrificial offerings were made when the work was completed along with celebratory praise. The whole assembly of priests, Levites, king, and people worshipped the LORD with thanksgiving, with Temple singers and musicians leading the praise. ‘And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.’ Then the people brought their sacrifices. So many, that the priests struggled to cope. However, all rejoiced in the restoration and reformation.
In Psalm 119:153-160 the psalmist prays to God for deliverance from the afflictions caused by his antagonists. He is suffering persecution for his faithfulness, and he hereby anticipates and foreshadows the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.’ Trusting God’s word, he seeks his intervention and mediation. ‘154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!’ The wicked are estranged from God and have little or no concern with God’s commandments and hence with the morality of their actions. But the psalmist by contrast while a saint is a sinner still, and he therefore looks to his merciful Saviour to preserve his life that he might continue to serve the LORD. ‘155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. 156 Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.’ Despite that fact that he feels isolated and alone and his enemies are many, he is determined to remain faithful. The faithlessness of the wicked is loathsome to him because they foolishly violate the law of their Creator, Lawgiver, Benefactor, Redeemer, and Judge. ‘157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.’ The psalmist is reliant on God’s love and his chief desire is to glorify God by walking before him and others in love. God’s word is truth and abides forever. The psalmist acts as the voice of the church when he expresses his implicit trust and commitment to read and reflect, to hear and heed what it teaches. ‘159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.’
To ponder! For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Bible Challenge: Day 398
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 30 & Psalm 119:161-168
2 Chronicles 30 records Hezekiah’s reintroduction of the keeping of the Passover Feast at Jerusalem. He sent word throughout his kingdom calling the people to keep the celebration. It had been postponed due to the dearth of priests consecrated to serve at the Temple. Now that all was reformed and reconstituted the king sent courtiers throughout the land commanding the people to make their way to the capital for the Feast. Hezekiah summoned his subjects: “O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the LORD God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” Lamentably, many people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun spurned and scorned Hezekiah’s decree, others heard and heeded his call, as did the people of Judah. And so a massive crowd assembled to commemorate and celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread at Jerusalem in the second month of the year. Hezekiah prayed for those celebrants that had kept the Feast while yet ceremoniously unclean. He pleaded, “May the good LORD pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” And God heard his prayer and healed the people. The king made rich provision, the priests and Levites ministered at the Temple, and the people worshipped the LORD with great rejoicing for another seven days. Not since the reign of Solomon had they experienced such joyful spiritual fellowship. The chapter concludes, ‘Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.’
In Psalm 119:161-168 the psalmist gives expression to his faith, hope, and love. Unjustly persecuted by the powerful, he wholeheartedly trusts in God. His fear (reverence and respect) of the Lord is greater than his fear of man. ‘Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.’ He takes delight and finds assurance in God’s covenant promises. ‘162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.’ He loves the LORD and his ways and is resolved to keep them. But he loathes those that are deceitful and duplicitous and who speak and act contrary to God’s commands. ‘163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.’ He regularly and daily prays and praises God for his goodness and guidance and therein finds righteousness, peace, and joy. ‘164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. 165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.’ Knowing that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent and that all things work for the good of those who love God, he trusts and obeys the LORD. ‘166 I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments. 167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.’ Let us do likewise, understanding that the psalmist herein acts as the voice of Christ’s church.
To ponder! But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:29-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 399
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 31 & Psalm 119:169-176
2 Chronicles 31 records how after the Feast of Unleavened Bread the people went home and destroyed the idols to foreign gods that had been erected throughout the kingdom in the reign of Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz. Afterward, Hezekiah reorganised the priests and Levites in their various divisions for service in the worship of God at the Temple in Jerusalem and elsewhere. He moreover sought to ensure that they were properly remunerated in the people’s freewill offerings. The people generously gave of their firstfruits of the field and flock and there was an abundance of good things to be thankful for. Responding to Hezekiah question, Azariah the chief priest said, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the LORD has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.” Chambers were constructed at the Temple to store produce and personnel appointed to oversee their distribution. The chapter concludes, ‘Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.’
In Psalm 119:169-176 which concludes lengthy Psalm 119, the psalmist as the voice of the church earnestly prays to God for the illumination and correct comprehension of the word of God. God’s people require the Spirit who inspired the word to illuminate it for them. And so we must come to sacred scripture prayerfully. The psalmist pleads, ‘Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!’ He pleads the promises of God therein. ‘170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.’ He praises God in accordance with what has been revealed in the word. His prayer is evidence of an active and abounding faith. It bears witness to his desire to be faithful in the application of God’s word. And it produces praise to God for his greatness, goodness, and wisdom. ‘171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.’ The psalmist is determined by God’s grace to faithfully follow the Lord always. ‘173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.’ He takes delight in God and the things of God and longs for the fulness of salvation. He seeks to please God by keeping his law of love as a child of grace. ‘174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.’ He concludes by confessing his sin reminding us that repentance accompanies faith in the earthly pilgrimage of God’s people. What is repentance but the reorientation of one’s life in a God-ward direction. He seeks in other words to live in communion with God and his people who comprise the flock of the Good Shepherd’s pasture. ‘176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.’ We persevere by the paternal love and grace of God. Praise his name. Amen.
To ponder! I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice (Eze.34:15-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 400
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 32 & Psalm 120
2 Chronicles 32 records Hezekiah’s response to the invasion of Judah by King Sennacherib of Assyria. He cut off the springs of water to deny the Assyrians supply of fresh water. He marshalled the people and fortified the walls of the Holy City and built up city defences throughout his kingdom. He also sought to ensure that his fighting force was well equipped to repulse the invaders. He organised his army into divisions under capable and competent commanders and urged all, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” Responding to Hezekiah’s resistance, Sennacherib began a propaganda campaign to disturb and divide the people of Judah. He told them their king was misleading them and that they could not withstand the Assyrian army and their gods. The Assyrians poured scorn on the LORD God and sought to spread fear and foreboding among the people of God. King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah shaken, nevertheless, turned to God in prayer. Their extremity was but God’s opportunity. And God came to their rescue. ‘And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.’ The people of Judah praised God and brought their gifts to the House of God and to King Hezekiah whose fame spread near and far. Sometime afterwards, Hezekiah became seriously ill and was at the point of death, but God healed him. Nevertheless, Hezekiah temporarily became proud and failed to humble himself in thanksgiving before God. He was only spared God’s righteous anger when he repented. He enjoyed great power, prestige, and prosperity and Judah flourished greatly under his godly rule. After his death, his remains were interred with his fathers at Jerusalem and his son Manasseh succeeded him as king.
In Psalm 120 the psalmist cries out to God in great distress for deliverance. Anticipating and foreshadowing God’s Christ, who was also falsely accused, and representing the church militant in our fallen world which is also often a target of misrepresentation by her enemies, he asks God to rescue him from those that were slandering him. ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. 2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.’ We note that the LORD answered him. He is the hearer and answerer of our prayers. As the hymnwriter reminds us, ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!’ Moreover, as James later did in his New Testament Epistle, the psalmist reminds us here of the folly and the evident dangers of such duplicitousness and deceit. Not only are the innocent wrongly maligned and maliciously pained but those that spread falsehoods bring judgement upon themselves! ‘3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? 4 A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!’ The psalmist laments the vociferous and violent environment in which he dwells. ‘5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!’ Such is life in our fallen world. He practices a life of separation in the sense that he seeks to be salt in an unsavoury environment, and light in a dark world. He will engage with and witness to the more excellent way without following the immoral behaviour of his enemies. He desires the common good and that all would live in peace, but lamentably his adversaries and antagonists continue in the way of hatred and hostility. ‘6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!’ He cannot change the hearts of the wicked but he can pray to the one who turns sinners into saints! And we must do likewise.
To ponder! So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell (Js.3:5-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 401
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 33 & Psalm 121
2 Chronicles 33 records the respective reigns of Manasseh and Amon. Manasseh was twelve years old when he ascended the throne of Judah and he reigned for fifty-five years, making him the longest reigning king in Judah or Israel’s history. Unlike his father, godly King Hezekiah, he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He reintroduced the pagan idols to the capital and its Holy Temple and throughout the land and led the people of Judah astray. He was not only guilty before God of apostasy and idolatry, but he even sacrificed his own children in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to those foreign deities. Moreover, he consulted with mediums and sorcerers. ‘Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel.’ Ignoring God’s call to repent from his wickedness, Manasseh only did so after he was taken captive in chains and hooks back to Babylon after his nation had been invaded by an Assyrian army. There in desperation he humbly and penitently sought the LORD God in prayer and was converted to the faith of his fathers. On returning to Judah and his capital, Jerusalem, he purged the land of the idols to foreign deities that he had introduced, although the people continued to offer sacrifices on the high places. And he restored the Temple and reintroduced the true worship of God. He also fortified his city by building up her walls to protect the inhabitants from potential future sieges. After his death his remains were buried in Jerusalem and his son Amon ascended the throne. Amon was twenty-two years of age when he inherited the crown of Judah but he only reigned for two years. He followed the wicked example of his father Manasseh but failed to humble himself and repent like his father had done. He was murdered by men that served in his household. And Josiah, his son, was made king in his stead.
Psalm 121 is one of the better-known psalms. The old Scottish Metrical Version continues to be sung regularly within the church, typically to the Scottish tune, ‘French’. Understandably, it is particularly a favourite at funerals here in Scotland. It is a ‘Song of Ascents’ and would have been sung by the Old Testament saints as they made their way up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD at the House of God. That holy place symbolised God’s presence amid his church. It was where God had promised to meet with his people in a unique and special manner. Not that God can or could have been so contained and confined to a building made by human hands but the Temple symbolised God’s abiding presence and anticipated and typified the Lord Christ, Immanuel, who is God with us. And so, the psalmist begins, ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’ The psalmist gazes on, and no doubt reflects and marvels upon all that was symbolised and communicated in the House of God as he approaches the place of worship. He lifts his eyes heavenward in faith confident that God is his Rock and Refuge, his Strength and Shield. The Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth is with him and for him. God is his Lord and Saviour. And he here expresses his complete and continuing reliance on God’s grace, love, and mercy. He trusts wholeheartedly in God’s provision and protection in order that he might persevere in the faith. ‘3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’ God is an ever-present reality in the lives of his people. He is not only omnipotent and omniscient, but he is also omnipresent. The LORD is not only with his people but like a loving parent he watches over his beloved children. He not only guides them, but he also guards them. ‘5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.’ God will never forget or forsake his people. He will guard and guide them to glory. 7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.’ We can only remain faithful because he is faithful. Great is his faithfulness.
To ponder! And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19).
Bible Challenge: Day 402
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 34 & Psalm 122
2 Chronicles 34 records the reign of the godly King Josiah. He was only eight years of age when he was made king after his father was murdered and he ruled for thirty-one years. He kept the faith. At twelve years of age he began to purge the land of idols to foreign deities and he did not waver is his love for the Lord and his people. In the eighteenth year of his reign the Book of the Law was discovered by Hilkiah, the high priest, in the House of God during the renovation work that Josiah had ordered to be overseen by trustworthy and competent subjects. Hilkiah gave the Law of Moses to Shaphan the king’s secretary who took and read it to the king. Josiah, tore his clothes to visibly express his grief at Judah’s failure to keep God’s law. And he declared, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.” Huldah, the prophetess prophesied future disaster upon Judah and its capital Jerusalem for its abandonment of God and his word. God nevertheless deferred his judgement because of Josiah’s faith and repentance. God, speaking through the prophetess, told Josiah, “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” Josiah assembled the people before him at the House of the LORD and read to them the Book of the Covenant (the law given to Moses). They vowed to keep God’s commandments and ‘All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.’
Psalm 122 is another well known Psalm which continues to be sung in worship today, usually in the Scottish Metrical Version to the well-known tune ‘St Paul’. It is a Psalm of David and another Song of Ascents. One can imagine the Old Testament church joyfully singing and meditating upon its verses as they made their way up to the Holy City and to the House of God at Jerusalem for worship. It firstly expresses gladness for the communion the believer has with God and his people in worship. ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” It reminds us that Christians are called into holy fellowship as family in Christ Jesus our Lord who was symbolised and typified in the House of God. It teaches us of the need to encourage and support one another in the means of grace. As the letter writer of Hebrews reminds us, we are not to neglect assembling for worship (Heb.10:25). And that worship is to be in spirit and in truth. We ought to worship God as our chief delight as he has revealed himself to us in his word. And our worship should be regulated thereby. And so, the psalmist writes, 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.’ Jerusalem was the place where God had chosen to meet with his people in a unique and special manner. The Holy City acted as his holy abode, and it anticipated and foreshadowed the church in this new covenant era. ‘5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.’ Christ Jesus is the Head and Ruler of his church and he has established order therein and committed to his ministers his ordinances and the power of the keys to administer the means of grace and exercise good government (see Matthew 16 & 18). Like the psalmist we must pray for the peace and spiritual prosperity of the church. ‘6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”’ Let us believe and belong as the children of God. ‘8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”’ Let us seek the good of the church and the glory of God. ‘9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.’ The church is place where God has commanded the blessing.
To ponder! And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
Bible Challenge: Day 403
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 35 & Psalm 123
In 2 Chronicles 35 Josiah called for and made preparations for the keeping of the Passover Feast according to the word of God. He commanded reforms and regulations anent the furniture and priesthood associated with the worship of the Temple in conformity to God’s revealed will to Moses. He contributed 30,000 young lambs and goats and 3,000 bulls for use as sacrificial offerings. And his courtiers and leaders in Judah, following his example, also gave generously for the commemorative and celebratory Feast. All was done in accord with the sacred scriptures and the priesthood and the people of God praised the LORD and glorified his name. ‘No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.’ Sometime afterward, Josiah marshalled his army to face a potential invasion force led by King Neco of Egypt. Neco sent envoys explaining that he had no hostile intention towards Josiah or Judah, but Josiah dismissed the word and engaged the Egyptians in battle on the plains of Megiddo. Josiah was fatally wounded by an arrow. Returning to Jerusalem on a chariot, he died there of his injury and was buried with his fathers with great lamentation. ‘Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.’
Psalm 123 is another Song of Ascents in which the psalmist as the voice of the church looks heavenward to where God is enthroned in glory. As the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name,’ The psalmist hereby expresses his trust and dependency on God’s enabling grace. ‘To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!’ He comes to the Throne of Grace as a servant called to serve God. He requires God’s continuing enlightenment, equipping, and empowerment. He comes as a sinner in need for forgiveness for both sins of commission and sins of omission. And therefore, he also prays for mercy. ‘2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.’ He supplicates God to show mercy to the Israel of God, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He understands as a member of God’s family and fellowship that a little leaven can leaven the whole lump. In other words, we never sin in isolation, but our transgressions and trespasses impact others. Sin has a detrimental effect on our relationship with God and one another. The psalmist is also grieved by the contemptuous boasts of the wicked towards the faith and the faithful. And so he is calling upon the LORD for deliverance, vindication of his cause, and justice. And therefore he earnestly prays, ‘3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.’
To ponder! For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low (Isa.2:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 404
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 36 & Psalm 124
2 Chronicles 36 records the decline of Judah as foretold by the prophets. Jehoahaz succeeded his father Josiah as king. He was twenty-three years of age when he came to the throne but tragically, he was deposed and taken into captivity by Neco, the king of Egypt, who had Eliakim, Jehoahaz’s brother, installed in his stead. Eliakim, who changed his name to Jehoiakim, was twenty-five when he became king of Judah and he reigned for eleven years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and was eventually defeated militarily and carried off into captivity in chains by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also desecrated and plundered the Temple of God. Jehoiachin succeeded his father at the age of eighteen, but he only ruled for three months and ten days. He similarly abandoned the faith and did evil before God. He was also deposed and taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar who has his brother, Zedekiah made king. Zedekiah was twenty-one years of age when he ascended the throne and he ruled for eleven years. He also did evil and would not humble himself and repent when confronted by the Prophet Jeremiah. He embraced the deities of the surrounding nations and corrupted and polluted the worship of God. ‘The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.’ Jerusalem was besieged by a Chaldean army who mercilessly murdered men, women, and children. They stripped the House of God of its treasures which were taken to Babylon as booty. They burned down and destroyed the Temple, and with it the king’s palace and other prominent buildings, and they broke down the great city wall with its majestic gates and towers. Those who had escaped the sword were taken into captivity in Babylon and the Holy City lay desolate for seventy years as foretold by the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. Then God moved and motivated Cyrus, the King of Persia, to command the rebuilding of the Holy City in fulfilment of prophecy which is told in the Book of Nehemiah.
Psalm 124 is another song of ascents. In it the psalmist as the voice of the church expresses his deepest gratitude to God for his saving grace. God is our salvation. He saves his people. He is almighty to deliver his church from dangers, from the forces of darkness, and from our final enemy, death, and hell. Metrical versions of this Psalm were historically, and understandably, favourites of French Huguenots and Scottish Covenanters during times of fierce persecution and grave danger and it continues to be sung and prayed throughout the church today. The psalmist begins, ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say—2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.’ Did the psalmist have the exodus in mind when he wrote these words, when God saved his people through the Red Sea from Pharoah and his mighty army? Or possibly he was thinking of the deluge or another of the many occasions when God gave deliverance to his people after they found themselves in great peril and the odds appeared to be stacked against them. Or is David thinking of the occasions when God came to his rescue as in his confrontation with Goliath or when Absalom conspired against him? We are not told. Rather we are being reminded that God must come to our rescue. He alone is Saviour. We are wholly dependent on his saving grace. Without which we must perish. The name Jesus literally means ‘God saves’, and the Bible teaches, ‘And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ The psalmist continues therefore to give praise and thanks to God for so great salvation. ‘6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!’ God in Christ is our Deliverer and Liberator (Gal.5:1). Therefore, he concludes, ‘8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’ He is all powerful who saves to the uttermost. In God we trust.
To ponder! on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure (2Cor.11:26-27).
Bible Challenge: Day 405
Bible Reading: Ezra 1 & Psalm 125
In Ezra 1, and in fulfilment of the prophecy given by Jeremiah, the Sovereign God moved Cyrus, the King of Persia, to rebuild the House of God in Jerusalem. A period of seventy years has passed since the Holy City and its Temple were destroyed and its surviving inhabitants taken into captivity in Babylon. And so, the word came to Cyrus and he declared, “Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” The leaders of the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with priests and Levites, who had retained their unique identity and faith during the years of captivity and passed it on to those born on foreign soil, responded positively to the call. They gathered precious resources, and Cyrus also had restored to them the holy items that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from the House of God. ‘All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.’
Psalm 125 is another beautiful song of ascents. And one can imagine the Old Testament saints and pilgrims singing it as they made their ascent to the Holy City and to Mount Zion, with the House of God at its apex – high and lifted up. Perched on solid rock and surrounded with mighty walls and mountains in the distance it appeared impregnable and indestructible. We Scots might think on the impressive and imposing structures of Edinburgh or Stirling Castles for a similitude built as they were upon volcanic rock centuries ago to offer royalty protection and so act as a symbol of power, prestige, and prosperity. And so the psalmist begins by noting that ‘Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.’ God’s people which comprise the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is saying, are safe and secure in and on Christ our Rock and Refuge. As the hymnwriter would later express the same truth, ‘on Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.’ Mount Zion is also a symbol and type of the church as made clear in the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews. The psalmist therefore continues, ‘2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.’ God’s true church perseveres and enjoys stability, strength, and security from the abiding presence and power of the LORD, who is ever with his people. All around and underneath are his everlasting arms! By his grace he enables and equips his people to remain faithful amid a fallen world. ‘3 For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.’ The Lord guards and guides his people by his word and Spirit in Christ. The psalmist prays, ‘4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers!’ He is asking God to reward faithfulness with fruitfulness and to vindicate his name and justice by punishing those that do evil and who remain unrepentant. He concludes his short paeon of praise by supplicating God. ‘Peace be upon Israel!’ May God’s people know that peace that Christ bestows upon his church (Jn.14:25-27. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding and is the preserve of all who trust in the Prince of Peace.
To ponder! I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Ps.18:1-2).
Bible Challenge: Day 406
Bible Reading: Ezra 2 & Psalm 126
Ezra 2 provides a lengthy record of the names and the numbers of the exiles that returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the House of God from the former territories belonging to the King of Babylon. These were the descendants of those taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, whose names were recorded in the official genealogies of the Jews. They included leaders, and servants, priests and Levites, men and women, boys and girls. ‘The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.’ Those that had prospered in exile gave generously for the initial resettlement and the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. God was restoring his people to their homeland and his name in Zion.
Psalm 126 is another wonderfully uplifting song of ascents. And how providentially appropriate that we should be reflecting upon it on the same day that we have read Ezra 2! It is a song of joy for the restoration of God’s people, Christ’s church. The psalmist begins, ‘When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.’ God has revived and restored the fortunes of Zion. God has heard the desperate cries of his people and come to their help. God has worked among them and through them by his sovereign grace and mighty power. God has lifted them out of the mire and made his light to shine upon them. God has strengthened them and made them strong and secure in him. He has imparted new life. He has raised the spiritually dead and moribund and given them vitality and victory (see Ezekiel 37). As the psalmist had earnestly prayed elsewhere, ‘Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?’ (Ps.85:6). And ‘Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!’ (Ps.80:19). How wonderful it was when God answered their cry and so acted and restored the fortunes of his church. He built her once again and adorned her with the graces of faithfulness and holiness that she might glorify and enjoy him. The psalmist and his fellow saints were like those that dream! They were overjoyed and could hardly believe that God had raised his people phoenix-like from the ashes. ‘2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.’ Not only did the Old Testament saints rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory but even the world marvelled at the miraculous recovery, reformation, restoration, and revival of the church. Like sudden streams appearing in the desert after an unexpected downpour that bring the barren wasteland to blossom and bloom with new life, so it was with the Zion of God. And o the psalmist had supplicated God, ‘4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!’ Despite rightly giving all praise and glory to God for such a reversal of their fortunes, we must note that the Old Testament remnant had not been inactive or passive. They had been faithfully praying, keeping God’s commands, and sowing the seed of the word in expectation of a harvest to come. This is faith, hope, and love in action. They had faithfully laboured in a day of small things trusting God to bring the increase in his good time. And so the psalmist concludes, ‘5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.’ Let us remain faithful. Let us trust and obey the Lord Christ and continue to sow the seed of his gospel that we might yet reap a mighty harvest with shouts of great joy to his everlasting praise.
To ponder! Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.” (Jn.4:31-38).
Bible Challenge: Day 407
Bible Reading: Ezra 3 & Psalm 127
Ezra 3 records how after seven months had passed the children of Israel that had returned to the Promised Land gathered in Jerusalem. There Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel along with his kinsmen rebuilt and re-established the altar to worship God in accordance with the Law of Moses. They made burnt offerings day and night and kept the Feast of Booths in conformity to the instructions laid down in the sacred scriptures. However, the foundation of the Temple was yet to be reconstructed. And so collections were taken to employ masons and carpenters to work on the rebuilding. Supplies were also given to Sidonians and Tyrians ‘to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.’ The work commenced in the second month of the second year of laying the foundation of the House of God under the oversight of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. They appointed Levites to help supervise the work. Once the foundation was laid, the priests and Levites, along with the sons of Asaph donned their vestments and praised the LORD in word and song. And the people joined in with great rejoicing. ‘They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”’ And yet, many of the older priests and Levites that had been familiar with the former Temple wept as they made comparison between the new and the old Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians. ‘[S]o that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.’
Psalm 127 is a song of ascents that is attributed to Solomon who built the Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon speaks for the church when he declares, ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’ We are reminded here by the psalmist that it is God who constructs, strengthens, supports, and provides security for his church. His people are ever dependent upon his grace and guidance, his benefaction and benediction, his provision and protection. Without God’s favour our labours must ultimately be fruitless and in vain. And therefore, his people must pray continually for enlightenment and empowering, that God would work in and through them. The church must trust and obey God and do his will which is revealed in his word. We must get with God’s building programme. We must use his blueprint! As Christians we must abide in Christ if we are to abound in Christ. Faithfulness will lead to fruitfulness which is the Father’s will for his children in his only begotten Son. Otherwise, the psalmist says, ‘2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.’ By God’s gracious enabling and equipping his people enjoy peace and prosperity, like Jerusalem did in the days of King Solomon. The psalmist also praises God for children. And we can take this reference in a spiritual as well as a literal sense. For the church grows and flourishes as souls are born again by the Spirit of God through the preaching of Christ’s gospel. God has not only set us in families which help shape a society in which human dignity and happiness may flourish and abound but he gives his people the Spirit of adoption whereby we can cry Abba Father and walk before him and one another in love as the children of God. Lest we forget, the Bible teaches us that children are a blessing rather than a burden. And so, Solomon rightly states, ‘3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.’ May God bless our families and our church family and may we witness faithfulness producing fruitfulness for our mutual good and to his praise and glory.
To ponder! And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mt.16:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 408
Bible Reading: Ezra 4 & Psalm 128
Ezra 4 highlights opposition to the work of rebuilding the Temple by those that had settled in Judah and Benjamin after the captivity. Initially, some had requested that they be included in the reconstruction, but Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and other Jewish leaders turned down their offer of help, insisting that the work was to be carried out by the children of Israel alone. Slighted and frustrated these adversaries did all they could to hamper the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. In the reign of Artaxerxes of Persia certain prominent persons among the opponents of the Jews wrote to the king mischievously stating, ‘be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.’ They urged the king to take action against Jerusalem to preserve his revenue and rule over Judah. And so, the king decreed that work should cease on the reconstruction of the House of God and the Holy City. ‘Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.’
Psalm 128 is a song of ascents that reminds its readers of the relational, spiritual, and even material or temporal blessings that flow from faith and faithfulness. The Scottish metrical version was often taken at weddings in the past and still is in some parts of the church catholic for obvious reasons. The psalmist begins, ‘Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!’ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom teaches the Book of Proverbs. This fear means to reverence God and respect his commands. It necessitates that we take God and his revelation seriously. It requires that we trust and obey him. Like Enoch it is to walk with God. It is a fear that blossoms and blooms in righteousness, peace, love, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. The psalmist speaking of the man that fears God and keeps his commandments adds, ‘2 You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.’ While salvation is of grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, God nevertheless rewards good works done in love. As God’s people walk in love before God and one another they experience his numerous blessings and become a blessing to others. They are recipients of divine favour and become salt in an unsavoury environment and light in a dark world. Faithfulness produces fruitfulness. And so the psalmist adds, ‘3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.’ Our faith as individuals has a positive impact on our family life and on the life and labours of the church family. Therefore, we are called to take notice. ‘4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.’ The psalmist concludes by praying that the people of God individually and collectively may continue to experience his presence, peace, and rich provision. ‘5 The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! 6 May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!’ May our great and gracious God bless his church, now and always.
To ponder! If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king (1 Sam.12:14-15).
Bible Challenge: Day 409
Bible Reading: Ezra 5 & Psalm 129
Ezra 5 records the resumption of the rebuilding of the House of God in Jerusalem. In response to the proclamations of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua sanctioned the work of reformation. On hearing that the reconstruction had restarted, Tattenai, the governor of the province, and other leading non-Jews, confronted Zerubbabel and Jeshua and demanded to know on whose authority they had so acted. They also commanded that the names of all involved in the rebuilding should be given to them! ‘5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.’ There follows Tattenai’s letter to King Darius in which he reported how the rebuilding of the House to the Great God of the Jews had recommenced and was proceeding impressively. He informed the king that he had sought the names of those involved in the work and had inquired if permission had been given to restart building. He then explained how the Jewish leaders had defended their labours on the basis that permission had been given by King Cyrus, one of Darius’s forbears. Tattenai concluded his letter, “Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” We are reminded in our text that wherever God is working to build or re-form his church there will be opposition. The church must obey God rather than men. Just as the world hated Christ, so it will turn on his followers as we read repeatedly in the Acts of the Apostles and as attested in the history of the church down to the present day.
Psalm 129 is another song of ascents that commemorates and celebrates God’s sustaining grace and mercy to his church. The psalmist begins, ‘“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.’ The psalm writer is here again the voice of the church pained by the persecution of its enemies. The church has faced trials and troubles, difficulties and dangers, opposition, and oppression but the LORD has protected, provided, and prospered them. He likens God’s people individually and collectively to a field that has been ploughed. “3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” Just as the farmer disturbs and breaks up the soil to sow seed to produce a harvest, so the afflictions meted out to God’s people have only furthered their spiritual development and advanced God’s kingdom and cause for their ultimate blessing and good. You may recount the example of Joseph who told his envious brothers who had callously and wickedly sold him into slavery, ‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.’ Similarly, and supremely, Peter confidently told the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.’ God turned darkness to light, hatred to love, death to life by his glorious grace. And on this basis the Apostle Paul assures the church that all things are working for the good of those that love God. He writes, ‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal’ (2Cor.4:17-18). God is sovereign. He is in control no matter how things may appear to the contrary at times. He is just and will judge the unrepentant. ‘4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.’ The psalmist therefore earnestly prays that God would bless his church, protect, and preserve it from evil, that love might prevail, and that evil will be disarmed and ultimately defeated and destroyed. ‘5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”’ Lest we forget, God is with the faithful.
To ponder! It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut.31:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 410
Bible Reading: Ezra 6 & Psalm 130
Ezra 6 begins with King Darius ordering a search of the Babylonian archives for proof or otherwise that Cyrus, one of his predecessors, had decreed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Search was made and the said charter was discovered verifying the Jewish claims. Darius therefore ordered that the reconstruction of the House of God should continue and Tattenai, his Governor should not hamper or hinder the work in any shape, manner, or form. Moreover, the king was willing to finance the rebuilding of the Temple out of the royal revenues. ‘And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.’ Darius commanded the speedy implementation of his decree and issued a grave warning to anyone that might oppose his will. And so the work proceeded and prospered. The priests and Levites served in the worship of God and Haggai and Zechariah prophesied, ‘and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.’ And the priests and people celebrated the dedication of the Temple in worship with great joy. The chapter ends with the children of Israel celebrating the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. ‘And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.’ How wonderful that our sovereign God would use a pagan king to further his work of re-formation, anticipating and foreshadowing the New Covenant era and that day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
Psalm 130 typically known from its Latin title ‘de profundis’ meaning ‘out of the depths’ is one of my personal favourites in the Scottish Metrical Version of the Psalms. Usually sung to the tune, ‘martyrdom’ it is a song of faith, hope, and love. It expresses confidence in God’s steadfast love and saving grace. God is our deliverer. God saves. And the very name ‘Jesus’ testifies to this wonderful truth. The psalmist begins, ‘I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice!’ He realises that he cannot save himself and cries to God for salvation – to deliver him from the depths of danger, despair, and darkness. He takes hold of God’s covenant promises by faith and cries to the Almighty Saviour. He pleads for mercy reminding us that salvation is not something that we sinners deserve, earn, or merit but is a gift to be sought in repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!’ He recognises his unworthiness but trusts in the worthiness of God in Christ. He does not seek justice but grace and mercy. And therefore, he acknowledges, ‘3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?’ 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.’ He comes to God like a beggar, humbly and yet eagerly and expectantly in faith. His trust and hope are firmly in God’s word. And so, he declares, ‘5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.’ The psalmist, writes from personal experience and urges the church, the Israel of God, to trust wholeheartedly in God’s amazing grace and limitless love. ‘7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.’ He does so, confident that God will save his people from their sins. ‘And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.’
To ponder! Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isa.45:22). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Eph.1:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 411
Bible Reading: Ezra 7 & Psalm 131
Ezra 7 records how in the reign of King Artaxerxes, Ezra, a Jewish scribe, skilled in the Law of Moses, went up from Babylon to Jerusalem with the king’s permission. This was the will of God, and the hand of the LORD was upon him to guide, instruct, and protect. We are informed that ‘Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.’ He was accompanied by others which included priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple-servants. Artaxerxes gave permission to all the Jews within his dominions that wished to return to Jerusalem and Judah. He also provided gold and silver for the worship and maintenance of the Temple in Jerusalem. He further decreed, ‘Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence’. He also issued an exemption from taxes for the priests and all who served in the House of God in the Holy City. He furthermore commanded Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges in Judah and to teach the people from the word of God. The chapter therefore concludes with Ezra’s prayer of thanksgiving. He gladly exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.’
Psalm 131 commends confidence and contentment in God. In these three verses the psalmist, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit teaches God’s people the importance of humility and hope. He impresses upon the church the necessity to eschew arrogance and pride which have no place in those dependent upon God’s amazing grace, love, and mercy. He begins, ‘O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me.’ The psalmist knows his place and is determined to use the gifts and graces given to him by God to glorify God and serve others in love. He comprehends and therefore indirectly warns God’s people that self-serving ambition and haughtiness emanate from a heart that is not right with God. ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (Js.4:6). The church’s boast must never be in itself but in the Lord. Pride and other sinful attitudes that produce behaviours and actions contrary to God’s revealed will only reveal a heart yet deceitful and desperately sick (Jer.17:9, Mt.15:19). The psalmist knows his limitations and has learned to curb and mortify the works of the flesh. And therefore, he adds, ‘2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.’ He has found peace, joy, and satisfaction in humbly serving God and others. As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, ‘godliness with contentment is great gain’ (1Tim.6:6). The Lord Jesus repeatedly warned his disciples in the days of his earthly ministry to avoid the proud ambition of many religious leaders. The psalmist concludes by urging God’s people to trust and wait upon the LORD. Ever reliant on God’s grace, the church must humbly walk before God in faith, hope, and love, adorned in the fruits of the Spirit. ‘3 O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.’ This is the way of wisdom. This is God’s will. This is what it means to follow Jesus.
To ponder! When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom (Pro.11:2). Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Pro.16:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 412
Bible Reading: Ezra 8 & Psalm 132
Ezra 8 begins with the genealogies of those that returned to Jerusalem and Judah with Ezra from Babylon. Ezra also summoned the Levites. He gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava and after scrutiny discovered that they were not true descendants of Levi. He therefore initiated action to ensure that only those from the tribe of Levi would accompany him back to serve in the House of God at Jerusalem. Ezra proclaimed a fast be observed with prayer that God would protect those returning to the Holy City. ‘So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.’ He also appointed twelve priests to guard the gold, silver, and vessels collected for use at the Temple. The LORD answered their prayers and they safely completed the journey to Jerusalem where the gold, silver, and vessels were counted and weighed. They worship God, offering sacrifice and praise in thanksgiving. ‘They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.’
Psalm 132 has featured prominently in times of revival and refreshing from the presence of the Lord, particularly in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In it the psalmist as the voice of the church pleads the promises of God which he made in his Covenant with David and his people. He begins, ‘Remember, O LORD, in David's favour, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” As a recipient of grace, David’s desire was for the presence of God. For God to be dwelling in the midst of his people. Despite his trials and troubles, his hardships and heartaches, his folly and failures, David was determined by God’s enabling favour to live his life before the face of God. While it would be left to his son, Solomon to build the actual Temple at Jerusalem, these truly anticipate and foreshadow God’s Christ and his people living in holy communion. The psalmist recalls how the people from near and far gladly went up to worship God in humility and reverence. They encouraged one another therein, desiring and enjoying spiritual fellowship. They prayed for God’s ministers and all their fellow worshippers that they might be clothed in righteousness, be anointed with the Spirit, and be full of the joy of the Lord. ‘6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7 “Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” 8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.’ The psalmist prays God’s promise which was and is ultimately fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.’ The psalmist also recounts the importance of faith and faithfulness. God’s people are called to keep his covenant and commands. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We are set apart to be holy as God is holy. We are commanded to love God and our neighbour. And so, he recounts God’s word, “12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.” He praises God for electing grace. ‘13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” Zion is the church, the body of Christ. Jesus is the descendent of David in his human nature. In Him God has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. The place is a person who is our King and Saviour. Only in him are we clothed with salvation. He is the Bread from Heaven. He is our Light, Love, and Life. We are more than conquerors in and through him. One day every knee shall bow, and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Let us bow down like Thomas and gladly declare, ‘my Lord and my God’.
To ponder! God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph.2:4-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 413
Bible Reading: Ezra 9 & Psalm 133
Ezra 9 concerns the issue of intermarriage. The priests, Levites, leaders and the people generally that had returned from the Babylonian Captivity had married those of non-Jewish descent that were then occupying the land of Judah. Ezra and his close associates were appalled that the people of Israel had so acted against God’s will. Having retained their distinct identity while in captivity they were in danger of jettisoning it and bringing God’s grave displeasure upon Jerusalem and Judah. Ezra responded by fasting and prayer. He cried to God, ‘O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.” Acknowledging the sins of his predecessors he praised and thanked God for preserving a remnant whom by God’s remarkable grace had been brought back to the Holy City and the land of Judah after seventy years in exile. He thanked God for working in the hearts of the Persian kings, and for his protection of his people and for the rich provision made for the rebuilding the House of God. But now all was in jeopardy due to their own folly and failure to heed God’s law [see Deuteronomy 7:1-5]. God moreover had often graciously and mercifully issued warnings through his prophets to eschew sin and walk in the ways of God but lamentably they had all too often failed to comply and consequently rejected what was for their good and God’s glory. God had expressly stated, ‘12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ Thus, in dejection and despair, Ezra confessed before God, “15 O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”
Psalm 133 is a beautiful Song of Ascents that commends and celebrates the catholicity and unity of Christ’s true church. Still regularly sung in parts of the church here in Scotland, usually to the tune ‘Eastgate’, it not only edifies God’s people but encourages us to seek that ‘oneness’ that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ prayed to his Heavenly Father for in his High Priestly prayer in John 17 at verses 21-23. The psalmist begins, ‘Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!’ He is urging God’s people to take note. We are to reflect upon and recognise our collective call to communion with God in Christ as a people rooted and built up in love. The church is not only a fellowship in which we cultivate lasting friendships but it is the family of God. It comprises those who in Christ have received the Spirit of adoption to be God’s beloved children in a unique and special manner by God’s amazing grace. Our King and Saviour, who is God’s Christ, is our elder brother. Hence, we are members of the everlasting Royal family. We are brothers and sisters in him and through him. And it is for our benefit and blessing that we worship, work and witness for the furtherance of the family and the faith. It is good and pleasant to belong to God and one another in a fellowship of love. The psalmist therefore exclaims, ‘2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!’ Just as Aaron represented God’s people before the LORD, so Christ is our High Priest and the blessing flows from the Head, Jesus, down to all the members of the body which is the church. ‘3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.’ Again, like the dew that fell on the mountains of Zion that watered, refreshed, gave and sustained a vast array of life, so the dew that falls on the Zion of God is the anointing of the Spirit and the riches of God’s grace which God wonderfully bestows out upon the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In and through him, God (the Father) has announced his benediction. In and through Jesus he has commanded blessing upon blessing. In Jesus we have abundant life and have the promise of it everlastingly. Praise the Lord.
To ponder! There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Eph.4:4-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 414
Bible Reading: Ezra 10 & Psalm 134
Ezra 10 records how the people of Jerusalem and Judah that had returned from the Babylonian Captivity humbled themselves and confessed their sin to God. The chapter begins with Ezra at the House of God and before the people bowed down and weeping before God pleading for the LORD’s forgiveness. Shecaniah spoke for the priests and the people to Ezra confessing that they had sinned against God and had broken his covenant by marrying foreign women. ‘Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.’ And so Ezra made the leading priests present swear an oath that they would so act. Ezra fasted and mourned for the people of Judah and summoned them to gather in Jerusalem within three days on pain of forfeiture of property and land. The people of Judah and Benjamin duly assembled before Ezra on a day of heavy rainfall and he told them plainly, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” The people agreed and officials, elders, and judges were appointed throughout the land to administer the oath. Thorough examination was made and the remainder of the chapter provides a list of prominent figures in the nation that had pledged to divorce their foreign wives.
Psalm 134 is the last of the Song of Ascents and is one of the shortest in the Psalter. It is an invitation and call to worship God at the time of the evening sacrifice – which anticipated the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would yield up his spirit to the Father in heaven. The psalmist is urging the priests, the singers, and all that served in the House of God to praise and serve the LORD faithfully and fruitfully therein. ‘Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! They had been called and consecrated to serve God in the ministry of word and sacrament. They acted as intermediaries between God and the people. It was their privilege to stand before the presence of God symbolised in the Holy Place to glorify his high and holy name. Their worship was God-given and God-centred. And therefore, the psalmist writes, ‘2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!’ They lift their hands heavenwards. God is the focus of worship. He alone is worthy - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three glorious persons. Verse three can be read as the psalmist’s prayer for the ministers of God or it may be that this is the ministers (priests) benediction upon the people gathered before them for the worship of God. Both are applicable and commendable. ‘3 May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!’ Our help is in the name of the LORD who made the heavens and the earth. He is almighty and altogether glorious. While today the church rightly continues to ordain and set apart pastors for the ministry of word and sacrament, the people of God, the church, are rightly referred to as the priesthood of believers. All are called to worship God. All are called to pray and praise, and serve God in the name of our one and only Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us at the Father’s right hand in glory. Let us praise his precious and powerful name.
To ponder! Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb.4:14-16). “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” (Rev.5:13).
Bible Challenge: Day 415
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1 & Psalm 135
Nehemiah 1 introduces the reader to Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. He was a Jew born in exile during the Babylonian captivity. And he had risen to prominence as a high-ranking official in King Artaxerxes administration. While in Susa, the capital, Hanani brought him word from Judah. He informed Nehemiah that “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah wept, mourned, and fasted over the sad state of Jerusalem and cried to the LORD God of heaven in earnest prayer. Trusting in God’s covenant faithfulness and steadfast love he confessed not only his own sin but also the sin of the people of Israel. ‘7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.’ He furthermore recalled not only God’s warning but also his promise of recovery to the repentant. ‘8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ He pleaded with God to show mercy to the children of Israel and in faith and hope entreated the LORD to graciously redeem, reform, and renew the remnant by his great power and mighty hand.
Psalm 135 is an uplifting song of praise to God for his greatness and goodness. The psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD!’ That is, worship God who makes and keeps his covenant promises. Great is his faithfulness. ‘Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, 2 who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!’ It is not only our chief end to glorify God, but it is the church’s awesome privilege and pleasure to worship him corporately. The psalmist urges the church to joyfully praise and thank God for his amazing electing grace. ‘3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!’ 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.’ Having experience of God’s goodness to us in Christ, the church can enthusiastically bid others to taste and see that the LORD is good. The psalmist also extolls God’s incomparable greatness, glory, and sovereignty. ‘5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.’ The psalmist blesses God for his marvellous deliverance of his people and his judgements upon their enemies. ‘8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.’ God, the psalmist reminds his readers, is not only almighty and invincible but he is from everlasting to everlasting the same. ‘13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.’ God who is omnipotent will fulfil his word and vindicate his cause and church. He will triumph while the impotent false deities of the world will be turned to dust. ‘14 For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.’ The psalmist concludes by urging all God’s people to exuberantly bless his high and holy name. ‘19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! 20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!’ Let the church of Christ wholeheartedly declare in unison, ‘21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! Sing to ‘Effingham’
His name for ever shall endure;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be blessed in him, and blessed
all nations shall him call.
18 Now blessèd be the Lord our God,
the God of Israel,
For he alone doth wondrous works,
in glory that excel.
19 And blessèd be his glorious name
to all eternity:
The whole earth let his glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.
Bible Challenge: Day 416
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 2 & Psalm 136
Nehemiah 2 records how in the providence of God, Nehemiah was given permission by King Artaxerxes to travel to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. As a cupbearer, Nehemiah had evidently earned the trust and respect of the king as one of his closest aides. Ancient royal protocol decreed that the cupbearer should serve the king with gladness. However, Nehemiah’s sorrow at the state of Jerusalem showed in the king’s presence and he was asked why he was sad, given there were no signs of sickness. Nehemiah courageously explained, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” He prayed to God and then requested of Artaxerxes a period of leave to supervise the reconstruction of the said wall. He also asked for authoritative letters under the king’s seal. One to the governors of the lands he would travel through permitting him safe passage to Judah, and another to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forests, granting timber for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. ‘And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.’ Nehemiah was given a cavalry escort with soldiers for his journey. Nevertheless, on his safe arrival he encountered opposition from Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite who were displeased that someone would come to the aid of the Israelites. After three days in Jerusalem, Nehemiah surreptitiously made inspection of the wall. He did so alone and at night so as not to arouse suspicion and to ascertain the scale of the task to be undertaken and how they might best proceed. Afterward, he gathered the Jewish leaders and told them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” He explained his mission which had the support of King Artaxerxes, and most importantly he assured them that God was with him. ‘And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.’ Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab vociferously derided and opposed the project, but Nehemiah boldly confronted them and insisted, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
Psalm 136 is another song of thanksgiving and praise extolling God for his goodness and steadfast love which abounds and abides forever. The psalmist joyfully urges the church to, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.’ He is sovereign and supreme over everything. He is the Creator, Ruler, and Judge of all [vv.2-9]. He chose, called, and miraculously delivered his people from slavery in Egypt and from Pharaoh’s pursuing army through the Red Sea [10-15]. Despite their repeated folly and faithlessness, he continued to lead, provide, and protect the children of Israel in the wilderness expressing thereby his grace, love, and mercy. And he struck down their enemies to demonstrate [16-20]. He graciously led them to a land flowing with milk and honey. He gave them a wonderful heritage and an even more glorious inheritance who trusted him. And is so doing anticipated the church in this new covenant age. Therefore ‘Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.’
To ponder! And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mt.16:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 417
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 3 & Psalm 137
Nehemiah 3 records the rebuilding of the wall, towers, and gates of Jerusalem under Nehemiah’s leadership and oversight. The people of Israel were divided up for the massive task based on their gifts, clans, and the territory they came from. Each were assigned a specific part of the wall to rebuild. This division of labour maximised efficiency and likely pride in the work and ensured that the whole structure was rebuilt at the same time, so as not to leave the city vulnerable to her enemies. It is noticeable that the high priest and his fellow priests and Levites began the work. They were assigned the reconstruction of the ‘Sheep Gate’, the place where the animals that were used in ritual sacrifice were brought to the Temple. The worship of God was prioritised even in, maybe especially in, such a time of national emergency. Sadly, the nobles of Tekoah thought themselves above manual labour. Men and women, rich and poor, skilled and unskilled worked together to rebuild the Holy City, reminding us that many hands make light work.
Psalm 137 is both an imprecatory Psalm and a lament over the tragedy that befell Judah and Jerusalem in the period of the Babylonian Captivity. The nation had been conquered. The Holy City destroyed. The Temple desecrated. Many of the people, men, women, and children had been mercilessly slaughtered and those that survived had been taken back to Babylon in chains. Therefore, the psalmist reflecting on those sorrowful days of exile recalls, ‘By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.’ The children of Israel mourned and wept bitterly at their great loss and misfortune. They likely thought much on their own folly in forsaking God for foreign deities! In captivity they were mocked and made objects of derision for their faith. ‘2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”’ But how could they sing Psalms of Praise, songs associated with the House of God and its worship, given the calamity that had befallen the people and the place. And so, they asked, ‘4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?’ Nevertheless, deeply regretting their past faithlessness and foolishness, they were determined to retain their religious identity and loyalty to God. Therefore, they said in unison, ‘5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!’ They prayed to God to validate and vindicate their faith and his name by bringing judgement upon their captors and enemies. ‘7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” 8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!’ These words invoked the contemporary principle of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Just as the foreign armies had not spared Israelite children and infants so they prayed that God would similarly judge and condemn the Edomites for their evil actions.
To ponder! Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom.12:19-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 418
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 4 & Psalm 138
Nehemiah 4 describes the derisive and intimidating opposition to the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem by Sanballat, Tobiah, and others. Sanballat was enraged that the reconstruction was proceeding. And his initial mockery increasingly turned to fury as he saw the people of Israel progressing the great work. The Jewish people prayed to God to protect and prosper their labours and to judge their enemies. They refused to allow the mockery and threats of their antagonists to dissuade or distract them from rebuilding the wall. Indeed, such intimidation likely convinced them of the necessity for a defensive wall and therefore spurred them on to complete the reconstruction. ‘So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.’ Sanballat formed a coalition to inflict violence and strike fear into those working on the wall. Doubt spread throughout Judah that the wall could be rebuilt. The magnitude of the project, the threats of their enemies, and the weariness of those building the wall conspired to sow misinformation and confusion. Those not directly involved in the reconstruction and who lived in different parts of the country felt vulnerable to enemy attack and began pleading for a cessation of the work and for their loved ones to return home. However, Nehemiah convinced the LORD was with them to protect and bless their efforts, stationed armed guards with those labouring on the most exposed parts of the wall. He addressed the leaders and people and said, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Consequently, the people were regalvanised and returned to their labours with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. In the event of attack and at the sound of a trumpet they would down tools and go to the rescue of their comrades. Nehemiah assured them that ‘God will fight for us.’ The chapter concludes with him insisting, ‘“Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labour by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.’
Psalm 138 is a song of thanksgiving by David who wholeheartedly gives praise to God. Herein, he provides the church with a wonderful example of how we ought to approach the LORD in worship. ‘I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down towards your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.’ David worships God with the totality of his being which include the affections, emotions, intellect, and will. Mind and heart are one in true worship which is in spirit and in truth. Note how it is theocentric! David says, ‘I give you thanks, O LORD’. Before the great and good, rich and poor alike, our focus in worship is God alone. We worship God in and through Jesus Christ, who is here typified in the ‘holy temple’ of the Old Testament. He is our one and only Mediator with the Father. He reveals the Father. He is God with us. We do so extolling God’s great faithfulness and steadfast love towards us. And we worship his name in conformity to his revelation in his word. The psalmist thanks God for grace in answered prayer. ‘3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.’ He joyfully anticipates the day when all the kings of the earth, like him, will bow the knee in humble adoration and thankfulness and worship at God’s footstool. ‘4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.’ He reminds his readers, irrespective of their place in society, of the need for humility before God. ‘6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.’ David expresses gratitude to God for preserving him amid trials and troubles. God enable his people to persevere by his grace. ‘7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.’ He fully trusts that God will bring to completion and perfection all he has begun in him. ‘8 The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.’ Like David, let us walk by faith trusting God who has given us a future and a hope. Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord. It truly endures forever.
To ponder! And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil.1:6).
Bible Challenge: Day 419
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 5 & Psalm 139
Nehemiah 5 records Nehemiah’s wise response to a crisis that threatened to jeopardise the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem and the unity of the Jewish people. The great work had necessitated significant self-sacrifice and the people’s hardships had been exacerbated by not only a famine, with its resultant increasing inflation and imperial taxation, but also by the indifference and exploitation of their fellow Jews. In order to purchase grain, people were having to mortgage their properties and sell their children into slavery. Nehemiah heard the desperate cries of the people and took decisive action. He addressed the officials and members of the nobility and told them, ‘“You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” He summoned a great assembly, and condemned those that were profiting at the expense of the people. He insisted that they ‘Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.’ The assembly gave its consent and Nehemiah appointed priests to ensure that all was done properly and in order. ‘I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labour who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.’ Nehemiah led by example. During his twelves as governor over the people in Jerusalem he never exacted the allowance granted to him of the people from King Artaxerxes. He did his share in the work of rebuilding the wall. And he regularly fed 150 guests at his own expense.
Psalm 139 is a well-known Psalm of David which is often sung in the Scottish Metrical Version to the tune St Andrews. In it the psalmist begins by acknowledging and marvelling at God’s omniscience. God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and infinitely wise. He is with us and for us in Christ. ‘O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.’ God knows us better than we know ourselves. He has foreloved his people and has planed and purposed our lives. In him we live and move and have our beings! The psalmist continues, ‘3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.’ God not only sees our actions, and hears our words, but he knows our thoughts. While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart! And that is why he gives his people a new heart and a right spirit to love him and their neighbour. God therefore knowingly directs and guides his people by his word and Spirit. This is cause for wonderment, praise, and thankfulness. God’s sovereign omniscience, however, does not cancel human responsibility. He doesn’t coerce and force us to act against our wills but graciously makes us willing in a day of his power.
Having reflected and been awed by God’s omniscience, the psalmist turns his attention to God’s omnipresence. He asks, ‘7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.’ God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He is always present. He is everywhere present. He is the Great I Am. There is no where one can flee from his presence. We cannot hide from God. You may recall the story of Jonah who foolishly thought he could ignore God’s command to go to Nineveh? He sought to flee from God’s presence by sailing off to distant Tarshish but he learned the hard way that God is omnipresent and omnipotent.
The psalmist then meditates, marvels, and praises God as his Creator and Redeemer. God knew him before he was born. He planned and purposed David’s existence that he in turn would glorify God and enjoy him forever. And what is true of David is true for all of us. ‘13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.’ Praise God that we are his wonderful creations and are precious and distinct as his image bearers. Take comfort and confidence that as new creations in Jesus Christ we have a hope and a glorious future which God will bring to pass. The psalmist therefore enthusiastically exclaims, ‘17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!’ 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.’ He expresses his disgust at those that hate God and who deny and defy him at every turn. And he prays to God to judge those that do evil. ‘19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.’ He concludes by asking God to examine his interior life, to cleanse him from sin, and guide him in the way, the truth, and the life. ‘23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’
To ponder! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph.1:3-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 420
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 6 & Psalm 140
Nehemiah 6 records the conspiracy of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and others to murder Nehemiah. Word having reached them that the reconstruction of the wall had been completed, although the doors were still to be fixed in the gates, Sanballat and Geshem, wrote to Nehemiah and invited him to meet with them on the plain of Ono. Nehemiah, however, smelled a rat and grasping that they intended him harm declined to meet them. He replied explaining that he was too busy in the great work of rebuilding the Holy City. Undeterred, they sent the same message another four times to no avail. On the fifth occasion, Sanballat sent his servant and falsely and maliciously accused Nehemiah of plotting to make himself king and lead a revolt against King Artaxerxes. He claimed that he had heard that Nehemiah had prepped prophets who ready to declare that his kingship had the approval of God. Nehemiah responded, ‘“No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”’ He added, ‘9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.’ Afterward, Nehemiah entered the home of Shemaiah who sought to persuade him that assassins were about to make an attempt on his life. Shemaiah tried to entice him to seek refuge in the Temple but Nehemiah refused recognising that Shemaiah had betrayed him and his fellow Jews to the conspirators. Nehemiah prayed, ‘Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.’ And so the wall was rebuilt in fifty-two days despite hardships and opposition without and within, by God’s enabling grace. It struck the fear of God into the hearts of God’s enemies. Yet, Tobiah, who was well-connected to the Jewish people through marriage, sent letters to Nehemiah to make him afraid.
Psalm 140 is a prayer of David for deliverance from the evil intentions of violent men. It is therefore a prayer for protection and preservation. God is David’s rock and refuge, his strength and shield. A very present help in times of trouble. It is also an imprecatory psalm that calls upon God to establish justice for the victims of injustice and execute judgement upon the wicked. The psalmist begins, ‘Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, 2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.’ The wicked are not only violent but are vociferous in their hateful and hostile language. They are duplicitous and deceitful like the Serpent himself. ‘3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah’ David cries to God to guard and keep him safe from their malicious schemes. ‘4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. 5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah’ He earnestly prays as a child of God, as someone with experiential faith of God’s grace, love, and mercy. He looks to God as Lord and Saviour. ‘6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! 7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.’ He asks God’s to punish the evil actions and slanderous words of the wicked. ‘8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah 9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! 11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!’ By contrast, David pleads the cause of God’s people, the disenfranchised, and the disadvantaged. ‘12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.’
To ponder! “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Mt.25:31-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 421
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 7 & Psalm 141
Nehemiah 7 records how after the completion of the reconstruction of the wall, Nehemiah set Hanani and Hananiah in charge over Jerusalem. They were faithful and God-fearing men. He gave instruction on setting guard over the city at night. Then God put it into the heart of Nehemiah ‘to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy.’ The books were opened and the names and the number of those who had returned from the Babylonian captivity were read therein. There follows a lengthy list of the said people. ‘The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female.’ The heads of households gave generously to the work and worship of God. And in the space of seven months the people reoccupied their towns.
Psalm 141 is a prayer of David for protection and preservation. Conscious of the weakness of the fallen nature and his enemies in the world, the reader immediately detects a sense of urgency in the psalmist’s petition. ‘O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!’ Anticipating and foreshadowing the mediation of Christ our High Priest, he pleads, ‘2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!’ David desires to communicate in sincerity and integrity from a clean heart and a right spirit. And so he asks God to ‘3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!’ David yearns to remain on the narrow path that leads to life. He eschews the wide and easy one that leads in self-ruination and destruction. He prays that he might not give in to temptation to indulge the poisonous fruits of the flesh but rather that he would cultivate and communicate the fruits of the Spirit (Ga.5). Therefore, he cries, ‘5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.’ David longs for an end to the wickedness that he observes in the world and was perpetrated against him personally. He craves for the establishment of goodness and justice. ‘Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.’ He trusts in God, who is his rock and refuge, to deliver him from the hands of those that would do him harm and keep him safe. His help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. ‘8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.’
To ponder! [Augustus] Toplady lived in England in the 1700s. He was in a field when suddenly a storm swept down out of the sky. He was far from a village and had no shelter, but he saw a large rock ahead of him and thought there he might escape some of the storm's violence. When he got to the rock, he saw that it had been split open. There was a crack into which he could fit. He went in and was sheltered from the storm. While waiting there he thought on God's coming judgement and of the fact that Jesus, the Rock of Ages, was broken by God so that sinners like ourselves, who hide in him, might be safe. Struck by this thought, he found a playing card that had been lying at his feet and wrote, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee." Are you hiding in that Rock? There is no other shelter. It is only there where you can safely meet God (JM Boice).
Bible Challenge: Day 422
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 8 & Psalm 142
Nehemiah 8 records how Ezra the scribe read and preached the word of God to a large gathering of the people at Jerusalem. He instructed them who had returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the Law of Moses. A pulpit was erected so that he could be better seen and so that his voice would carry to all those assembled before him. ‘And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.’ Ezra praised God and the Old Testament church gathered before him joined in worship. He not only read God’s word clearly and with conviction but he explained and applied its meaning so that all could understand it. Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe declared the day holy. The people were not to weep or mourn but rather they were to rejoice in God’s greatness and goodness to them. The joy of the LORD was to be their strength. The people were dismissed to eat and drink joyfully in thanksgiving. The chapter concludes with the re-establishment of the Feast of Booths. On rediscovering the commandment of Moses in God’s Law, order was given on the seventh month to “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” And the people made booths on their rooftops and adjacent to their dwellings and in the courtyards of the city. ‘And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.’ The word of God was read daily, and the people kept the Feast for seven days in obedience to God’s holy law.
Psalm 142 is another Psalm of David which parallels Psalm 57. Here the psalmist is hiding in a cave from the unjust persecution of King Saul who is determined to take his life. In desperation and despair, he cries to God for deliverance. ‘With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.’ David keeps faith with God and his promise to him. And therefore, in great need, he pleads with God to show him fatherly care and compassion. To come to his aid. He is honest with God as he pours out his heart before him in prayer. ‘2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.’ Trusting in God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent to guard and guide him he adds, ‘3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!’ David’s enemies are many, they are powerful, and they are cunning but they are no match for God. ‘In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”’ In anguish the psalmist earnestly prays for relief and rescue. ‘6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name!’ He longs for liberation to praise God and enjoy the fellowship of God’s people. ‘The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.’ Like the psalmist we must ever hope in the LORD.
To ponder! preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2Tim.4:2).
Bible Challenge: Day 423
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 9 & Psalm 143
In Nehemiah 9 the people of Israel assembled in Jerusalem to humbly confess their sins to God. They fasted and wore sackcloth with dust on their heads as a symbol of their regret and remorse for breaking God’s commandments. The Law of the LORD was read from the sacred scriptures, and they worshipped God. The Temple singers sang, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.” They praised God as Creator and Upholder of all things. They gave thanks for his electing grace in the call of Abraham. They celebrated God’s saving grace in delivering their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and in leading and providing for their needs in the wilderness. They extolled the LORD for the Covenant he had made with Israel and for his law of love received by Moses on Mount Sinai. They acknowledged their forebears’ folly in their repeated failures to keep God’s commands. They had been guilty of blasphemy and idolatry, ‘But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.’ They recalled how for forty years God had provided and protected his people in the wilderness before leading a new generation into a land flowing with milk and honey. ‘Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.” Consequently, leaving Israel to its own free choices, God temporarily withdrew his gracious provision and protection, and they suffered subjugation and enslavement at the hand of their enemies. ‘31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.’ And so, the assembly gathered before Nehemiah and Ezra, confessed their sins to the mighty and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love. The people recognised and repented of their sin and cried to God in great distress that even at that time they yet found themselves under the yoke of foreign rulers on account of Israel defiance. Therefore, they renewed their covenant with God, promising faithfulness therein.
Psalm 143 is a Psalm of David that expresses his longing for God and the good governance of the Holy Spirit. In it the psalmist again acts as the voice of the church and hereby communicates the ongoing spiritual or interior battle that regularly confronts God’s people. He begins, ‘Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!’ Acknowledging the weakness of the flesh and his utter dependency on God, David, in faith, earnestly asks God to come to his aid. He trusts in God’s glorious grace, limitless love, and measureless mercy. He humbly confesses his sin and his great need to be equipped and empowered against the flesh and the forces of darkness. He prays, ‘2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.’ Consequently, David is weak, weary, and vulnerable. He feels spent and is aghast at the poisonous fruits of his own redeemed but fallen nature. ‘4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.’ He finds relief in reflecting upon God’s word and works and on his personal experience of God’s goodness to him in the past. ‘5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails!’ Like a startled animal fleeing for shelter, David flees to God his rock and refuge. Anticipating and foreshadowing the resurrection of Jesus, he adds, ‘Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.’ The psalmist looks to God for deliverance. ‘9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge.’ He asks God to guide and lead him by the Holy Spirit as a beloved child of God. ‘10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!’ He prays to the awesome and mighty God for protection and preservation – to give him strength to persevere in fighting the good fight of faith. ‘11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!’ And he asks God to judge and mortify his enemies so that he can serve God faithfully and fruitfully. ‘12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.’ Like David, let us recognise our regular need, turn to God in prayer, and rely upon his amazing grace in David’s son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
To ponder! For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Rom.8:14-17).
Bible Challenge: Day 424
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 10 & Psalm 144
Nehemiah 10 begins by listing the names of the leaders of Israel that willingly pledged their loyalty to the covenant mentioned in the previous chapter. Nehemiah, as Governor, led by example and was the first to attach his seal. Afterward the rest of the people and the priesthood and all who served in the Temple similarly vowed to uphold God’s Law given via Moses and written down in the Torah or Pentateuch which comprises the first five books of our Old Testament scriptures. They formerly declared, ‘We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31 And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.’ They also agreed to meet their financial obligations in the form of the annual Temple tax and in tithes for the support of those descended from the tribe of Levi who had been set apart exclusively for the maintenance and ministry of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. They similarly pledged to provide the first fruits of their crops and livestock for the sacrificial service of the House of God.
Psalm 144 is another Psalm of David in which he acts as the voice of the church engaged in a constant spiritual battle this side of glory. ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places’ (Eph.6:12). If the previous two psalms reflected the period in David’s life prior to his kingship when King Saul sought to murder him, this Psalm was written during his reign when he faced earthly enemies within and out with his kingdom. We may recall especially his campaigns against the Philistines who regularly threatened the stability and security of Israel. God choose David to replace Saul as King of Israel. He had been a shepherd boy when Samuel the prophet and judge anointed him as future ruler. And God enlightened and equipped him for the challenges that he would face. And so, the psalmist begins, ‘Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.’ David acknowledges, and so must we, his complete dependence on the amazing grace and steadfast love of the LORD God who is his all in all. He must be David’s constant guide, deliverer, strength, and shelter. The psalmist finds security and stability in no other. Conscious of his fallenness, frailty, and finitude, he marvels at God’s goodness to him and others. ‘3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.’ He prays to God to come to his aid and scatter and rout his enemies who are similarly the enemies of the living God. ‘5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! 6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.’ David is confident not in himself but in the Lord. He has a faith that truly works! And therefore, he believes that God will give him victory over his enemies. He will yet praise God in peace. ‘9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, 10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. 11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.’ Just as the city of Glasgow, here in Scotland, once had a motto that read, ‘let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of his word’, so David was assured that the church would flourish by faith that works in love. And so he poetically prays to God, ‘12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; 13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!’ He concludes by reminding his readers, ‘15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!’
To ponder! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom.8:37). ‘Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat—“Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules”’ (from an ancient Latin hymn).
Bible Challenge: Day 425
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 11 & Psalm 145
Nehemiah 11 provides a record of the names of the leaders that resided in Jerusalem. Lots were cast to determine which leaders among the Israelites would stay in the Holy City. One in ten were chosen for the privilege while the others stayed in the towns, cities, and their hinterlands throughout the nation. ‘And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.’ There follows a list of the names of those and the number of their households or clans that settled in the capital, including the priests, Levites, and gatekeepers, and overseers of the Levites. The chapter concludes by noting key figures that settled in Judah and Benjamin.
Psalm 145 is a Psalm of David and is a wonderfully uplifting paeon of praise to God. The psalmist acting as the voice of the church begins, ‘I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.’ In Christ Jesus, God’s saints will praise God everlastingly, but in the present they live to glorify God and enjoy him. ‘2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.’ The Almighty God is to be praised for his greatness and goodness throughout the generations. His people guard the good deposit of the faith and pass it on to the next generation. They teach it to their children. ‘3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.’ God alone is worthy of worship and is to be worshipped for his divine majesty, holiness, splendour, and infinite perfection as well as his grace, love, and mercy. While his people cannot penetrate the mystery of his divine essence, they nevertheless regularly reflect on his divine attributes and works, and marvel and muse. ‘5 On the glorious splendour of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.’ God is the covenant making and covenant keeping LORD. Great is his steadfast love and faithfulness. And therefore the psalmist adds, ‘8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!’ God’s church shall not only worship him but will gladly bear witness to his glory, greatness, and grace. ‘11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.’ The church gives thanks that our God reigns. We pray ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ ‘13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]. Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. He reigns now and for ever. One day every knee shall bow and tongue confess his Lordship. David, furthermore, expresses gratitude to God for strengthening the weak and weary, for exalting the humble and hopeful, and for graciously providing for the needs of all. ‘14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.’ God is caring and compassionate. He is kind and generous. He is truthful and just. ‘17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.’ He is with and for his people as our Lord and Saviour. ‘18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.’ He preserves his church and will judge the wicked. ‘20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.’ Let us therefore say along with the psalmist in conclusion, ‘21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.’
To ponder! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Ps.72:17-19).
Bible Challenge: Day 426
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 12 & Psalm 146
Nehemiah 12 begins by listing the priests and Levites that accompanied Zerubbabel and Shealtiel to Jerusalem and who served the Temple during the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. At the dedication of the wall surrounding the Holy City, priests and Levites came up to Jerusalem from the length and breath of the land to celebrate with gladness, thanksgiving, and songs of joy. Nehemiah led the leaders of Judah and appointed musicians and two great choirs to also sing songs of praise. ‘And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.’ Officials were appointed to oversee the stores of provision made for the priests and Levites that served in the worship of God. ‘ And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.’
Psalm 146 is a song of praise to God, our LORD and Saviour. In it the church is urged to continue in faith and faithfulness. God’s people must trust in God rather than man. The psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! God has given us a new heart and right spirit that we might worship, work, and witness to him in the Way. The psalmist is resolved to remain faithful to God no matter his circumstances and situation, and herein he provides an example for all believers. ‘2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.’ His trust is firm, and he urges God’s people to continue resolute in the faith once and for all time delivered to the saints. ‘3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.’ Those that trust on God are truly blessed. ‘5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.’ Our God, the one, living, and true God is Creator, Redeemer, Benefactor, and Judge. ‘The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.’ Praise God for his glorious grace, love, and mercy. He is all-mighty, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. If God be for us who can be against us? All things are working for the good of those that love him. ‘10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (Js.1:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 427
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 13 & Psalm 147
Nehemiah 13 records Nehemiah’s final reforms among those that had returned from the Babylonian captivity. Based on the teaching of the Law given to Israel via Moses, the people separated themselves from all those of foreign descent. Ammonites and Moabites were forbidden entrance to the assembly of God because of their past opposition to the children of Israel. And because of the perennial danger they presented to Israel of falling prey to apostasy and idolatry. After returning from an embassy with King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, nevertheless, discovered that Eliashib, the high priest, had granted a large chamber in the courts of the LORD to Tobiah, a relation through marriage but an enemy of Israel. ‘And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.’ Nehemiah further found and corrected irregularities in the distribution of what was due to the Levites and Temple singers for their labour. He appointed reliable and faithful men as treasurers to ensure all who served in the House of God were appropriately remunerated. Furthermore, Nehemiah took steps to ensure that Israel kept the Sabbath Day holy. No work was to be done on the seventh day in conformity to the fourth commandment. The gates of the Holy City were to be closed for the duration of the Sabbath to discourage trade on that day. Nehemiah also had stern words for, and implemented tough action against those that had married foreign women and whose children spoke the language of Ashdod. When the high priest’s grandson married into the family of Sanballat the Horonite, Nehemiah banished him from his presence and prayed, ‘Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.’ The chapter and therefore the Book of Nehemiah concludes with Nehemiah’s words, ‘Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.’
Psalm 147 is an ‘alleluia’ song or a paeon of praise. The psalmist reminds the church that it is not only good and pleasant to sing God’s praise but it is also an awesome privilege. ‘Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.’ The church is to praise God, giving thanks for his grace and goodness, and his enlightenment and edification. For ‘2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.’ Moreover, God endlessly cares and shows compassion for his people. ‘3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’ Possibly with God’s promise to Abraham at Genesis 15:5 in mind, the psalmist invites us to reflect on God’s greatness as well as his goodness in worship. ‘4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.’ He reminds us how we ought to approach God. For he exalts the humble but abases the proud. ‘6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.’ The psalmist urges the church to thank the LORD, making melody in our hearts for his abundant and abiding provision for us and preservation of us. ‘7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.’ Let the church therefore praise God reverently and respectfully, acknowledging their dependency upon his abiding and infinite love. ‘10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.’ Such is his sovereign and saving grace. ‘12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.’ Let us ever trust and obey the LORD God through faith in his Word. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. ‘15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.’ Let the church worship God is spirit and in truth, and let us work and witness for the consolidation and advancement of his cause and kingdom among us. ‘20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2Cor.6:17-18).
Bible Challenge: Day 428
Bible Reading: Esther 1 & Psalm 148
In Esther 1, the mighty King Ahasuerus of Persia and Media, who reigned from his capital in Susa, and whose dominion ranged from India to Ethiopia, ordered the celebration of a great feast. Therein his power, prestige, and prosperity were displayed to the world. For the feast was characterised by pomp, ceremony, opulence, extravagance, luxury, and generosity. ‘Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.’ On the seventh day of the feast and ‘merry with wine’, the king sent seven eunuchs of the royal court to fetch Queen Vashti to parade her beauty before his princes and people. However, she refused to comply, and her refusal enraged the king. Ahasuerus consulted his sycophantic advisors as to how he should respond. ‘Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behaviour will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’’ Fearing Vashti’s defiance and independence of thought and action might be replicated by women throughout his vast kingdom, Ahasuerus agreed to a proposal that Vashti should be banished from the royal court and that a decree should be sent throughout his dominions commanding that wives should obey their husbands at every level of society.
Psalm 148 poetically calls all of creation to praise the LORD God, the Creator. ‘Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!’ He alone is worthy of worship. He is the Maker, Sustainer, and Redeemer of heaven and earth. Beginning with the heavenly realms, the psalmist declares, ‘2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.’ The psalmist then addresses the earth and all therein and similarly exclaims, ‘7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children!’ The words of the Psalm echo the crescendo of praise described in Revelation 4 and remind us of God’s awesome worthiness of all worship. The chief end not only of man (male and female) but of the whole creation is to glorify God, its Creator. ‘13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.’ God has saved, strengthened, and sanctified his church for this reason. ‘14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him.’ Let us ever, ‘Praise the LORD!’
To ponder! “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev.4:11).
Bible Challenge: Day 429
Bible Reading: Esther 2 & Psalm 149
In Esther 2 we begin to see within the enfolding drama or storyline the hand of Providence at work. Esther, a young Jewish woman, who was under the guardianship of her uncle Mordecai, is chosen to replace Queen Vashti as consort to the king. The chapter begins with Ahasuerus’ advisors proposing that he choose a new queen after Vashti had been dismissed for her defiance. Officers were appointed to search the kingdom for potential partners. Esther was one of many beautiful young women chosen to enter royal service and spent a year being prepared in royal protocol, deportment, etiquette, and in beauty treatments to be presented to the king. Heeding the counsel of her uncle she did not divulge her ethnicity. ‘Now Esther was winning favour in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace… 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.’ The king ordered a great feast in Esther’s honour and there were celebrations throughout the land for royal wedding. As an aside, Esther herein acts as a type of which the church, as the bride of Christ, is the antitype. The church has been shown amazing grace and favour and is being beautified and prepared (sanctified) for her wedding day! The chapter concludes with Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, who sat outside the royal palace daily for the sake of Esther foiling an assassination plot against the king. He notified Esther who in turn informed the king who had the plotters executed.
Psalm 149 urges God’s saints, his people, who comprise the church to praise God. The church gathers as the recipients of a new heart and a right spirit to joyfully worship God in spirit and in truth. ‘Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!’ The psalmist urges the Israel of God to recognise collectively or corporately their Creator, Benefactor, Redeemer, and Ruler and make melody in their hearts to the living God. ‘2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!’ God delights in his people, the king loves his bride, and has and continues to beautify her with salvation. ‘4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.’ Therefore, let God’s people exclaim and extol God’s glory day and night. ‘5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.’ Let them take up and wield the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Let them join Christ in judging the world in righteousness and true justice. ‘6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 to execute on them the judgment written!’ Let the church bind and loose spiritually through the ministry of the gospel. ‘This is honour for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!’ Praise him indeed.
To ponder! Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb.10:23-25).
Bible Challenge: Day 430
Bible Reading: Esther 3 & Psalm 150
In Esther 3 King Ahasuerus elevated Haman the Agagite to a position of great authority in his kingdom. On the command of the king, the people were to bow and pay homage to Haman whenever they met him. Queen Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, however refused to bow and in so doing sparked Haman’s pride and fury. On discovering that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jewish people throughout the kingdom. Afterward, Haman consulted the king and told him that there were people throughout his kingdom that kept different laws to those of the king. He asked Ahasuerus why he tolerated them. And added, “If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” Ahasuerus, in response, gave his consent, and a royal edict was sent throughout all the provinces of the kingdom under the royal seal to destroy, kill, and annihilate all those of Jewish descent whether men or women, boys or girls. No one was to be spared. ‘The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.’
Psalm 150 brings the psalter to a close with a glorious and jubilant paeon of praise. Like an orchestra building to a crescendo, so the various instruments mentioned in the Psalm provide a metaphor for the whole of the new creation joining in joyful and exuberant praise to our awesome God. The psalmist begins, ‘Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!’ While the church militant’s worship is performed on earth it is received within the heavenly sanctuary where our one and only Mediator sits at the right hand of the Father. We might say therefore that it has a cosmic dimension! And again, we are reminded that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We praise him for his amazing grace and greatness. His divine majesty and splendour. The infinite perfection of his being which we cannot ever fully penetrate. ‘2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!’ Therefore, anticipating the day when every knee bows and tongue confesses, let everyone and everything praise God. ‘3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
To ponder! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! (Ps.67:4-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 431
Bible Reading: Esther 4 & Proverbs 1:1-19
Esther 4 records how Mordecai put on sackcloth, a symbol of mourning, and wept and wailed at the gate to the King’s Palace. He did so in response to hearing of King Ahasuerus’s decree sanctioning the genocide of the Jewish people throughout his kingdom. The children of Israel understandably followed Mordecai’s example. On hearing the news, Esther was gravely distressed and made contact with her uncle via a court eunuch. Mordecai informed the attendant of Haman’s evil plot and of how he had swayed the king by promising to enrich the royal treasury. Mordecai provided a written copy of the decree and pleaded with Esther to intervene with the king on their behalf. Esther insisted that it was not permitted, on the pain of death, to enter the king’s presence uninvited. Mordecai, however, replied, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther urged Mordecai to gather the Jews in Susa to fast (and pray). She promised to approach the king, although it was unlawful to do so, saying, “and if I perish, I perish.”
The Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon for his son and subjects. You will recall from 1 Kings 3 how Solomon had asked God for wisdom and God answered his prayer. Solomon was esteemed for his wisdom throughout the biblical world of his day. Proverbs are pithy statements that provide practical knowledge and common sense instruction for life in our fallen world. Solomon wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who leads God’s people in the ways of wisdom for our individual blessing, the common good, and the glory of God. Proverbs 1:1-19 begins by introducing the author and the purpose of his writing. ‘The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth’. Hence the proverbs are designed to make us discerning and sensible in our interactions with one another. They are given to promote good character and conduct by means of integrity, impartiality, morality, and love. Therefore, ‘5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.’ Most importantly they encourage and enable reverence and respect for God and his teaching which is true wisdom which only the foolish ignore and reject. ‘7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Solomon echoing the fifth commandment bids his son to hear and heed the wise instruction of his godly parents. He (and we) is adorn his life with their sage advice. ‘8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.’ He urges his son to eschew the way of sinners that murder and steal to satisfy their insatiable greed for power and prosperity. ‘10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— 15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.’ Solomon points out that the evil are digging a pit for their own destruction whether in this life or in the next. ‘17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, 18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. 19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.’
To ponder! If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (Js.1:5).
Bible Challenge: Day 432
Bible Reading: Esther 5 & Proverbs 1:20-33
In Esther 5 Esther prepares herself, dons her royal robe and makes herself seen to King Ahasuerus. Keeping royal protocol, he held out his golden sceptre and granted Esther permission to approach him. He furthermore consented to Esther’s request that the king along with Haman join her at a feast that very day. At the meal, the king offered Esther whatever she wished for, up to half his kingdom. And Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfil my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” Leaving the queen’s court, ‘joyful and glad of heart’, Haman encountered Mordecai who again refused to acknowledge or pay him homage. Haman was enraged but took no immediate action. Returning home, he boasted to his wife and friends of the privileged and unassailable position he enjoyed in the kingdom. He told them that he alone accompanied the king as a special guest of the queen. Nevertheless, he added, “13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” His wife and friends suggested to him that he should erect gallows and have Mordecai hanged. And so, Haman ordered that gallows be built outside the royal palace.
If sin has had its say in verses 8-19 then in Proverbs 1:20-33 wisdom (personified) now responds. She lifts her voice to call people from the road that leads to calamity and destruction. ‘Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?’ Wisdom which is found in the word of God calls people to consider their ways, to repent, and walk in God’s ways. ‘23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.’ Solomon here reminds his son and readers that those who sincerely seek the will and wisdom of God will find it! However, if God’s word and wisdom is foolishly ignored, suppressed, and rejected, then defiant and proud sinners have only themselves to blame for the misery and misfortune they wreak upon their lives. They bring judgement upon themselves. They dig their own pit! ‘24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.’ The day of grace and of seeking stability and security in God will have passed to judgement. ‘28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.’ Nevertheless, the faithful will be saved. ‘32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”’
To ponder: Psalm 1 (Scottish Metrical Version)
1 That man hath perfect blessedness
who walketh not astray
In counsel of ungodly men,
nor stands in sinners’ way,
Nor sitteth in the scorner’s chair:
2 But placeth his delight
Upon GOD’s law, and meditates
on his law day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree that grows
near planted by a river,
Which in his season yields his fruit,
and his leaf fadeth never:
And all he doth shall prosper well.
4 The wicked are not so;
But like they are unto the chaff,
which wind drives to and fro.
5 In judgment therefore shall not stand
such as ungodly are;
Nor in th’ assembly of the just
shall wicked men appear.
6 For why? the way of godly men
unto the LORD is known:
Whereas the way of wicked men
shall quite be overthrown.
Bible Challenge: Day 433
Bible Reading: Esther 6 & Proverbs 2:1-9
In Esther 6 King Ahasuerus discovered that Mordecai had not been rewarded for revealing the assassination plot against the king. At that, Haman entered the royal court ready to inform Ahasuerus that he was going to hang Mordecai. ‘So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honour?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honour more than me?”’ And therefore, Haman, thinking, the king was referring to him, suggested such an honoured man should be paraded in royal robes to the city square with a royal guard comprising the king’s finest horses and there be proclaimed to the people. The king thus ordered that Mordecai should be so honoured to Haman’s compliant disgust. Afterward, Mordecai returned to the King’s Gate while Haman went home grieving the slight to his ambition, pride and plot. Haman’s wife, Zeresh, suggested to Haman that Modecai’s elevation surely heralded his downfall. At that, royal messengers arrived to escort Haman to a feast held by Queen Esther.
In Proverbs 2 Solomon contrasts the way of the wise and good with that of the wicked and foolish. He urges his son to hear and heed his counsel which is the word of the living God. His bids his reader to not only receive the word but to retain the word and rest in it. It is, he insists, like hidden treasure that rewards a diligent search. It provides true theological knowledge and reverence and respect for God and his ways. And so, the wise man writes, ‘My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.’ God is wonderfully gracious and will enlighten those that earnestly seek him. He will open our hearts and minds to the truth that we might speak and act wisely with comprehension and sincerity. ‘6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.’ Thereby one comes to walk in God’s paths of peace and pleasantness, eschewing evil and the wide road that leads to destruction. ‘9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.’ Using the literary device of personification that will later be echoed by the prophet Hosea, Solomon points out that Wisdom (the word of God) provides protection against the spiritual adulteress that entices the unguarded and foolish in the way of deception and degeneracy. ‘16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.’ By heeding ‘Wisdom’ one gains and retains righteousness and integrity, in contrast to those that neglect or forsake her. Tragically, they bring judgement upon themselves. ‘20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.’
To ponder! For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Rom.1:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 434
Bible Reading: Esther 7 & Proverbs 3:1-12
Esther 7 picks up the story of Esther and the Jewish people where we left off yesterday with the king and Haman at the queen’s court for a feast. There, Ahasuerus again invited Esther to ask for anything she wished, up to half his kingdom. She responded, “If I have found favour in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” The king asked who was responsible for such murderous persecution and Esther named the ‘wicked Haman’, who understandably then stood before the king and queen terrified. While Ahasuerus, enraged, went into the royal gardens to ponder his response, Haman pleaded with the queen for his life. However, possibly drunk on wine, he staggered and stumbled onto the couch where Esther sat just as the king was re-entering the room! The king exclaimed, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” One of the king’s attendants pointed to the gallows that Haman had erected for Mordecai and Ahasuerus gave the command to hang Haman thereupon.
In Proverbs 3:1-12 Solomon acting as the voice of God for his church, bids his son to continue on the narrow road that leads to life. He must persevere in the old paths that are the way to peace and pleasantness. He must walk by faith, hope, and love trusting and obeying God’s word. This is the way of godliness and holiness. Solomon writes, ‘My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.’ God has wonderfully given his people a new heart and right spirit in the new covenant for this purpose but we must nevertheless be vigilant therein. He adds, ‘3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.’ As the children of God, we called to emulate God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. By these means we demonstrate our love for God and our neighbour and thereby keep the moral law for our mutual good and God’s glory. ‘4 So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man.’ We must trust in the LORD wholeheartedly. His word must be a lamp for our feet and light for our path. It is the perfect rule in matters of faith and morals. Therefore Solomon urges his son, and God by extension bids you and me, ‘5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’ God must be our guide. Let us humble ourselves and recognise our finitude and our limitations. Let us reverence and respect God who is infinitely wise and who knows all things. ‘7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.’ This is the way to inner health, harmony, and lasting happiness. ‘8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.’ Let us give back to God our first and our best. Freely we receive, let us freely give of our time, talents, and treasures knowing that God loves a cheerful givers and will make all grace abound to us. ‘9 Honour the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.’ God not only instructs his children but he also disciplines us for our ultimate good and blessing. ‘11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.’ Yes, God delights in his beloved children. Let us therefore strive to walk before him and one another in love.
To ponder!
1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
2. Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
3. Lord, I trust Thy mighty power,
Wondrous are Thy works of old;
Thou deliver’st Thine from thralldom,
Who for naught themselves had sold:
Thou didst conquer, Thou didst conquer
Sin and Satan and the grave,
Sin and Satan and the grave.
4. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Bible Challenge: Day 435
Bible Reading: Esther 8 & Proverbs 3:13-35
Esther 8 records the elevation of Mordecai after Haman’s execution. Esther divulged her relationship to Mordecai to the king who awarded her uncle with the authoritative office that Haman had enjoyed including the royal signet ring which acted as a royal seal. Esther also appointed her uncle over the house of Haman. Esther similarly implored the king to stop the sanctioned genocide against the Jewish people within his kingdom. Ahasuerus told Esther, “you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” Mordecai, therefore, passed a decree under the king’s seal to be read in all the provinces of the kingdom, which permitted the Jews to join together for their mutual defence against any would-be enemies. Mordecai then dressed in royal robes and wearing a great golden crown, rode through the capital to the relief and jubilation of the Jewish people there. ‘16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honour. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.’
In Proverbs 3:13-35 Solomon articulates the great value and the benefits of biblical wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. He informs his son and his readers, ‘Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.’ The acquisition of wisdom ought therefore to be a priority. The rewards of spiritual discernment and good sense are various and vast. Solomon tells us that ‘16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.’ Therein we follow the ways of God. Therein God’s people develop the mind of Christ by the Spirit’s enabling. ‘19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.’ Therefore, Solomon urges his son to keep this knowledge in the forefront of his thinking and acting. He must adorn and beautify his life with orthodoxy and orthopraxy for peace, prosperity, and protection. ‘21 My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.’ What is wisdom but the application of faith, hope, and love. It is to trust and obey God. It is to find confidence and comfort in the Lord. And therefore Solomon adds, ‘25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbour, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.’ God’s people must pursue and practice righteousness and humility in Christ. This is the way to honour. This is what it means to exercise wisdom and discretion. ‘33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favour. 35 The wise will inherit honour, but fools get disgrace.’
To ponder! The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1Cor.2:14-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 436
Bible Reading: Esther 9 & Proverbs 4:1-9
Esther 9 records how on the 13th day of the 12th month just as the king’s edict devised by the wicked Haman against the Jews was about to take effect the Jewish people gained the upper-hand over their enemies. Fearing reprisals from Mordecai, the governors of the provinces and leaders of the people supported the remnant of Israel in exile. The Jews struck down their enemies and the ten sons of Haman were arrested and later hanged with the king’s approval. Somewhere in the region of 75,000 enemies of the Jewish people were put to death throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus. The Jews feasted and celebrated their victory over those that wished them harm. Mordecai commanded his fellow Jews to keep the 14th and 15th of Adar in subsequent years ‘as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.’ And so the Feast of Purim was established to be kept annually in remembrance of a great deliverance. Esther gave her approval and wrote to the Jews throughout the kingdom obligating them to keep the holy feast every year.
In Proverbs 4:1-9 Solomon, as the voice of God by the Holy Spirit, appeals to his children to pay careful attention to his counsel that they may acquire spiritual perception and practical discernment. He writes, ‘Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.’ Just as David taught Solomon, so he in turn is determined to instruct his sons and subjects in the commandments of God and the ways of wisdom, which is the will of God for his children. ‘3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.’
He urges his readers to ‘5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.’ Jesus is Wisdom personified and it is the Father’s will that we should listen, that is, hear and heed him. While dependent on God’s grace and the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and adorn our lives with the fruits of the Spirit, it is our responsibility to acquire and apply biblical wisdom and adhere thereto. Hence Solomon adds, ‘6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.’ The pathway to a godly character seen in good conduct, Solomon insists, begins with the pursuit of wisdom. ‘7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honour you if you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”’ This is the way to a blessed life. This is the life of God in the soul of man.
To ponder! and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt.3:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 437
Bible Reading: Esther 10 & Proverbs 4:10-27
Esther 10 concludes the Book of Esther. Queen Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, continued to enjoy great privilege, power, patronage, prestige, and prosperity as King Ahasuerus’ confidante and leading official throughout his kingdom and its provinces. He was similarly loved and respected by his fellow Jews and others ‘for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.’
Proverbs 4:10-27 begins with Solomon’s plea to his son to hear and heed his words for prosperity of soul and peace of mind. God’s instruction is the way of integrity and life. ‘Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.’ Solomon insists that one must continue in such wisdom for clarity of thought and a clean conscience. ‘12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.’ Sons and daughters in the faith are urged to avoid the track of transgressions and eschew the crooked road that leads to destruction. ‘14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.’ Rather, the wise walk in an enlightened way. Solomon makes clear, ‘18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.’ Whereas ‘19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.’ Solomon seeks to impress on his son, and by extension the Holy Spirit teaches the church, the vital importance of wise thought, words, and deeds. ‘20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.’ They must to stored in the heart and guarded as invaluable. ‘23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.’ Let God’s people be single-minded! Let us trust and obey God’s Word.
To ponder! Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls... (Jer.6:16).
Bible Challenge: Day 438
Bible Reading: Job 1 & Proverbs 5
Job 1 begins with a description of Job’s character and prosperity. Job was a good and godly man that lived in the land of Uz, which was probably located in modern Syria or Jordan. He had seven sons and three daughters, many household servants, and by the standards of the day a large variety and number of livestock. He was the wealthiest person in the region – ‘this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.’ He regularly prayed and offered sacrifice to God for the potential sins of his children whom he evidently loved greatly. The scene then switches from the earthly domain to the spiritual and heavenly court, where God permits Satan, the Adversary, to test and afflict Job to demonstrate that Job’s faith was sincere. Satan had questioned Job’s integrity before God and had argued that when faced with adversity he would exchange praise for God with curses! The scene switches back to Job who in turn receives the tragic news that his livestock, property, servants, and worst all his beloved children have been destroyed and killed by a mixture of ‘natural disaster’ and enemy raids. In shock and deep grief, Job tore his robe, shaved his head, and prostrated himself before God. He addressed God and declared, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.’
Proverbs 5 offers both literal and spiritual instruction. Here Solomon urges his son and his readers to embrace Wisdom. Personified in Proverbs, Wisdom is to be taken as a wife for life. He must not betray her. He must avoid spiritual adultery which is the way of death for the unrepentant. Solomon’s sage advice can also be taken literally. His son must not allow himself to be corrupted and his integrity destroyed by lust and temporal and temporary desires of the flesh. Solomon hence bids him to exercise good judgement and discretion. He writes, ‘My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.’ Solomon urges his readers to hear and heed his advice. And warns us of the grave consequences of failing to do so. Like Esau who sold his birth-right to satisfy a momentary craving, so the person that falls prey to immoral sexual desires. “And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honour to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labours go to the house of a foreigner, 11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, 12 and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. 14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” Rather, Solomon bids his son be faithful and content. And delight in his wife and the ways of God otherwise he lose his reputation, destroy his relationships, and bring himself to ruination. ‘Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. 20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?’ The chapter concludes with Solomon reminding his son and readers of God’s omnipresence and omniscience. One cannot sin with impunity. One cannot hide one’s sin from God who will judge the guilty. Moreover, such ill-discipline is folly because it is the path of needless pain and pathos. ‘21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.’
To ponder! No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1Cor.10:13).
Bible Challenge: Day 439
Bible Reading: Job 2 & Proverbs 6:1-19
In Job 2 Satan having failed in his quest to make Job curse God, seeks further permission to test Job’s faithfulness and integrity. He said to God, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” God consented but commanded Satan to spare Job’s life. So, the Evil One afflicted Job with ‘loathsome sores’ all over his body. Job, tormented by itchy sores, deployed a broken piece of pottery to give relief while he sat in ashes. His wife, echoing the actions of Eve who offered forbidden fruit to her husband, Adam, urged Job to curse God and die. Job, however, refused to fall into such sin. He declared, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” Afterwards, Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite visited him to express their care and compassion. The sight of Job shocked them to tears. They tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads as a symbol of their sympathy and sorrow for their friend. ‘And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.’
In Proverbs 6:1-19 Solomon teaches his son the way of prudence, responsibility, diligence, and discipline. He begins by making an indirect warning against taking on the debts of others. He bids his son take care not to jeopardise his own standing, reputation, and the welfare of his house (and kingdom) for the sake of a hasty pledge. And if he does act as security for others, he must make haste to conclude such an obligation. Solomon writes, ‘My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour, have given your pledge for a stranger, 2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbour: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbour. 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.’ Solomon furthermore warns his son against slothfulness – against apathy, lethargy, and laziness. Rather, he must work diligently and conscientiously for his material and mental well-being, as well as that of his house and nation, lest he impoverishes himself and others. ‘6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.’ Finally, Solomon warns his son to avoid the ways of the wicked. He must guard his heart, out of which the Lord Jesus says come ‘evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.’ He must watch his thoughts, speech, and actions lest he harms himself and others and brings dishonour on the name of God. He must embrace wisdom rather than wickedness. ‘12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.’ The Lord hates evil. Solomon, therefore, identifies the sorts of sins that are an affront to the holiness, grace and love of God. ‘16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.’ On the contrary, God’s people are called to act humbly, justly, and lovingly.
To ponder! He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic.6:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 440
Bible Reading: Job 3 & Proverbs 6:20-35
Job 3 comprises a lament in poetic language. Job, utterly disorientated and dispirited, and in deep despair, curses the day of his birth. Such is his suffering and sorrow, his pain and pathos. Despite God’s manifold blessings upon his life in the past, he has lost his beloved children, his health, and his wealth. He cannot comprehend the sudden and calamitous change to his circumstances. Gloom and darkness have engulfed him. Deploying the metaphorical image of Leviathan, which acted as a symbol of chaos and condemnation in the ancient world he expresses despondency or his sense of hopelessness. He cannot but think that it would have been better had he never been born or had perished at birth (vv.1-10). He therefore asks why he was born to suffer in this manner. Why should God who is altogether good allow such misery be experienced by one that had served him faithfully? And yet, God will suffer the pains of hell for his people in the person on Jesus for the salvation of the world! In that moment, however, Job is in the crucible of affliction, and concludes that death would be preferable where the weary are at rest (vv.11-19). And therefore, he asks, “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, 22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” He can find no relief for his troubles and torments (vv.24-26). In the darkness of agony and affliction, Job has forgotten or is unaware that God can bring good out of evil and that all things are working for the good of those that love him.
Proverbs 6:20-35 is a plea for faithfulness. Solomon urges his son to ‘keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.’ He is to walk in the ways of wisdom and abide by God’s law of love. This is the good path that produces health, harmony, and happiness. Echoing Deuteronomy 6 he bids his son ‘21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.’ In other words, they are to be a constant way of light, love, and life. ‘23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, 24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.’ Hereby love conquers lust; discretion triumphs over disregard; and faith has the victory over folly. Solomon bids his son not to trifle with or succumb to temptation lest he bring harm and hurt to himself and others. ‘25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; 26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. 27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?’ On the contrary, Solomon declares to his son that it is the way of destruction and death. Therefore, he concludes this section with a warning. ‘29 So is he who goes in to his neighbour's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. 30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, 31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. 32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. 33 He will get wounds and dishonour, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. 35 He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.’ God’s people must remain alert and abide in the words and ways of wisdom.
To ponder! O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help (Hos.13:9).
Bible Challenge: Day 441
Bible Reading: Job 4 & Proverbs 7
In Job 4 Eliphaz the Temanite was the first of Job’s friends to break the solemn and stultifying silence. For Eliphaz, and, as we shall discover, Job’s other friends, it is inconceivable that the innocent should suffer like Job. Eliphaz therefore, tentatively broached his theme. He acknowledged how Job had reached out to the weak and weary, and to those facing adversity and afflictions in care and compassion. And then added and asked, ‘But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. 6 Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?’ He pointed out that the innocent did not perish but rather it was those that ploughed iniquity and sowed trouble that did so. Using the analogy of a fierce lion and its dependents, he insisted that like the laws of nature, God’s law and ways left no other conclusion. Notwithstanding his former standing with God and his fellow man, his wealth and good works, Eliphaz implies that Job’s sin has reduced him to such a pitiable state. He explained to Job how he had dreamed a vision which he implied was from God. In that vision he had heard a voice asking, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” The implication was evident! Fallen man in his frailty and finitude must pay the price of his foibles and failures. The chapter concludes with Eliphaz asking Job, “Is not their [sinners] tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?”
In Proverbs 7 Solomon continues to warn his son of the grave danger of falling prey to the temptress or adulteress. Again, it needs to be stressed that his words carry a spiritual as well as a literal meaning. God’s people are to constantly guard themselves against spiritual adultery in the guise of apostasy and idolatry as we repeatedly read in the history of Israel. They must remain watchful not to forsake God and his commands by falling prey to the Tempter and the fallen nature. Christ’s church is likened to a betrothed bride who must remain faithful to her Bridegroom. Solomon therefore begins, ‘My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.’ He is reminding his son of the value of wisdom. He must not only seek good and godly instruction, but he must savour and apply it. Wisdom must adorn his life. She must be his strength and shield against temptation. ‘4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.’ Solomon speaks from personal observation and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (vv.6-9). He warns his son to beware of the appeal and allure of the temptress. Like the Serpent that offered the forbidden fruit with persuasive words to Eve in Eden, so now in our fallen world the vulnerable and gullible are so often easy prey for the Temptress. Her outward beauty and seductive words are a snare to those that betray Wisdom (10-23). And therefore, Solomon urges his readers to hear and heed his words of wisdom. ‘And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.’ Let us remain watchful and faithful.
To ponder! Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1Pt.5:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 442
Bible Reading: Job 5 & Proverbs 8:1-21
In Job 5 Eliphaz continues his counsel to Job. He points out the inevitability of suffering and sorrow in our fallen world because ‘man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.’ Let us bear in mind that Eliphaz has concluded that Job has committed an undisclosed but what must nevertheless be a great and grave sin. He is trying to convince his dear friend that he must therefore confess his sin to God. Only repentance will bring relief and restoration to Job from his abject misery and pain. It is the height of folly to remain obstinate and to allow others to prosper at his expense (vv.1-6). Eliphaz therefore states, “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause”. He indirectly points out that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He frustrates the schemes of the crafty and brings destruction upon the wicked. However, he is gracious and merciful and therefore ‘he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.’ He adds, “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. 18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. 19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.” Eliphaz points to the blessedness that follows repentance and redemption. This, he insists is the means to recover peace, prosperity, progeny, and longevity (vv.20-26). He ends his discourse, “Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”
Proverbs 8:1-21 reminds the reader that the word of God which is the word of wisdom must be heard and heeded. Solomon writes, ‘Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.’ She is the way of discernment, good judgement, and common sense. ‘5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.’ Wisdom is path of moral rectitude and uprightness. ‘8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9 They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.’ She is invaluable and must be sought wholeheartedly. ‘10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.’ Solomon stands as the voice of Wisdom which is the way to others graces also. He declares, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.” He further makes crystal clear that “13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” God is perfectly and infinitely righteous and holy. Evil is an abomination to him. And therefore, he gives good counsel to his people to embrace wisdom and walk in her ways. ‘14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.’ He offers his people the unsearchable riches of his grace. ‘18 Riches and honour are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.’ And these gifts ought to be a priority for the church of God. ‘19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.’ These are part of our inheritance in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. God is with us and for us in Immanuel. ‘20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, 21 granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.’ To love God necessitates that his people know him and do his will. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. This is the way of wisdom.
To ponder! But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Mt.6:33).
Bible Challenge: Day 443
Bible Reading: Job 6 & Proverbs 8:22-35
Job 6 records Job’s response to Eliphaz’s claim that he had sinned and needed to repent in order to be reconciled to God and restored to favour and friendship. Job continues his lament. His friend’s words offer no clarification or comfort but only add to his suffering and woe. If only the solution had been so simple! Although Job understood that his relief must come from God. He cried, ‘4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.’ His only hope in the crucible of affliction is that God would end his live and grant him relief and rest from his misery and pain. He is unable to repent for he has ‘not denied the words of the Holy One’ (vv8-10). Job feels that he is without hope or help. He continues in abject despair (vv.10b-13). His friends and neighbours have nothing to offer him but platitudes and poor counsel. And yet he expects or demands nothing from them. They are impotent to help. They cannot redeem him or deliver him or restore his fortunes (vv.14-23). He asks, ‘24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.’ Job, however, considers their words to be but meaningless. He pleads, ‘28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. 29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake. 30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?
Wisdom is the Word personified in Proverbs 8:22-35 who was with God before he created the heavens and the earth. He was God’s agent in creation and is none other than the Word who was made flesh in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father. He dwelt eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit in perfect love and harmony. And so, Solomon, as God amanuensis writes, “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.” Before all things Wisdom existed in the Godhead. “23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.” Wisdom was with God and yet is distinct from God (the Father). “27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.” Wisdom took great delight in the creation of the heavens and the earth. And calls the pinnacle of creation who is man (male and female) to hear and heed God’s Word for blessing and bounty. This is how man glorifies God and enjoys him forever. 32 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” Wisdom is the way to light and life. Those that neglect or reject Wisdom put themselves in the road of danger and death. “35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favour from the LORD, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” Let God’s people ever be attentive to his wise counsel.
To ponder! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn.1:1-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 444
Bible Reading: Job 7 & Proverbs 9
In Job 7, Job continues his reply to Eliphaz and his friends. He expresses his endless misery, including his sense of deprivation, desolation, and despair (vv.1-4). Time appears to have escaped him and he finds himself in an unending cycle of pain and pathos. He is without hope. He confesses, “6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.” Therefore, Job will not hold his tongue but ‘complain in the bitterness of his soul’. His companions can offer him no comfort but rather only appear to compound his sense of woe. In his abject despair, death is his desire. His friends are powerless to help. Hence he exposes their impotence by a series of searching questions. He asks, “17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, 18 visit him every morning and test him every moment? 19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? 20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? 21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.”
Proverbs 9 continues in the way of wisdom personified. She has built her house and stands upon a solid foundation. She has sent word inviting all to partake of her rich and gracious provision. ‘5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”’ Mockers and malicious people may well malign those that accept her favour and friendship but the wise and discerning gladly receive her communion and counsel. And so Solomon writes, ‘9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.’ And crucially adds, ‘10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.’ And these are a pathway to a good, purposeful and meaningful life in the presence of God and others. By contrast, the way of folly ever appears tempting but it is the way of arrogance, ignorance, and stupidity. It offers temporary gain and pleasure but it is the way of degeneracy, death, and destruction. And therefore, one must choose wisely!
To ponder! I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days… (Deut.30:19-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 445
Bible Reading: Job 8 & Proverbs 10:1-16
In Job 8 Bildad the Shuhite urges Job to repent. Bildad claims that Job is speaking nonsense. Theologising, he asks, “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?” Therefore he pleads with Job to seek God’s mercy for restoration and renewal to fellowship, health, and wealth. In light of the brevity of life, Bildad invites Job to consider his situation rationally. Using an analogy from nature Bildad points to plants and flowers that thrive and wither depending on their situation and circumstances. Such he points out is the way of life. He assures Job that “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Proverbs 10 begins the record of Solomon’s ‘proverbs’ which are essentially, proverbial, or pithy statements that contain general truths and wise advice. He begins by pointing out that those that walk in the way of wisdom, discernment, and integrity make glad their parents but those that ignore or reject such ways bring misery and sorrow to their name and house vv.1). He reminds his readers that God rewards uprightness and justice but punishes wickedness and evil (2-4). Laziness makes poor whereas hard work and determination make rich (vv.4-5). The path of the righteous is the way to God’s blessing whereas the road of sin is ruination (vv. 6-7). The wise of heart keep God’s commandments but those that seek to excuse their immorality only destroy themselves (v.. The honest person can enjoy peace of mind whereas sinners’ deceptions will be exposed (v.9). Wrongdoing is no minor matter and will not be excused (v.10). Similarly, ‘11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.’ The wise store up and speak the truth in love whereas the wicked make a rod for their own and others’ backs (vv.13-14). Those rich in righteousness enjoy spiritual strength, security, and stability whereas the wicked impoverish and ultimately bring destruction upon themselves (vv.15-16).
To ponder! For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1Pt.3:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 446
Bible Reading: Job 9 & Proverbs 10:17-32
In Job 9, Job responds to Bildad, and agreeing with his general premise that God is just and is gracious to the upright, he asks, “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?” Job is effectively asking who can arbitrate his case with God? He agrees with his friends that God is righteous but cannot agree that he has sinned against God and has therefore brought upon himself God’s judgement. However, who is there that can plead his case before God. God is sovereign. The finite cannot fathom the infinite. God is the Creator and Ruler of all. He is not only omnipotent and omnipresent but he is also omniscient. As the psalmist wrote, ‘Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases’ (Ps.115:3). God dwells in unapproachable light and remains mysterious. Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ Job therefore laments not only his suffering but his impotency before God. He can do nothing else but plead for mercy. “Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.” He feels altogether powerless in his pain and pathos before God who appears to destroy ‘both the blameless and the wicked.’ And ‘When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.’ Here is Job in the pit of despondency and despair. He bemoans the brevity of life and his feeling of helplessness. He needs a mediator, but none can be found! He concludes, “Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.”
In Proverbs 10:17-32 Solomon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continues to offer wise instruction in the form of proverbial statements. He notes that wisdom which is to hear and heed the word of God is the path of life. It not only exhorts, as the apostle Paul reminds Timothy, but it reproves and corrects. However, those that neglect and reject its teaching not only go astray but lead others astray also (17). Solomon warns his readers that those that conceal hatred tend to tell lies and slander others which is grave folly (18). He offers wise advice that in certain situations it is prudent to hold one’s tongue rather than speak in haste and later regret it (19). He astutely notes however that while the ‘20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.’ He reminds his readers of God’s goodness which is cause for rejoicing and thankfulness (22). And compares and contrasts the wise and the wicked like the Psalmist does in Psalm 1 (23-25). He points out that the indolent and lazy are irritating and cannot be relied upon (26). ‘27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.’ Moreover, ‘28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.’ The faithful enjoy security and stability while the wicked bring danger and destruction upon themselves (29-30). The righteous therefore speak circumspectly while the curses of the wicked are not only perverse but will perish along with them (31-32).
To ponder! Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Heb.7:25).
Bible Challenge: Day 447
Bible Reading: Job 10 & Proverbs 11:1-11
In Job 10, Job continues to pour out his complaint to God before his friends. He feels helpless. His plight appears hopeless. He desperately longs for his suffering to be over. He loathes his life and blames God for his unbearable woes. He asks, ‘let me know why you contend against me. 3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favour the designs of the wicked?’ Feeling the injustice of his suffering, he expresses his incomprehension that God would destroy him as an innocent person. Job acknowledges God as his Creator. God not only gave him life but had blessed him with care and steadfast love but for what? To suffer unimaginable loss, grief, and pain? Job asks, “Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me 19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.” He prays for relief before death, “that I may find a little cheer 21 before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow, 22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.”
In Proverbs 11 Solomon begins by reminding the reader that God delights in justice whereas he loathes injustice (1). He exalts the humble who exercise wisdom therein but he abases the proud (2). Honesty guides the upright whereas the dishonest and deceitful destroy themselves (3). He points that righteousness is more valuable than riches when facing death and judgement (4), reminding us of the Lord Jesus’s later question, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Continuing his comparison between the righteous and the wicked, he teaches his son and future readers, the importance of keeping God’s law of love which keeps one on the straight and narrow road that leads to life, whereas the wicked stagger, stumble, and fall by their own folly (5). Righteousness maintains a faithful person’s character and reputation, whereas the duplicitous desires of the wicked enslave (6). The aspirations and expectations of the wicked will ultimately perish with them (7). Whereas the righteous are delivered from trouble, the wicked foolishly walk into it (. Whereas the righteous show discretion, the slanderous words of the godless do grave harm to their neighbour (9). The righteous are a blessing to society whereas the wicked do damage. When the wicked die there is a sense of relief and gladness rather than mourning (10-11).
To ponder! But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day (Pro.4:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 448
Bible Reading: Job 11 & Proverbs 11:12-31
In Job 11 Zophar the Naamathite responds to Job’s lament. Critical of Job’s claims and thinking that they are the height of folly, he considers Job’s words to be mere babble. Contrary to Job’s conviction that God was punishing him unjustly, Zophar tells his friend that ‘God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.’ He argues that God being omniscient and all wise and just makes no mistakes and asks, ‘10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? 11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?’ Consequently, Zophar urges Job to wholeheartedly seek God in faith and repentance. ‘15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. 16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.’ He tries to convince his friend that by these means he can recover hope and rediscover God’s grace. Zophar is saying to Job that this is the way to restoration and renewal. ‘7 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. 18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.’ By contrast, Zophar concludes by stating that the wicked person’s only hope is death.
In Proverbs 11:12-31 Solomon continues to offer sensible advice to his son and readers. He points out the wisdom of exercising restraint rather than denigrating a neighbour. And of deploying discretion rather than gossiping and slandering others (12-13). He highlights the value of sound guidance and counsel and warns against taking on the debts of others (14-15). Those who are gracious and kind will be honoured but those that are cruel and violent ultimately do themselves grave harm (16-17). Similarly, the righteous will be rewarded while the wicked deceive themselves and others. The righteous find life but the evil, death (18-19). God delivers and delights in the faithful but loathes and will justly punish unrepentant sinners (20-21). God is concerned with character rather than outward appearance. Those that trust and obey can expect good from God whereas the wicked will experience wrath (22-23). Those who give freely of their time, talents, and treasures, abound in the riches of God’s grace and are a blessing to others whereas the miserly and inconsiderate gain little respect and will ultimately be found wanting (24-26). Those who pursue good find grace but those that speak and act wickedly only find evil (27). Those that trust in the Lord will flourish whereas those that trust in wealth will fall (28). Those who bring shame and ignominy upon family and church will lose their inheritance to the ‘wise of heart’ (29). The chapter concludes by way of summary in stating, ‘30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise’ – that is, by their wise words and good works done in love. And asks, ‘31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!’
To ponder! He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness (2Cor.9:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 449
Bible Reading: Job 12 & Proverbs 12:1-14
Job 12 records Job’s scathing reply to Zophar and his friends. He begins, “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?” Job accuses his friends of making him sound foolish. They appear contemptuous towards him in his misery and misfortune but according to Job they speak without true knowledge or experience (4-5). They are like the wicked whose consciences are seared and who provoke God by their folly. Job marshals creation to his defence pointing his interlocutors to the sovereignty of God. Moreover, he tells them ‘12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.’ And adds, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. 14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. 15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.” He insists that God does whatever pleases him and none can stay his hand. He raises up and brings down. He constructs and yet destroys. He brings light out of darkness and darkness out of light. He gives discernment to some and deprives others. Job concludes, ‘24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.’
Proverbs 12:1-14 reminds its readers of the importance of wisdom and the revealed will of God. God’s people are not only to hear the word but are to do what it says. It is to be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. And so Solomon writes, ‘Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.’ A righteous person is not only a recipient of God’s grace but continues to rely upon God’s favour whereas the evil done by the wicked results in condemnation (2-3). Solomon, possibly thinking about his son’s future choice of a wife instructs him, ‘4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.’ Christ’s bride, which is the church, is to be both loyal and loving, faithful and fruitful lest we bring scorn and shame on the name of the Bridegroom! The righteous think, speak and act with integrity and impartiality and can stand upright whereas the sinful are deceitful, duplicitous, and dangerous and will be destroyed (5-7). Those who exercise common sense and good manners are commendable but the crooked are despicable (. The prudent person labours for the provision and prosperity of his dependents including his livestock whereas the lazy, the lacking in common sense, and the cruel will suffer a dearth of good things (9-11). While the righteous are faithful and fruitful, the wicked by contrast crave and covet the wrong things 12). The evil person’s words trap and betray him whereas the wise walk in the way of Christian liberty. ‘From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.’
To ponder! But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (Js.1:22-25).
Bible Challenge: Day 450
Bible Reading: Job 13 & Proverbs 12:15-28
Job 13 continues Job’s response to Zophar and his other so-called friends. He points out that he is not intellectually or theologically inferior to them. He does not want, nor does he value their pontifications. Rather he would take his case to God alone (1-3). He calls his interlocutors ‘worthless physicians’ and bids them hold their tongues lest God rebuke them (4-10). Job asks, ‘Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?’ Job’s would be comforters are not only a hindrance to him but are harmful as they only add to his distress. Nevertheless, while they can offer him no meaningly help, he continues to hope in God unaware of Satan’s schemes. ‘15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. 16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.’ Job asks God to hear his cries and adds, ‘20 Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: 21 withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.’ Job asks God to show him his sin if he has transgressed God’s commandments. He wants to know why God has withdrawn his grace and is punishing him so gravely (23-28).
Proverbs 12:15-28 continues a series of contrasts and therefore begins ‘The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.’ Whereas the foolish person is rash, the prudent ignore provocations (16). Solomon encourages his readers to be truthful rather than deceitful and reminds us that while rash words can be hurtful, wise words bring healing (17-18). He points out that while truth endures, liars will perish. Dishonesty flows from the fallen nature but those that speak and act in the way of peace have joy that surpasses all knowledge (19-20). He insists that the upright will flourish while the wicked bring harm on themselves (21). God delights in the faithful whereas he loathes liars (22). The wise can be quietly confident whereas the unwise display folly (23). The disciplined and diligent will prosper whereas the apathetic and lethargic will be enslaved (24). Worry is wearisome but a good word brings encouragement (25). The honest and honourable person is a good example to others while the wicked only lead others astray from the path of love (26). The slothful will suffer want whereas those that apply themselves will thrive (27). The chapter concludes by exalting and exhorting the way of righteousness. Solomon declares, ‘28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.’ The Lord is our righteousness. And he came that we might have life, have it abundantly, and enjoy it everlastingly. Let us believe in him. Let us follow him.
To ponder! Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places (Hab.3:17-19).
Bible Challenge: Day 451
Bible Reading: Job 14 & Proverbs 13:1-12
Job continues his defence in Job 14. He points to the brevity of life in our fallen world with its trials and troubles. He asks, ‘4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.’ Thinking that death is close, he asks God to relieve him of his torment. He laments the apparent finality of death. Unlike the tree that grows from the stump after it is cut down ‘a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? Job asks God to remember him in mercy and hide him in Sheol until the day of wrath is past. Job inquires of God, ‘If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.’ He longs for the restoration of communion with God but has little hope in its realisation in the crucible of his suffering and sorrow. Generalising from both observation and experience he states that God ends all hope in man and bewails the apparent futility of life. “20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away. 21 His sons come to honour, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not. 22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.”
Proverb 13:1-12 begins ‘A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.’ In the first instance, Solomon is writing to his son who as a future king of Israel must not only govern his people well with sagacity but must also set a good example for them to follow. However, the Proverbs were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and are to be read and applied by all people. As James would later do in his New Testament epistle, Solomon advises his son and future readers to think before speaking and warns him (and us) to guard his tongue. He contrasts the wise person who speaks with good intention and the wicked whose treacherous words are often a pretext for physical violence. He writes, ‘2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. 3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.’ The disciplined and diligent person prospers not only materially but spiritually, while the indolent merely covet in vain (4). The upright loathe lies while the wicked only promote ignominy and dishonour (5). Thereby the wicked bring ruination upon themselves while the faithful walk by faith, trusting and obeying God. Or as Solomon notes, ‘6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.’ He warns against being taken in by outward appearances because ‘7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.’ Moreover, some people have more to lose than others which may affect their responses to given circumstances and situations. Solomon writes, ‘8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.’ The good example of the righteous is cause for joy whereas the works of the wicked will be forgotten (9). The impudent provoke hostility while the wise hear and heed good advice (10). Unexpected and hastily gotten gain rarely lasts and its value is not fully appreciated but that which is accumulated over time by hard work tends to last and do greater good. Finally, today in verse 12 Solomon warns his readers against discouragement and disillusionment when expectations and goals fail to materialise. Rather God’s people ought to take encouragement and express thanksgiving for God’s amazing grace. ‘12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.’
To ponder! How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light (Ps.36:7-9).
Bible Challenge: Day 452
Bible Reading: Job 15 & Proverbs 13:13-25
Job 15 records the interjection of Eliphaz who accuses Job of lacking reverence and respect for God. He charges Job with unprofitable words that he claims are a hindrance to understanding God’s will (2-4). He goes as far as to indict Job with sinfulness stating that Job’s words only brought upon him self-condemnation (5-6). He asked Job, ‘7 “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills? 8 Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself? 9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?” Job’s interlocutor claims that he and his friends have age and wisdom on their side unlike Job. In other words, Job was foolish not to hear and heed their counsel (10). Eliphaz further accuses Job of spurning God’s word of comfort and compassion (11). He cannot comprehend Job’s response and therefore asks the sufferer, ‘12 Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, 13 that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth?’ Job’s claim of innocence is utter folly to Eliphaz and his companions (14). And in his view, it is simply evidence of corruption that can only result in condemnation (15-16). Eliphaz therefore goes on to describe the vanity and futility of the wicked whose cravings and labours come to nothing (17-30). He implies that Job is such a person in the hope that he will yet repent. Job, he is suggesting, must turn from his obstinacy and rebellion against God if he is to find relief and rest (25-26). Eliphaz is convinced that Job is merely deceiving himself. He is an evil doer that must encounter the wrath of God! (31-35).
In Proverbs 13:13-25 Solomon begins by stating that the faithful will be rewarded while those that deny and defy God’s word only bring destruction upon themselves (13). He likens wisdom or God’s word to a fountain of life which enables the faithful to avoid the snares of death (14). Prudence and good sense win favour but deceitfulness and degeneracy lead to ruination (15). He confidently states that ‘16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.’ Hereby he is reminding his readers that our profession must match our practice, our confession and character, our conduct and so on. Words in season and good works not only glorify God but are good for us and others. While the arrogant and ignorant bring dearth and dishonour upon themselves and others, those that hear and heed God’s reproof and correction are blessed (18). Solomon warns of the addictive nature of sin which is so often appealing and alluring but it is the way of enslavement (19). He therefore points to the benefits of wise counsel if one is to avoid harm (20). ‘21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.’ The good person therefore leaves a beneficial legacy while the bad person loses what he had (22). And injustice tends to rob the poor of provision (23). Discipline and diligence are necessary in raising children to revere God and respect others and will be rewarded but neglect shows a lack of due care (24). While the greedy never have enough, the righteous find satisfaction and contentment (25).
To ponder! If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Mk.4:23-25)
Bible Challenge: Day 453
Bible Reading: Job 16 & Proverbs 14:1-15
In chapter 16 Job responds to his friends’ counsel and criticisms. He calls them ‘miserable comforters’ and suggests that if the roles had been reversed he could have empathised and sympathised with them and offered appropriate words to comfort and edify them in their suffering (1-5). But their words have been of no help whatsoever. Rather they have only added to Job’s misery. Job states however, “7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company. 8 And he has shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.” Job, in other words, sees the hand of Providence and the wrath of God even in scathing comments of his interlocutors. God, he declares, “gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.” Job cries out from the depths of his suffering, grief, and despair, “15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust. 16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, 17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.” The chapter concludes, however, with a little light appearing through the crack of Job’s darkness. For while he wrongly labels God as the source of his misery, he rightly sees God as his only hope of relief and rest. And anticipating the mediation of Christ, he cries out for an arbitrator or witness before the throne of grace (18-22).
Proverbs 14:1-15 begins by again comparing wisdom to folly. ‘The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.’ Wisdom, in other words, is productive and constructive while those that reject her instruction and ways bring dearth and destruction upon themselves and others. The upright walk in the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom. They revere and respect God and keep his commandments, whereas the devious despise God (2). The utterances of the wicked make a rod for their own backs while the words of the wise keep them on the path of pleasantness and peace (3). Productivity comes at a price. It requires effort and expense. And so, Solomon notes, ‘4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.’ Or as someone once said, ‘there is no milk without some manure.’ The faithful are honest (5). The scorner never learns but the discerning person grows in knowledge and grace (6). It is wise not to listen to fools who only deceive and lead astray. Rather pay heed to the word of God (7-8). Fools might mock the notion of repentance but the wise understand the importance of acceptance and access to God (9). Only God and the individual know their true affections, emotions, thoughts, and resolve (10). While the wicked will be destroyed, the righteous will flourish by faith (11). Solomon astutely warns his son and readers that ‘12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.’ And therefore, we must make God’s word a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Again, he points out that outward appearances can be deceptive. Because ‘13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.’ As the Lord Jesus will later remind his people, a good tree bears good fruit, but a rotten tree will bear bad fruit. And hence, ‘14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.’ He therefore urges his readers to always exercise discernment and discretion. For ‘15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.’ Test the spirits!
To ponder! And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt.27:46).
Bible Challenge: Day 454
Bible Reading: Job 17 & Proverbs 14:16-35
Job 17 continues Job’s response to his ‘miserable comforters’ accusations that he is being punished for his sins. He cries, “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.” He reproaches his friends as arrogant and ignorant mockers. However, Job is impervious to their claims and pleas. God knows, and he will surely prove them wrong (2-5). Nevertheless, Job accuses God of making him an affront to good society. ‘“He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.” Job’s strength and stamina are spent. He is bewildered by the response of those around him whom he indirectly labels unwise or foolish (7-10). His good days are past and with them his hopes (11-15). In despair, he asks, “Who will see my hope? 16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?” Job is yet to understand that his mourning will be turned to dancing, his sorrow to joy by God’s amazing grace.
Proverbs 14:16-35 picks up where we left off yesterday and teaches that the wise are circumspect and take care to keep God’s commandments whereas the foolish are reckless and careless. Solomon warns his son and readers against acting hastily in anger or adopting the ways of the wicked (17). Ignorance and a lack of discernment result in folly but the wise are adorned with knowledge (18). Those that do good will ultimately triumph over those that do bad (19). He notes that while the wealthy attract many friends, the poor suffer disdain (10). However, those that despise their neighbour break God’s law of love while those that are blessed give generously to the poor (21). Those that countenance evil are easily led astray whereas the good are graced with ‘steadfast love and faithfulness’ (22). Hard work pays off while mere talk tends to end in poverty (23). In other words, we must put our words into action! Wisdom is a valuable and glorious inheritance while folly only produces more folly (24). Solomon further points out that truthfulness is vital to the well-being of not only individuals but to society (25). Respect and reverence for God provide conviction and confidence and a refuge for one’s children (26). ‘27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.’ Solomon reminds his son that without the support of his subjects, his kingship will come to nothing (28). He must value and serve his people well. He must be slow to anger and guard against reckless words and actions (29). He must be content inwardly and avoid envy (30). He will honour God by honouring God’s image-bearers (31). Solomon reminds all his readers that while the wicked will be condemned the righteous will find refuge in death (32). Wisdom emanates from a heart that is right with God and will be evident amid the foolish (33). ‘34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’ The chapter concludes, by reminding its readers that favour abides with the wise whereas wrath falls on the shameful (35).
To ponder! And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him (Mt.27:30-31).
Bible Challenge: Day 455
Bible Reading: Job 18 & Proverbs 15:1-15
In Job 18 Bildad, bewildered and exasperated by what he has heard, responds to Job. He asks, “How long will you hunt for words?... Why are we stupid in your sight? (1-4). Based on thinking that Job has grievously sinned against God, Bildad tells his suffering friend that the ‘light of the wicked is put out’. Their schemes end in calamity. They ensnare themselves. Their strength and stamina are exhausted. Terrors he says frighten such a person “on every side, and chase him at his heels.” And such fear and experiential disintegration slowly but surely consumes such a person (12-16). Death and impenetrable darkness await. He will leave no inheritance for others and his name from being disdainful will soon be forgotten. “19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live.” Bildad caustically concludes, “21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God.”
Proverbs 15 begins with Solomon’s sage advice that ‘A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ He makes clear that one should think before speaking. It is easy to surrender to the fallen nature and exacerbate conflict, but Christians are called to display the fruits of the Spirit and thereby show a more excellent way. The words of the wise are instructive and helpful while those of the foolish only lead to more folly (2). One needs to remember that God is omnipresent and omniscient and takes note of and will judge the good and the bad (3). While thoughtful words are like a healing balm, inconsiderate and perverse speech is hurtful and harmful (4). While a fool ignores fatherly instruction, the wise person hears and heeds admonition and correction (5). The righteous prosper and enjoy security whereas the wicked damage themselves and others (6). Wisdom imparts worthwhile knowledge which does not impact the hearts of fools (7). Whereas the upright have access to the throne of grace, God loathes the hypocritical worship of the wicked (. He loves those that walk by faith and keeps his commandments but the ways of the wicked are an abomination to him (9). He shall punish and condemn the unrepentant wicked (10-11). Scorners tragically deride the reproof of the wise that is for their good (12). Solomon reminds his readers that ‘13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.’ If our heart is right with God then we shall rejoice in him. Keep in mind that the heart speaks of our inner being and includes the affections, emotions, understanding, and will. With the new heart and right spirit in the new covenant, these are orientated in a Godward direction for our blessing. ‘14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.’ May the joy of the Lord be our strength and song now and always.
To ponder! Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal.5:19-24).
Bible Challenge: Day 456
Bible Reading: Job 19 & Proverbs 15:16-33
In chapter 19 Job responds to Bildad’s diatribe. He pleaded, “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?” He accused his interlocutors of reproaching and shaming him. He is bewildered by their accusations (3-6). He feels disgraced and degraded. And yet he is helpless. God does not answer his prayers. And therefore, he says of God, “8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head. 10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.” He claims to be a victim of God’s wrath (11-12). Job expresses his feeling of desolation. God has taken his family and his friends have forsaken him in his suffering and sorrow. His servants no longer pay him attention to him now that he is impoverished and powerless (13-16). Even his wife and brothers are strangers to him, and children openly mock him. His neighbours abhor him (17-19). He sits emaciated and spent and pleads to be shown compassion (20-21). “Why”, he asks, “do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?” Job wishes his words could be recorded as a testimony for future generations (24). Then comes his confident and glorious assertion which is among the best-known statements in the Bible. “25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” While Job’s heart is faint, he warns his friends that their unjust accusations against him will incur divine judgement (28-29).
Proverbs 15:16-33 begins with Solomon teaching that the fear of the LORD is more valuable than treasures accompanied by trials and troubles without God (16). It is better to live in love with little than enjoy plenty with hatred and hostility (17). An angry person stirs up strife whereas those that are slow to wrath restore harmony (18). While the lazy person makes little progress in life, the upright and diligent generally enjoy a smooth path (19). Children that exercise wisdom honour their parents while the foolish only bring shame upon the family name (20). The stupid relish their crooked ways whereas the discerning walk the straight and narrow path (21). Solomon recommends the benefits of good counsel and advice (22). Astute answers and wise words are constructive and conducive to the common good (23). The faithful walk in a God-ward direction while the faithless take the road that leads to destruction (24). God abases the proud but shows compassion to the needy (25). Solomon adds, ‘The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.’ Whereas the covetous and fraudulent do harm to their own name, the just enjoy life (27). The righteous person is thoughtful whereas the wicked are quick to indulge in evil (28). God is distant from the wicked but hears the prayers of his people (29). Solomon similarly extols the benefits of a positive outlook. ‘30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.’ He again points to the wisdom of accepting admonition and discipline from the word of God (31). Those that neglect or reject it despise themselves whereas those that hear and heed it show intelligence and common sense (32). The chapter concludes, ‘33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honour.’
To ponder! Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn.11:25-26).
Bible Challenge: Day 457
Bible Reading: Job 20 & Proverbs 16:1-15
In Job 20, offended by Job’s words recorded in the previous chapter, Zophar interjects. He asks Job if he truly comprehends “that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?” Implying that Job is among the number of the wicked he insists that such perish like dung and impoverish their posterity (4-11). He adds, “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, 13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, 14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.” Zophar tells Job that the wicked damage and destroy themselves. They suffer the penalty and punishment of their sinful self-centredness (12-19). The people turn against them and God’s wrath consumes them (20-23). The wicked will not evade or escape such censure and retribution (24-28). “This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”
Proverbs 16:1-15 begins by reminding the reader that God is sovereign and yet we are responsible agents. And therefore the wise person will hear and heed the word of God before speaking and acting (1). God’s word is our perfect rule in matters of faith and morals, and it is God that ultimately determines what is good and what is bad. He is our Judge and Jury (2). Therefore, Solomon urges his son and readers, ‘3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.’ God is in control. History is his story, and he is working out his plans and purposes. We need to get with his programme. ‘4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.’ The arrogant and proud will be abased (5). God calls his people to be faithful and loving. They are not only to eschew evil, but they are to revere and respect God (6). God protects and prospers his faithful people (7). It is better to be righteous than rich (. The LORD is with his people to guide and direct their path (9). And therefore, we should trust him. Solomon, thinking on his son’s future responsibility and duty as king, reminds him of the need for justice and impartiality (10-11). He must avoid wrong-doing because his throne will be secured through sincerity and virtue (12). He adds, ‘13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.’ By contrast, the king’s anger is a portent of death and therefore it is prudent to placate the powers that be. Anticipating and foreshadowing Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Solomon notes, ‘15 In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favour is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.’
To ponder! Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Ps.2:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 458
Bible Reading: Job 21 & Proverbs 16:16-33
In chapter 21 Job responds to Zophar’s and his friends’ harsh counsel and insinuations. He urges them to listen to him even if they continue to mock and pour scorn upon his claims. His complaint is against God not them. Contradicting Zophar, Job asks, “7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.” He further points out that they so often prosper socially and materially and end their days in comparative peace and plenty. And yet they neglect the worship of God and refuse to serve him! They are rarely judged and condemned in this life Job insists. And while his interlocutors had claimed that ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children’, Job basically asks, so what? “21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?” Furthermore, he invites his friends to take better cognizance of the world around them and note how the wicked are often spared calamity and wrath in this life. He concludes, “34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”
Solomon begins Proverbs 16:16-33 by reminding his readers that wisdom and understanding are more valuable than gold and silver (16). The paths of the faithful display these graces which are a way of life to them (17). They are the paths of God which lead to pleasantness and peace. However, one must remain watchful not to wander from the narrow road. And so, the wise are humble and teachable and walk therein. By contrast, ‘18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’ It is better to be humble and poor than wealthy and proud (19). The Lord Jesus indirectly reminds us of this Proverb in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Blessed are those that trust and obey God by hearing and heeding his word (20). The wise enjoy a discerning heart and set a good example in word and deed (21). The faithful exercise good sense and speak circumspectly and appropriately whereas fools indulge in folly (22-23). Moreover, ‘24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.’ The way of sin can be alluring and appealing to fallen man, but its wages are death (25). A person’s desires provide motivation for good or evil (26). The wicked are worthless who scheme and scorn (27). The dishonesty leads to contention and gossip to disharmony (28). The violent person impacts the lives of others for evil and those that turn a blind eye to injustice are complicit (29). However, ‘31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.’ It is better to exercise self-control and have command of one’s emotions than to lord it over others (32). Never forget that God is sovereign, and his will be done (33).
To ponder! After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Mt.6:9-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 459
Bible Reading: Job 22 & Proverbs 17:1-15
In Job 22 Eliphaz answers Job. He dismisses Job’s claims, and asks his friend, “4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you? 5 Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.” Eliphaz points out that Job had prospered at the expense of others. He has profited through the need of others and had failed to alleviate the poverty and suffering of those in great want (6-9). Consequently, Eliphaz’s reasons that Job has ensnared himself and plunged himself into frightening darkness. Pointing to God’s omnipotence and omniscience, he accuses Job of theological error and asks if he will tread the path that the wicked had walked before him? Convinced that his interpretation of Job’s predicament is correct, he urges Job 21 “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. 22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.” He pleads with Job to humble himself and repent. Assuring him that if he does so, then God will receive him and restore him to favour. “26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.”
Solomon begins Proverbs 17:1-15 by teaching that a peaceful life with frugality is better than riches and feasting with contention (1). A wise and loyal servant will be rewarded with power and prosperity before a son who acts disgracefully (2). Just as silver and gold are moulded in the crucible and furnace, so God tests and shapes the hearts of his people through trials and troubles (3). Evildoers are attentive and responsive to wicked suggestions and liars are quick to give ear to malicious and slanderous allegations (4). The person that mocks the poor and takes delight in the calamity of others, shames God in whose image and likeness they were made (5). Solomon reminds his readers of the importance of family and posterity. He writes, ‘6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.’ Just as telling lies to a prince is most unwise so words of wisdom are wasted on a fool (7). Next, Solomon does not commend bribery, as we might think of it today, but rather on the basis of observation points out that patronage tends to prosper the patron (. Those that forgive others and do not publicise their transgressions act in love, whereas those that broadcast wrongs tend to stir up hostility and division (9). A discerning person will receive rebuke while the fool is oblivious to correction (10). The wicked are rebellious and bring condemnation upon themselves (11). Therefore, Solomon strongly advises the faithful to eschew folly. He writes, ‘12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.’ One must not return evil for good which will only bring lasting shame and ignominy upon one’s his name (13). Moreover, it is easier to avoid contention than attempt to quell hostilities once begun (14). The faithful must promote the good and avoid evil. Because ‘15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.’
To ponder! It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (Jude 19-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 460
Bible Reading: Job 23 & Proverbs 17:16-28
Job responds to Eliphaz in chapter 23. He confesses that his complaint is bitter because God appears so distant from him and does not seem to hear his cries for mercy, justice and vindication, as well as his pleas for rescue, relief, and rest from suffering and sorrow. Referring to God, he asks, ‘6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. 7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.” But alas, in the darkness of Job’s affliction, he cannot find God! And yet he still believes that he will be vindicated (8-10). He has been faithful. He has treasured God’s word and kept his commandments (11-12). Understanding that God is sovereign whose will be done and is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and must bring to fruition what he has begun in Job, he feels helpless. Rather than loving God, Job now dreads him. He concludes, ‘16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; 17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.’ Even in the darkness, the reader can detect a chink of light displaying faith and hope.
Solomon begins Proverbs 17:16-28 with a rhetorical question. He asks, ‘Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?’ He is reminding his readers that wisdom cannot be purchased. Wealth cannot change the fallen nature. Only grace can! A friend and brother loves through thick and thin. He or she is supportive through good times and bad times (17). Solomon also advises that one should not hastily make binding promises that underwrite another’s debt (18). In so doing one might impoverish oneself. Sinners, he writes, relish contention. Furthermore, the person that delights to look down on others, risks abasing himself (19). Similarly, the wicked have no desire to do good and liars only court trouble (20). Foolish people fail to exercise discretion, wisdom, and good sense, and bring sorrow rather than joy to their parents (21). A joyful heart produces a sense of well-being whereas depression is debilitating (22). The wicked accept bribes and corrupt justice (23). The discerning person pursues timeless wisdom while the fool follows the fashions of the fallen world and is ever in flux and finds no contentment (24). A careless, thoughtless, and reckless person pains his parent (25). It is wrong and unjust to punish an upright and innocent person, whether financially or physically (26). Thoughtful consideration, self-control, and self-restraint are fruits of faith (27). They are displays of discernment and discretion. And given Solomon is writing to his son in the first instance, he is making clear that they should be exercised by kings and others in positions of authority. The chapter concludes, ‘28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.’
To ponder! And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Lk.12:19-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 461
Bible Reading: Job 24 & Proverbs 18:1-12
In chapter 24 Job continues his response to Eliphaz and his interlocutors. He bemoans the injustice of the wicked prospering at the expense of their victims. The poor and vulnerable are easy prey to their covetous, cruel, and callous crimes and schemes. And God appears to be indifferent. Job is therefore perplexed and mystified! He asks why God does not show his wrath against evil by visibly judging the wicked in the present life. “12 From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong.” The defiant and degenerate appear to sin with impunity and immunity. They operate in the darkness and appear to escape God’s notice despite the claims of Job’s friends to the contrary! God often appears to prolong their lives of prosperity and power which is rooted and built up in exploitation and evil against others! Job concludes, “24 They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain. 25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?”
Proverbs 18:1-12 begins with Solomon stating that the schismatic person is a renegade and separatist that elevates his own ideas and intentions over the church’s biblical orthodoxy and orthopraxy (1). Such a person is a fool who favours flaunting his own opinions and has no desire to learn from others (2). While contempt follows wickedness, and disgrace flows from dishonour (3), the words of a godly person are profound and emanate from a new heart and a right spirit. They manifest themselves in expressions of wisdom and good works. Hence Solomon writes, ‘The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.’ He declares that one must not pervert justice by showing favouritism to the wicked (5). A foolish person stirs up strife to his own physical hurt and spiritual ruination (6-7). The gossip of tell-tales is likened to dainty morsels that when consumed impacts one’s interior disposition (. The lazy person tends to be destructive rather than constructive (9). God’s people, however, take refuge in the LORD where they find stability and security. Because ‘10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.’ By contrast, and from a worldly point of view, wealth is often taken as the rich person’s security. However, this can blind such a person to their need of and dependency on God (11). Humility is the way to honour, whereas pride leads to destruction (12).
To ponder! Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish (Ps.49:20).
Bible Challenge: Day 462
Bible Reading: Job 25 & Proverbs 18:13-24
In Job 25 Bildad responds to Job’s complaint that God appears to be indifferent to the evident evil perpetrated by the wicked against their victims. Considering matters from a theocentric perspective, he reiterates the view that God is altogether sovereign, and he will ultimately do right, for he cannot act contrary to his nature and revealed will. God, Bildad insists, ‘makes peace in his high heaven.’ Nothing and no one can thwart his plans and purposes. His power in unlimited and all are ultimately dependent on him and will be answerable to and held accountable by him (3). Bildad asks Job, “4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?” This is the fundamental question that the Apostle Paul answers in Romans chapter 3. Man (male and female) while made in the image and likeness of God with original righteousness did not continue in that state of moral purity but sinned and fell from it. Man is hence now born with a fallen nature. We are not sinners because we sin as much as we sin because we are sinners. While from an anthropocentric perspective and a corresponding comparative assessment we might say that not all are equally as bad as those that defiantly break God’s commandments and exploit and perpetrate evil on their neighbour, from a Godward perspective all are sinners. And therefore, Bildad concludes, “5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes; 6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Therefore, everyone without exception must repent before God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon begins Proverbs 18:13-24 by providing a warning against presumption and by reminding his readers that it is both stupid and shameful to answer a person without firstly listening to what he or she has to say (13). One should not jump to conclusions about people’s views and values without firstly hearing them express their viewpoint! While a person can endure physical suffering, he cannot bear a broken spirit. Demoralisation and despair are the effect of spiritual, mental, and emotional decline and destruction (14). Those with a new heart and a right spirit however, seek to grow in grace and knowledge (15). Patronage purchases influence but requires discernment and discretion (16). One should not reach a conclusion or verdict without hearing all the evidence (17). Casting lots was used in the Old Testament period and Solomon here states that the lot puts an end to disputes and factionalism. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot by lot at the beginning of the New Testament era to emphasise that he was God’s choice. An offended brother is resolute in bitterness and rivalry and is hard to reconcile with (19). Nevertheless, words of wisdom bring contentment and produce good fruit (10), but one must guard one’s tongue and be careful in what one says (21). A loving wife is a blessing from God (22). The same can be said of a good husband. God be praised. Whereas the poor plead, the rich often respond heartlessly (23). While a person may be abandoned by many friends there is one that sticks closer a brother (24). His name is Jesus, he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
To ponder: Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Ps. 141:3).
Bible Challenge: Day 463
Bible Reading: Job 26 & Proverbs 19:1-15
In chapter 26 Jobs replies to Bildad’s diatribe. He has had enough of his interlocutors’ counsel and theological speculations based on their perceived orthodoxy. And therefore he cut’s Bildad’s speech short and hence the previous chapter in only six verses long. Job sarcastically asks his ‘miserable comforters’ how their advice has helped, saved, or counselled him profitably? (2-3). He demands to know where they received such insight, wisdom, and theological comprehension? (4-6). He then begins to articulate the mysterious and incomprehensible nature of God and his way. He is the almighty sovereign Creator who not only made all things but who ultimately controls all things 7-11. The chapter concludes with Job poetically declaring, “12 By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. 13 By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” God is to be known in and through his Word and actions but finite man is incapable of knowing the infinite one in his essence! Rather we have come to know him in natural and special revelation. The word of scripture reveals the Word Incarnate in whom we come to know the Father in the Spirit!
Proverbs 19:1-15 begins by teaching that is better to be sincere yet poor than corrupt in word and deed (1). Solomon also points out that the truth should drive our desires and not the other way round! We should not act in haste without careful thought (2). He is suggesting that intellect rather than intuition should be our guide. As the Apostle Paul notes at the outset of Romans 12 the Christian is transformed by the renewing of his or her mind. Fallen man, however, tends to blame and vent his anger at God when he brings ruination upon himself! (3). Like a magnet money attracts ‘friends’ but the poor person is often abandoned (4). Slanderers and liars will not escape judgement (5). People curry the favour of those who are generous in giving (6). A poor person is often not only forsaken by his friends but is even treated with contempt by his blood relations who ignore his pleas (7). Those who seek wisdom and understanding benefit themselves and grow in knowledge and grace (. Again, Solomon states that false witnesses and liars will be judged and condemned (9). God’s people are to walk in truth and integrity. It is incongruous for a fool to flaunt his wealth as it is for a servant to rule over his masters (10). The wise and sensible are slow to rage or to take offence (11). Better to enjoy the favour of a godly king than encounter his wrath which Solomon likens to a ferocious and powerful lion (12). Dysfunctional families are the cause of much pain and misery (13). While property and wealth are inherited by the law of primogeniture and inheritance, a wise wife is a gift from God (14). Therefore, thank God for his goodness and love and cherish your spouse. Finally, today, the Holy Spirit working through the mind and hand of Solomon informs the reader that lethargy and laziness not only lead to idleness but also to impoverishment (15). Therefore, let us work, worship, and witness while it is still the day of grace.
To ponder! We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work (Jn.9:4).
Bible Challenge: Day 464
Bible Reading: Job 27 & Proverbs 19:16-29
In chapter 27 Job continues his discourse before his friends. He declares that as long as he lives, he will not speak falsehood but on the contrary, he is determined to speak in sincerity and integrity (2-5). He declares, “6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.” While the wicked have no desire for God and take no delight in God and are consequently without hope, Job clings to his faith (7-10). He therefore urges his friends to listen carefully to his words. “11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.” Job is bewildered by his interlocutors’ assessment of his situation and pained and pitiful circumstances. He accuses them of meaningless theological speculation (11-12). It is not he that needs to repent but they! Job, consequently, proceeds to describe the lot of the wicked who will not escape God’s judgement. Those at enmity with God may enjoy momentary prosperity and pleasure but they only heap mayhem and misery upon themselves and their descendants (12-23). Speaking of a wicked person, Job says, “19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone. 20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off. 21 The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.” Job is pointing out that he understands that God is not only just but that he is omnipotent and omniscient. He does not overlook or forget the sin of the unrepentant and faithless wicked.
Proverbs 19:16-29 begins with a reminder of the importance of keeping God’s moral law as a way of life. Those who despise it. Neither love God, nor their neighbour and will die in their sin (16). God will bless those that generally and generously share their time, talents, and treasures with those without. God cares for all his image bearers irrespective of social status and wealth (17). Solomon reminds his readers of the importance of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (18). The angry and bitter person needs a new nature which only God’s grace supplies (19). Wisdom is gained through listening and learning from godly counsellors (20). One can plan and programme, but the Lord’s will be done (21). And therefore, we are wise to get with his revealed plan and programme which is set out in sacred scripture through faith in Christ. Steadfast love is more important than social status (22). Reverence and respect for God lead to paths of peace and pleasantness (23). The lazy and lethargic will not prosper (24). The simple learn from harsh observations but the wise gain understanding and correction by reproof (25). Those who dishonour their parents bring shame and ignominy upon the family name (26). Those that stop listening to instruction strays from sound doctrine and practice (27). While the wicked deride justice and have an insatiable appetite for immorality, they only bring condemnation and punishment upon themselves (28-29).
To ponder! “Come now, let us reason[c] together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isa.1:18-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 465
Bible Reading: Job 28 & Proverbs 20:1-15
In chapter 28 Job asks where is wisdom to be found? People mine for precious stones and metals. They prospect in uncharted areas and plummet the dark places of the earth in their search for riches. “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (12). Job informs his friends that man does not appreciate the value of wisdom, theological knowledge, and instruction. Unlike material riches people rarely diligently and enthusiastically search for the truth. And yet, Job insists that “Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.” It nevertheless remains hidden and obscure to the worldly. God, however, perfectly understands and values wisdom. God is infinitely wise. He is wisdom personified in the Word made flesh. God knows and weighs all things. The chapter, therefore, concludes with Job noting, “28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” To revere and respect God one must hear his word and walk in his ways. That is wisdom discovered and applied.
Solomon begins Proverbs 20:1-15 with a warning against the potential dangers of drunkenness which can make some people objectionable and violent (1). Similarly, he warns of the evident danger of provoking a king or powerful person to wrath (2). The wise will seek to avoid hostility whereas the foolish stoke contention (3). The lazy moreover will not prosper (4). The thoughtful person displays good understanding (5). While talk is cheap and plentiful, faithfulness is invaluable but is all too rare (6). The godly and upright person sets a good example to follow (7). Whereas evil will be judged accordingly (. Solomon asks, ‘9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? Man is a fallen creature. Sinners, sin and therefore need to repent and believe the gospel. God loathes injustice (10). And everyone knows from childhood the difference between good and evil, right and wrong (11). Man was originally made upright and while his nature has been corrupted by the Fall, his conscience continues to condemn wrongdoing. God gave people ears and eyes to hear and see aright as God’s image-bearers (12). Diligence and discipline lead to prosperity whereas lethargy and laziness make for poverty (13). While buyers heckle for a bargain, they boast in their gain (14). Finally, today, Solomon reminds us, just like Job did, that wisdom and sound knowledge are rarer than precious stones (15). It is to be found in the narrow way which is the abiding word of God.
To ponder! Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you (Pro.4:5-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 466
Bible Reading: Job 29 & Proverbs 20:16-30
In chapter 29 Job continues his discourse. He laments his tragic and miserable situation and reminisces about former days when he enjoyed fellowship with God and prospered in his family and in society. Even princes and aristocrats had respected and honoured him (2-10). He was a man of integrity and influence upon whom God’s blessing and grace were evident. The people universally considered him a man of compassion who cared for the poor and vulnerable (11-13). He states, “14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.” Job promoted goodness and justice and had not anticipated such a catastrophic change in his circumstances (17-20). Job further recalls how people had then sought advice from him and placed great value upon his counsel (21-23). “24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. 25 I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.”
Proverbs 20:16-30 begins with another warning against standing surety for those unknown and unreliable. Solomon advises that if one should do so, collateral should be sought in case of default of payment (16). Sin is like bread that is sweet to taste but alas is leaves a sour taste and stain upon the soul (17). Solomon advises his son to consult wisely in making plans, and especially if waging war where the results of rash and reckless decisions can prove very costly indeed (18). Gossips betray confidences and are better avoided (19). There will be grave consequences for those that curse their parents (20). Wealth suddenly acquired can often be a blight rather than a blessing (21). Trust God as your rock and refuge and leave vengeance to him, as the Apostle Paul reasserts in Romans 12 (22). Again, Solomon reminds his son and readers of the importance of upholding justice. ‘23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.’ He reminds his readers that while God is sovereign, people are responsible for their ways (24). And hence they must look to God for guidance and understanding. One should not speedily and recklessly make vows without careful thought and comprehension of their consequences (25). He reminds his son and future monarch that a wise king upholds the good and punishes evil (26). God knows man intimately (27). He knows our innermost thoughts. While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. Consequently, Solomon advises his son to follow God in steadfast love and faithfulness for the prosperity and preservation of his rule (28). Generalising, Solomon also notes that ‘29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendour of old men is their gray hair.’ He is possibly reminding his son to take heed of his counsel gained through experience, learning, and wisdom acquired and applied over the years. The chapter concludes with a reminder that punishments while unpleasant can lead to the healing of the interior life. In other words, harsh discipline and physical pain can produce moral and spiritual transformation for good (30).
To ponder! Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD” (Jer.9:23-24).
Bible Challenge: Day 467
Bible Reading: Job 30 & Proverbs 21:1-16
In chapter 30 Job continues his discourse. He has become an object of derision and mockery even among poor people of low status who were themselves social outcasts (2-8). “8 A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land. 9 “And now I have become their song; I am a byword to them. 10 They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.” And yet Job is convinced that it is only because God has withdrawn his favour towards him that the rabble can decry and castigate against him (11-14). Fear has gripped him. Honour and prosperity have abandoned him. And he understandably laments,16 “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me. 17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. 18 With great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic. 19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.” Job cries to God but receives no response. He feels forsaken. He is alone and without help. In his mind God has become his persecutor. And who can stand before God? (20-21). Job is powerless. He hoped for good yet encountered evil. He waited for light but finds himself in the deepest darkness. He greatly suffers spiritually, psychologically, and physically. He says, “31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.”
Solomon starts Proverbs 21:1-16 by pointing out that ‘The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.’ In other words, and possibly speaking from personal experience fashioned by faith, he reminds his son and readers that God is sovereign and ultimately controls the thoughts, feelings, reasoning, and choices made by the king and those in authority, and by extension all people. God’s will be done. It is folly to oppose his revealed will or to feign faith. God knows all things. He determines right from wrong. He looks on the heart of man and will hold people accountable for their words and actions (2). Keeping the moral law and hence loving God and neighbour which emanate from a new heart and a right spirit are more important than mere outward adherence to rites and rituals (3). Because without holiness, no one shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14). Arrogance and pride only reveal a sinful heart (4). Thoughtful planning and hard work tend to pay off while rashness and recklessness only impoverish (5). Fraud may lead to fleeting gain, but it is the way of judgement and condemnation (6). Similarly, wicked people who use intimidation and violence to impose their way will be punished (7). Solomon then provides reaffirmation by noting, 8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.’ By reference to an acrimonious marriage, he tells his son that it is better to be alone and have little and yet enjoy peace than to prosper in a state of constant contention, bickering, and bitterness (9). The inner disposition of the wicked is evil. Such people have little or no regard for others (10). They hate God and their neighbour! The punishment of those who deride and disdain the king’s laws act as a deterrent to others. The wise grow in knowledge and grace by observation and instruction (11). God judges the wicked and will bring them to ruination (12). The uncaring and uncompassionate will themselves be ignored when in great need (13). On the contrary, blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy. Recompense and restitution can help dampen and diffuse anger and rage (14). The upright rejoice in justice whereas evildoers flee in fear from it (15). Those who ignore the way of wisdom take the road of darkness and death (16). The way of wisdom is to hear and heed the word of God. That is the pathway of light, love, and life.
To ponder! What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (Js.4:1-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 468
Bible Reading: Job 31 & Proverbs 21:17-31
Job 31 records the conclusion of Job’s discourse. He had been faithful to God and so cannot comprehend how calamity has befallen him. He declares, “3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?” And yet he has kept God’s commandments. He has walked in integrity, humility, and justice before God and his neighbour. Had he broken the moral law then he would have merited such misery and punishment. Had he mistreated his servants (employees) or neglected to show care and compassion to the poor, widow, and fatherless then he could have understood his grave predicament. Had he been guilty of apostasy or idolatry by putting his trust in his wealth or some other part of the creation or even the creature rather than God, then he would have accepted his suffering and sorrow. Had he cursed or rejoiced in the ruin of people that hated him or abused strangers then again, he would have understood why he was subject to such pathos and pain. Job distraught, therefore, cries out in desperation, “35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!). Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!” If only he could present his case and give an account. If guilty of some transgression he could accept his lot. ‘The words of Job are ended.’
Proverbs 21:17-31 begins with a reminder that the over-indulgent will not prosper. Solomon writes, ‘Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.’ He then points out that (in God’s plan and purpose) the righteous and upright will ultimately be delivered and prosper over the wicked and traitorous (18). He again informs his son that isolation is preferable to argumentative and fractious relations (19). The wise person saves and makes provision whereas the foolish person immediately consumes and devours what he has (20). Those who seek wisdom and righteousness and aspire to keep God’s commandments and show kindness to others will flourish and be fruitful (21). Such people will prosper at the expense of those who trust in material power and prestige rather than God (22). The sensible guard their tongue and avoid trouble (23). Scoffers are arrogant and proud (24) and the lazy and lethargic harm themselves by their unwillingness to labour (25). Such people covet while the wise give of their time, talents, and tressures (26). Hypocrites who feign faith for ulterior motives are an abomination to God (27). Liars and perjurers will perish whereas the words of the wise will endure (28). The wicked are full of bravado, whereas the wise are thoughtful (29). Solomon insists that God’s will be done. He is sovereign over everything and while we are responsible for our words and works, we are nevertheless dependent upon his grace. For ‘31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.’
To ponder! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom.8:37).
Bible Challenge: Day 469
Bible Reading: Job 32 & Proverbs 22:1-16
Job 32 records the intervention of Elihu who was enraged with Job because of his discourse. In his view, Job justified himself rather than God. He was also angry at Job’s three friends for their failure to convince Job of his error. Elihu was younger than the others and being timid and afraid had bided his time to express his outrage. He claimed to speak having been inspired by the Spirit of God. He has listened thoughtfully to the discussion between Job and his three interlocutors and is bewildered that no one was able to effectively refute Job and his claims of innocence. And therefore, he is determined to declare his opinion. He feels a sense of compulsion to do so and will not show partiality or flattery to anyone lest he falls under the judgement of God.
In Proverbs 22:1-16 Solomon reminds his readers that a good reputation is more important than material riches and therefore grace and glory are better than silver and gold. Why? Because man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Jesus would similarly say, ‘seek first the kingdom of God and is righteousness and all these things will be added to you’ (Mt.6:33). All people are made by God and one day will stand before him at the judgement (2). Naked we came into this world and naked we must depart it. The wise thoughtfully avoid danger whereas the inconsiderate recklessly stumble into it and suffer for it (3). The path to spiritual, mental, physical, and even material blessing is the way of humility, and respect and reverence for God (4). The wicked place themselves in the way of danger while those that take heed of their souls (and hence their relationship with God) steer clear of them (5). Covenant children should be raised in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Solomon writes, ‘6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’ Making a general observation he notes that ‘7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.’ He warns that the corrupt and violent will bring calamity upon themselves (. Those who are kind, considerate, and generous to others will themselves be blessed (9). No place should be given to those that cultivate and stir up contention, hatred, and hostility (10). He advises his readers to stay clear of such people. On the contrary, Solomon tells his son and readers that kings and others in authority should welcome and befriend the godly, good, and gracious (11). ‘11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.’ The LORD will prosper those that are faithful to his word but overthrow those that disregard or defy its teaching (12). The lazy person will always excuse his lethargy (13). Enticement to sin is evidence that such a person is already under judgement. God gives such people over to a reprobate mind the apostle tells us in Romans 1. Discipline is required in raising children because we all inherit the fallen nature (15) and all need to know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. All require instruction in God’s law of love. Those who exploit and oppress the poor to their own or others' advantage will themselves come to poverty sooner or later (16).
To ponder! For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1Tim.6:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 470
Bible Reading: Job 33 & Proverbs 22:17-29
In Job 33 Elihu gives his refutation of Job. “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.” He claims to speak the truth passionately and with integrity of heart. He believes that the Spirit of God has inspired him to intervene with boldness. And he challenges Job to listen and respond accordingly. He seeks to refute Job’s claim that he has not sinned and brought calamity upon himself in judgement. He asks Job, “13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’?” Elihu proceeds to reiterate Job’s contention with God, summarising Job’s circumstances, and God’s apparent silence. He then argues, like Job’s ‘miserable comforters’ did that God has justly brought catastrophe upon him in an act of mercy – to ‘deliver him from going down to the pit’. If Job will but repent, God will restore his righteousness and redeem his life by faith. And therefore, Elihu urges Job to “31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. 32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Solomon begins Proverbs 22:17-29 with a plea to listen, absorb, and apply words of wisdom (17). As Solomon’s father reminds us in the Psalms, we must store God’s word in our hearts. Then we shall not only be hearers of the word but doers of the word. Then we will walk in the ways of faith, wisdom, and uprightness. This is the path of peace and pleasantness which makes for a positive witness (18). By these means one learns to trust in the LORD. And this is Solomon’s earnest desire for his son and readers (19). This is the reason why Solomon has put pen to paper that his readers may have good counsel and knowledge and know the difference between right and wrong, good, and bad (20-21). He again reminds his son and others not to exploit the poor but rather to show compassion (22). God will condemn those that mistreat and abuse others (23). It is unwise to befriend those that are full of hostility and hatred, and who regularly rail and rage against others. There is a danger that one might come to emulate such people and engulf oneself in endless strife and contention (24-25). Again, Solomon counsels and warns against standing surety for those in debt, lest one lose his own security (26-27). He urges his readers to respect and value their heritage (28). Solomon concludes this section by reminding his son and future king to value skilled workers. Their labours will prosper his kingdom. And so, he writes, ‘29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.’
To ponder! Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight (Pro.4:5-7).
Bible Challenge: Day 471
Bible Reading: Job 34 & Proverbs 23:1-18
Job 34 continues Elihu’s diatribe. He urges Job and his companions to listen thoughtfully. He says, “4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; 6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’” Elihu condemns Job and categorises him among the wicked for the calamity which has befallen him and his response to it (7-9). He is rightly adamant that God can do no wrong for there is no injustice in God. He is infinitely perfect in all his ways. As the patriarch Abraham had said in Genesis 18, ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ Therefore, Elihu insists, “12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.” God, he makes clear is altogether ‘righteous and mighty’. And he shows no partiality to the rich and powerful. God is omnipresent and omniscient and therefore the wicked have no place to hide from his gaze. They cannot conceal their sin from God (21-22). “25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. 26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, 27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways…” Elihu asks, “33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it?” (God’s judgement). Based on his theological understanding, Elihu declares, “35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’ 36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Solomon begins Proverbs 23:1-18 with a word of caution when invited into the company of the rich and powerful. One should temper one’s appetite and not be beguiled by the lure of largesse and luxury (1-3). A wise person exercises discernment in every situation. The acquisition of material riches should not be one’s chief motivation (4). One never finds satisfaction and contentment therein. Material treasures are temporary, and one never has enough (5). Moreover, it is prudent not to receive hospitality from the parsimonious for they inwardly resent having to show kindness to others (6-7). Solomon adds, ‘8 You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.’ Furthermore, he informs his readers that wise words are wasted on a fool (9). However, one should respect one’s Christian inheritance and never take advantage of the fatherless and vulnerable (10) for our Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, is almighty and will hold those that do so to account (11). The wise listen to godly instruction and take to heart what they are taught (12). Thereby Christians grow in knowledge and grace. Solomon reminds parents of the importance of disciplining their children to save them from immediate and lasting harm (13-14). He tells his son, ‘15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. 16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.’ He bids his son and readers to walk in the respect and reverence of God and warns us not to envy sinners (17). By these means, we have a glorious future and a bright and blessed hope (18).
To ponder! Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! (Ps.3:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 472
Bible Reading: Job 35 & Proverbs 23:19-35
In Job 35 Elihu continues his discourse against Job by accusing him of presumption before God. He blames Job for claiming that his righteousness merits special treatment from God. He bids Job and his companions therefore to “5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?” Elihu implies that Job and his friends are evaluating Job’s circumstances from an anthropocentric perspective rather than a theocentric one. He points out that people do not seek God and his word. Moreover, God is silent because of people’s pride. He says, “13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. 14 How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!” Elihu charges Job with theological ignorance. “16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.”
In Proverbs 23:19-35 Solomon offers his son and readers some practical advice and a warning against addiction and lust. He writes, ‘Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.’ That is in the way of wisdom and integrity, and of faith and morality which comes from a new heart and a right spirit. He warns his son to avoid the intoxicated and over-indulgent who impoverish and harm themselves and others by their appetites and addictions (20-21). Rather he urges his son to listen to him and to respect his mother (22). He tells his son to prioritise and value ‘wisdom, instruction, and understanding’ (23). By the application of these graces, he will walk in uprightness and give his parents joy and gladness (24-25). Solomon therefore adds, ‘26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.’ He warns his son to eschew adultery, fornication, and drunkenness which only lead to misery, contention, regret, broken relationships and reputations, heartaches, and hardships (27-30). While appealing to the fallen nature they intoxicate and produce ruinous effects. And hence Solomon writes, ‘31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.’ They cause one to stagger and stumble in a sea of confusion and chaos. And the intoxicated become incarcerated by their own addictions (34-35).
To ponder! Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph.5:15-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 473
Bible Reading: Job 36 & Proverbs 24:1-22
In Job 36 Elihu continues his impassioned speech and extols the glory of God. He claims to speak on God’s behalf. And declares, “3 I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” He presumptuously claims to have ‘perfect knowledge’ because he speaks for God who is perfect in all his ways. God, he insists despises none, but he brings down the wicked and raises up the righteous. He is gracious to his people when caught in ‘cords of affliction’. “10 He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. 11 If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness. 12 But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword [of justice] and die without knowledge.” The godless on the contrary revel and die in their sin which is rebellion again God. Elihu accuses Job of falsehood in his pleas to and before God. He, therefore, urges Job, “Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.” In the remainder of the chapter, he praises God’s greatness and goodness and reminds his hearers that finite man cannot fully penetrate or comprehend the infinite almighty God or stay his hand.
Proverbs 24:1-22 begins with a warning not to envy the wicked or desire their company ‘for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.’ On the contrary, Solomon counsels his readers to build their lives on wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God’s word (3-4). With wisdom and knowledge come inner strength, confidence, competence, and guidance which he claims are particularly needful in a time of crisis. He also commends the ability to take wise counsel from others (5-6). Nevertheless, wisdom is beyond the capacity of a fool who has no sensible advice to offer (7). Moreover, he notes that schemers and scoffers are sinful and loathsome (8-9). Solomon indirectly urges his son and readers to be strong in a day of adversity so that they can aid those in peril and strengthen and steady those that stagger and stumble towards danger (10-11). He reminds us of the need for humility and honesty before all because God is omniscient and one day we will be called to give an account for our words and actions (12). Solomon likens wisdom to honey which is not only sweet to taste but good for us. He, therefore, bids his son and readers to seek wisdom (13-14). He again issues a serious warning against following the evil ways of the wicked who steal and perpetrate violence against the innocent. They will stumble and fall in a day of calamity and will be condemned in the judgement (15-16). He tells his son not to rejoice in the fall of his enemies lest he bring God’s displeasure upon himself (17-18). Neither should he worry or be jealous of the wicked who have no future (19-20). Rather, Solomon writes, ‘21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?’
To ponder! Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1Pt.3:8-12).
Bible Challenge: Day 474
Bible Reading: Job 37 & Proverbs 24:23-34
In Job 37 Elihu’s continues his diatribe against Job by focussing his companions attention on the power and majesty of God. As the Apostle Paul articulates in his Letter to the Romans, God’s invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in the creation with its natural occurrences. Elihu therefore declares, “God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.” God, he tells his listeners is constantly interacting with, sustaining, and ordering his creation. With reference to the seasons and their different weather patterns and occurrences, he says, “Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.” He bids Job stop and reflect on the myriad wondrous works of God. How he does all things to fulfil his higher purpose. And yet he remains mysterious as to his essence. Man can never fully comprehend God but must rely on his revelation. As Paul later wrote, ‘for now we see in a mirror dimply, but then face to face’ (1Cor.13:12). Perplexed and angered by Job’s complaint and cries of injustice against God, Elihu implies that Job has spoken out of ignorance and arrogance in his pain and pathos. And asserts, “Out of the north comes golden splendour; God is clothed with awesome majesty. 23 The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. 24 Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
In Proverbs 24:23-34 Solomon highlights certain proverbial sayings. He once again makes clear that favouritism should have no place when it comes to the administration of justice (23). He warns his son and readers against taking the side of evil. Of turning a blind eye to injustice and showing favour to the wicked. Not only is such behaviour an affront to God and his law of love but is ruinous of one’s reputation, nationally and internationally. By contrast, ‘those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.’ Sincerity and honesty are the way to peace and pleasantness (26). He also reminds his readers of the importance of sound preparation and prioritising for the success of any project (27). Those that do not plough their field and sow their seed will not reap a harvest and they and their dependents will suffer the consequences. Moreover, probably with the ninth of the ten commandments in mind, he reminds his readers not to gossip about or slander their neighbours, nor hold grudges or take the law into one’s own hands and seek revenge for grievances (28-29). Solomon concludes this section by returning to the theme of laziness and lethargy. Having observed an unkept and overgrown vineyard whose boundary walls were crumbling, and which belonged to a known sluggard, he concludes, ‘33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man’ (30-34). We must use our gifts and grace. We must work if we are to be fruitful and flourish.
To ponder! Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Ps.90:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 475
Bible Reading: Job 38 & Proverbs 25:1-14
In Job 38 God answers Job and asks, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” God reminds Job that he is sovereign, eternal, and infinite. He created and sustains the heavens and the earth and is ultimately in control of all things, from the stars in the cosmos to the flora and fauna all around us. His plans and purposes come to pass, and no one can stay his hand. For God alone is God! He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Unlike man who is finite, fallen, limited, and although capable of comparatively great and good things does not possess God’s non-communicable attributes like omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Man, unlike God is not infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. And so, God graciously asks Job, “Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, 38 when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together? 39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? 41 Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
Proverbs 25:1-14 begins by informing the reader that this section of the Book of Proverbs attributed to Solomon was rediscovered and copied in the days of King Hezekiah. The proverbs start by noting that it is richly rewarding and honourable for kings and others in authority to seek theological knowledge and wisdom (2). While the king’s plans and purposes appear inscrutable to members of the public, a godly and righteous king can be trusted (3). Just as impurities must be removed from silver, so the removal of crooked and wicked advisers from close proximity to the king is for the peace and prosperity of his kingdom. Faithfulness and fruitfulness flourish when evil is eschewed (4-5). Solomon next warns against pride, presumption, or self-promotion. Those that exalt themselves will be humbled whereas those that humble themselves will be exalted (6-7). Moreover, he again reminds his readers to exercise discretion and thoughtfulness and avoid snitching on or divulging the secrets of others, or of gossiping or slandering their neighbours ‘lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end’ (7-10). Deploying lyrical language, he suggests a good or kind word ‘is like apples of gold in a setting of silver (11).’ Similarly, the wise person gratefully receives reproof and correction like they would a treasure (12). He likens a faithful messenger to the welcoming cool and refreshing snow in the heat of harvest (13). Whereas the person that fails to utilise his or her gifts and graces (talents) is like the clouds and wind that fail to bring needful rain (14).
To ponder! “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Mt.5:14-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 476
Bible Reading: Job 39 & Proverbs 25:15-28
Job 39 continues God’s revelation to Job. By asking Job a series of questions relating to the natural world, God shows Job the limitations of his knowledge, understanding, and power, and directs his thoughts to the greatness and goodness of God. God’s providence extends to such things as the sure-footed mountain goat, the wild donkey that shuns human habitations, the ox deployed by farmers for its great strength, the birth of ostriches, the mighty and majestic horse that is fearless in battle. The chapter concludes with God asking Job, “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? 27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? 28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. 29 From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away. 30 His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.” God makes clear to Job and his companions that he governs his creation.
Proverbs 25:15-28 begins with a reminder that patience, persistence, and gentle pleading can be persuasive and bring prosperity (15). Solomon warns his readers to avoid greed and over-indulgence and rather to exercise moderation (16). And this same principle of moderation he applies to human relationships lest one becomes over-bearing to those around them (17). A liar who bears false witness against his neighbour does great harm and hurt not only to his neighbour but to justice (18). It is unwise to place one’s trust in those that are insincere and unstable in their ways, even in a day of trouble. For they will only bring pain and insecurity and therefore only add to one’s trials and troubles (19). While Solomon’s father once played his harp and sang songs to King Saul to ease his heavy heart, songs of joy are imprudent and ineffectual when one is dispirited and depressed (20, see also Psalm 137:1-4). Solomon tells his son and readers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to leave vengeance to God. Rather they should treat their enemies with compassion (21-22). A backbiting or slanderous tongue brings bitterness and anger like the north winds bring cold stormy weather (23). It is preferable to live in peace with little than to enjoy much but with endless contention and strife in close relationships (24). Good news, even from afar, is most welcome. It is refreshing and reinvigorating or restorative to one’s spirit. It is like cold water to a thirsty soul (25). The righteous person only sullies and stains his standing before God and others and his conscious when he convorts and complies with the ways of the wicked (26). A person should not seek to glorify him or herself but rather should glorify God and seek to humbly serve others (27). Those who exalt themselves shall be humbled but those that humble themselves shall be exalted. We should exercise self-control lest we bring injury and ruination upon ourselves (28).
To ponder! Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (Js.3:13-18).
Bible Challenge: Day 477
Bible Reading: Job 40 & Proverbs 26:1-16
In Job 40 God asks Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Despite his earlier complaints before God, Job is silent before the Lord. And God calls and challenges him with a view to reproving and correcting him. God asks Job, “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” God makes clear to Job his limitations and impotence. God alone is omnipotent and omniscient. Despite Job’s great suffering and sorrow his hope and help are in God alone. God, therefore, says to him, “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendour. 11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. 12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. 14 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.” Of course, he cannot, and that is the point that God is making. Job must turn to God and trust him to transform his suffering into joy.
In Proverbs 26:1-16 Solomon provides wise counsel with reference to those that are foolish and lazy. He points out that it is wholly inappropriate to reward folly. And likens it to unwelcome snow in summertime or heavy rains during the harvest (1). He counsels against the folly of those that utter incongruous curses. That is condemning others without just reason and cause (2). Fools need to be disciplined like a horse or a donkey. They bring judgement upon themselves (3). One must eschew the ways of the foolish and give no credence to their folly (4-5). It is unwise to employ or entrust a fool with errands. To do so only puts oneself in the way of harm and hurts (6). Wise sayings and good advice are wasted on fools (7). Honouring a fool is incongruous and will only ruin one’s own reputation (. The fool is insensible and oblivious to sound words (9). Fools and drunkards are a danger to themselves and others and therefore should not be employed when hiring workers (10). Solomon likens the fool that repeats his folly to ‘a dog that returns to his vomit’ (11). And yet there is more hope for a fool than a person who is wise in his own eyes (12). Such a person is unteachable and will not hear and heed the word of God. He turns his attention in verses 13 to 16 to the stupidity of the habitual sluggard. Such a person is ready with an excuse for his laziness and lethargy (13). He spends too much time in bed (14). Even eating is a chore to him (15). Alas, he concludes, ‘The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly’ (16).
To ponder! “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Lk.16:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 478
Bible Reading: Job 41 & Proverbs 26:17-28
In Job 42 God continues to point out to Job his limitations. Job is not God. He is finite and fallen, and his knowledge, understanding, and ability are limited. If Job is powerless before and unable to subdue and tame Leviathan (a mighty sea creature), how can he possibly stand before God the Almighty as an adversary? God asks, “Who then is he who can stand before me? 11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?” Using the analogy of Leviathan, God points out to Job the presumption and folly of his claims and complaint against God. However, God is humbling Job in order to exalt him!
Solomon begins Proverbs 26:17-28 by cautioning his readers against needlessly intruding or involving themselves in others’ quarrels and contentions (17). He likens such interventions to grabbing the ears of an unknown dog. Such folly, in other words, carries a high risk of injury to oneself. Similarly, the person that maliciously deceives or cheats his neighbour plays with fire. He will not be able to excuse his detestable behaviour if found out (18). Combative argument and heated disagreement end when those that would stir up trouble and division fall silent or are ignored (20). Solomon warns that a quarrelsome person endlessly stirs up strife and therefore ought to be avoided (21). Moreover, the wise person ought to beware of gossips or tell-tales (22). Such people should not be indulged for their insinuations can gravely influence and sour relationships. The upright also should be on their guard against insincerity or hypocrisy, as keen lips can mask evil intentions (23). Haters might flatter with their words, but they harbour deceit in their hearts. They may at times speak kind words, but they mask malevolent motivations that will eventually be exposed publicly (24-26). Solomon insists that ‘Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.’ He reminds his readers that those that play with fire will be burned. A liar essentially expresses hatefulness towards his victims, while flatterers work ruin by their grovelling and selfish speeches (28). Hence the wise would do well to be on their guard against such folk.
To ponder! You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (Jn.8:44).
Bible Challenge: Day 479
Bible Reading: Job 42 & Proverbs 27:1-12
Job 42 begins with Job’s response to God’s revelation. He acknowledges to God that God alone is sovereign and that his will be done. And confesses that his claims against God were spoken in confusion and incomprehension. Therefore, he declared before God, “4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” God in turn rebuked Job’s ‘miserable comforters’ who had spoken falsely of God. He bid them make sacrifice to him for their sin and rely on Job’s mediation in prayer for them, “for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did as they were instructed, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer and forgave them. Job here anticipates and foreshadows Jesus Christ, our one and only Mediator with the Father. Finally, God restored the fortunes of Job. He enjoyed twice as much as he had before. His reputation and standing were re-established, and family and friends sympathised and comforted him for his great former losses and bestowed on him money and treasures. ‘12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.’ He prospered materially and his wife bore him a further seven sons and three daughters who were renowned for their beauty. ‘And after this Job lived for 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.’ Trust God, the best is yet to come!
Solomon begins Proverbs 27:1-12 by bidding his readers to live in the present. He writes, ‘Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.’ Solomon is warning us against presumption and urging God’s people to get their priorities right. The Lord Jesus provided a similar warning in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk.12:17-21). He similarly reminds his readers to remain humble and not to boast of their own achievements (2). Pride is a denial of God’s grace and is a testimony to self-centredness. Moreover, he recognises that the provocations of foolish people are a heavy weight to bear (3). While wrath is cruel and anger can be overwhelming, he asks ‘who can stand against jealousy (4). Envy, like pride, is a deadly sin. Solomon points out that ‘Better is open rebuke than hidden love’ (5). Rebuke is the road to rectification, restoration, and renewal. Whereas what is love in mere thought without the corresponding action or good works. True love seeks the good and betterment of the one loved. While a faithful friend may offend, his words are for our good, whereas the kisses and flattering words of an enemy conceal wicked intentions (6). Solomon similarly cautions against over-indulgence. Rather he recommends the practice of moderation as the way of finding contentment and satisfaction (7). He similarly warns against straying from home for either fear or fancy (. Such a person is like a bird that strays from its nest. He abandons his responsibilities and loses his sense of place and position. Solomon again commends friends that offer wise and sound counsel. He likens such advice to the pleasant scents of oils and perfumes (9). He strongly advocates loyalty to family and friends and cautions against jeopardising such relationships in a time of trials and troubles (10). And he adds, ‘Better is a neighbour who is near than a brother who is far away.’ He urges his son to make his heart glad by continually walking in the way of wisdom. No one will then be able to criticise him for his parental advice and example (11). The wise flee from danger whereas the foolish stand their ground and suffer the consequences (12).
To ponder! For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1Cor.13:12-13).
Bible Challenge: Day 480
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 1 & Proverbs 27:13-27
The Book of Ecclesiastes, like Proverbs is attributed to King Solomon. In it he seeks to demonstrate the folly and futility of life without faith in God. If man is but a ‘cosmic accident’ as some think today then his life is without purpose and meaning. And hence Solomon begins chapter 1 by grabbing the reader’s attention by declaring, ‘Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?’ Life in this fallen world is comparatively short. Generations, like the seasons, come and go. And yet ultimately without God and a goal beyond the here and now life lacks significance, ‘8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.’ There is nothing new under the sun. People come and go and are quickly forgotten. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to our existence. Solomon (the Preacher) has diligently sought wisdom and knowledge, but they have not made him happy or brought him contentment. Indeed, he concludes that ‘all is vanity (meaningless) and a striving after wind.’ He has also observed the futility of madness and folly which he similarly states are futile. He concludes chapter 1, ‘18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.’ With wisdom and knowledge, Solomon is made conscious of the trials, tribulations, and tragedies that are endemic in our fallen world.
Proverbs 27:13-27 begins with Solomon advising those that make loans or provide surety for others, especially those not well known or unreliable, should insist on collateral in case the said person defaults on their loan (13). He also warns again about those that are quick to make a show of offering their blessing and praise but whose smiles and good wishes may mask ulterior motives (14). He likens argumentative spouses and by extension, others in close relationships, to persistent and endless rain on a dreich day (15). However, he notes the beneficial effects of discussion and debate. ‘17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.’ Just as the person that cultivates his fig tree will reap its fruit, so the person that respects and protects those in authority will be rewarded (18). The state of a person’s heart is revealed in his words and works (19). Solomon states that just as death and hell are insatiable, so fallen man is never satisfied (20). Moreover, how a person gives and responds to praise are a good indication of the state of his or her inner disposition (21). No amount of physical or mental discipline can make the fool abandon his folly (22). Rather, he requires a new heart and a right spirit. Deploying the metaphor of the shepherd, Solomon reminds his son to care for his flocks (people) because wealth is temporary, and dynasties can be overthrown and superseded (23-24). Not only should he not squander the source of his material wealth, but he should take care to retain the respect and goodwill of his subjects. Moreover, he reminds his readers that it is wise to live responsibly and to be prepared for seasonal, climatic, and other significant changes that can suddenly confront and challenge the unprepared (25-27). By doing so, one not only prudently makes provision for oneself but also for one’s family.
To ponder! Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn.4:13-14).
Bible Challenge: Day 481
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 2 & Proverbs 28:1-13
In Ecclesiastes 2 Solomon turns from the theme of wisdom and knowledge to sensuality and self-indulgence. He begins, ‘I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.”’ He indulged in amusements and pleasures and enjoyed fine wines and the best of fare. He denied himself nothing but built houses with stunning gardens. He planted vineyards and forests and possessed numerous flocks and herds of livestock. He accumulated treasures of gold and silver and possessed vast wealth. He owned endless servants, employed numerous singers and entertainers, and even had many concubines. He was renowned for his wisdom and wealth near and far, surpassing all others therein. Solomon writes, ‘And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.’ He concluded that there was more gain in wisdom than folly because whereas the wise walk in the light, the fool walks in darkness. And yet they both are confronted by the same challenges and meet the same end. ‘How the wise dies just like the fool! 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.’ Life is relatively short. One will soon enough pass from this life and be forgotten and others will enjoy the fruits of one’s labours. Our days, declares Solomon, are marked by toil and restlessness and are full of sorrow and vexation. He concludes, ‘There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment [contentment] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.’ In other words, the self-centred or self-indulgent outlook brings no lasting satisfaction, contentment, peace, and joy.
Solomon begins Proverbs 28:1-13 by noting that whereas the wicked live in constant fear of being uncovered or condemned, the righteous are confident and courageous (1). He points out that a considerate, just, and wise ruler brings stability and security to his kingdom whereas wicked rulers cause division, disharmony, and destabilisation (2). The unempathetic poor that acquire positions of power only to oppress the underprivileged and vulnerable are like torrential downpours of rain that spoil the harvest (3). Those that forsake and forget God’s moral law only commend wickedness, whereas those that keep God’s commandments take a stand against evil (4). The wicked have little comprehension of or interest in justice, while God’s people not only understand his laws of love but desire their implementation (5). Solomon insists, ‘Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways’ (6). He tells his son and readers to exercise wisdom, keep God’s law, and eschew the company of the self-centred and over-indulgent (7). In the providence of God, those that make vast sums exploiting others will ultimately lose out (. Jesus taught something similar in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16. The prayers of those continuing in sinful practices and lawlessness are an affront to God (9). God in Jesus calls and welcomes sinners but bids them repent and believe the gospel. As Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, ‘go and sin no more’! The wicked who endeavour to lead God’s people astray only seal their own ruination and condemnation, whereas the faithful have a glorious future (10). Solomon, who enjoyed incomparable riches, warns his readers that wealth can be deceptive. It is better to be poor and hear and heed God’s word than to be rich and ignore or reject it (11). What ultimately matters is not whether one was rich in material things but rather is rich in grace! The triumph of the just brings favour and glory to a nation whereas the elevation of the unjust results in fear and grief (12). Repentance results in mercy whereas those that try to conceal and continue in their sin only bring ruination upon themselves (13).
To ponder! Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them (Ps.62:10).
Bible Challenge: Day 482
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3 & Proverbs 28:14-28
Solomon begins Ecclesiastes 3 poetically reflecting on the complexity of life and on how there is an occasion for all manner of activities and corresponding emotions between birth and death. He notes that ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven’ and then beautifully crafts his poem which is very familiar to Christians (1-8). I often read the passage at funeral services when we have opportunity to reflect on the deceased’s life and give thanks to God for his steadfast love and faithfulness therein. Solomon continues by posing a question. He asks, ‘9 What gain has the worker from his toil?’ He rightly assesses matters from a God-focussed perspective. God, he declares, ‘has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.’ God has made man (male and female) for a relationship with him and one another that is rooted and built up in love. Man, however, is limited in his comprehension of God and his will and must rely on God’s revelation. And since the Fall, on God’s grace and mercy. We need to understand our limitations and walk by faith. Solomon adds, ‘I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.’ He further notes that God’s will be done. That his works will endure and that there is really nothing new under the sun. Yes, there are scientific and technological advances and developments, but God’s will does not change and neither does man’s nature and his basic and ultimate needs. Solomon observed how wickedness or sinfulness sullied and stained even the places of justice and righteousness, but he knows in his heart that God will judge all in his time. Yet, he returns to his theme of vanity or meaninglessness. Man is no different from the other creatures that God has made in the sense that he too is mortal and must die. He writes, ‘All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?’ Acknowledging his incomprehension, Solomon indirectly and implicitly reminds us of our need for the word in scripture and the Word Incarnate who is the way, the truth, and the life. In him we come to comprehend the meaning and purpose of life not only in the present but for eternity.
Solomon begins Proverbs 28:14-28 with a reminder that the person who respects and reverences God is blessed, whereas the person that denies and defies God brings ruin upon himself (14). He likens an evil and exploitative ruler to a roaring lion or charging bear. Such a person is brutish, cruel, inconsiderate, and unjust. By contrast the considerate and just ruler will prolong his reign as a recipient of God’s grace and his subjects’ gratitude (15-16). Murderers will bear the heavy burden of a guilty conscience all their days. They may be fugitives from justice, but they cannot escape the judgement of God (17). Whereas faithful and honest people will be saved, the corrupt and crooked will meet with calamity (18). The diligent and disciplined make provision for themselves and others, while the lazy and irresponsible will suffer want (19). The faithful will be rich in graces, whereas the greedy and selfish bring judgement upon themselves (20). Solomon warns his readers against manipulation and offering bribes (21). A miserly person that loves wealth, he insists, only impoverishes him or herself (22). A wise person that rebukes another seeking their good will ultimately enjoy more favour than a flatterer who is willing to accept wrongdoing in pursuit of personal favours (23). Those that wilfully break the fifth commandment are dishonourable and destructive (24). Their crime is comparable to assault. They neither love God, nor their parents. Moreover, a covetous person causes contentions and conflict, whereas those that trust in God will truly be enriched (25). Those that hear and heed the word of God will be saved whereas those that place greater store by their own fallen and finite notions and opinions are truly foolish (26). Those that graciously and generously give to the poor will be blessed, whereas the heartless will themselves suffer (27). The faithful conceal themselves when the wicked reign but they flourish when the wicked perish (28).
To ponder! “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deut.29:29).
Bible Challenge: Day 483
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 4 & Proverbs 29:1-13
In Ecclesiastes 4 Solomon laments the oppression and evil that is endemic in our fallen world. He feels for the oppressed who are powerless against their oppressors and have no one to comfort them. The thought struck him that the dead and unborn were more fortunate than the victims and observers of such grave injustice. Solomon then suggests that man is spurred on to hard work and to develop skillsets by jealousy of his neighbour. Competition and compulsion to earn and possess more things and surpass his neighbour in the social ranking hence compel such emotions and behaviour. This he declares is also ‘vanity and a striving after wind.’ The foolish, he notes, only harm themselves. Better to live a peaceful and contented life than one characterised by endless toil, striving, and strife. He comments on those without dependents who deny themselves pleasure and rest while ever seeking and yet never finding satisfaction in riches. ‘“For whom’, he asks, “am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.’ He also reminds his readers of the importance of companionship. It is not good for man to be alone. No man is an island. We are stronger together and flourish through relationships. Possibly thinking to advise his son, he says that it is better to be a poor yet wise youth than an old and foolish king that stubbornly refuses counsel and correction. Despite the king’s elevation and achievements, and the respect of the people, he too will soon pass from this life and the thoughts of his former subjects. And so, he concludes, ‘Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Proverbs 29:1-13 begins with a warning that those that continue to reject reproof and correction will bring calamity upon themselves (1). Solomon again notes that when the faithful increase in number the people rejoice in an environment characterised by integrity, justice, and love. Whereas when the wicked rule, the people groan under oppression (2). The person that speaks and acts in accordance with the word of God makes his parents glad whereas the ungodly and immoral squander the riches of God’s grace (3). A king that upholds justice is a blessing to his kingdom, whereas a greedy one that exploits his subjects is a curse (4). Flatterers merely set a trap for themselves, and an evil person is likewise ensnared by his own sin and the consequences thereof, whereas the righteous person can praise God with joy in their hearts (5-6). The righteous are caring and compassionate towards the less privileged and vulnerable, while the wicked are uncaring and callous (7). Scorners create contention and strife whereas the wise quench the flames of hatred and hostility (. There is little point in arguing with fools that only rage or laugh at wisdom and reason (9). The bloodthirsty hate the innocent and are a threat to the righteous (10). The wise person holds his tongue whereas the fool cannot hold back his venomous spirit (11). Solomon reminds his son and readers that ‘If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked’ (12). Moreover, he notes that God ‘gives light to the eyes of both the poor and the oppressor’ (13). All are made in the image and likeness of God and are called to walk in the light. All people will be judged justly by God for their words and actions.
To ponder! Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart (Eph.4:17-18).
Bible Challenge: Day 484
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5 & Proverbs 29:14-27
In Ecclesiastes 5 Solomon turns his thought firstly to worship and on how one should approach God humbly, reverently, and thoughtfully. He writes, ‘Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth.’ He urges God’s people to take care in making and fulfilling their promises to God. And warns against sinful words and behaviour. ‘For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.’ A faithful king committed to the peace and prosperity of his kingdom must promote justice and honesty and punish evil doing by upholding the law of God. Those that make an idol of money and material wealth never find contentment and satisfaction therein. And so he writes, ‘Sweet is the sleep of a labourer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.’ Solomon bemoans and misuse and abuse of wealth, and the failure to provide for dependents of those that foolishly gamble away their riches. Such people were so fixated on the accumulation of wealth that they forgot others as well as their own souls. Their money did not enlighten them but rather brought them vexation, sickness, and anger because their focus or the orientation of their lives was wrong. ‘This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?’ Much better to live ‘coram deo’, before the face of God, to glorify and enjoy God and to work and enjoy the fruits of one’s labour in gratitude for God’s grace. Solomon concludes, ‘Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.’
Proverbs 29:14-27 begins with Solomon commending justice to the poor. Rulers that are faithful and who show impartiality, and by extension, are considerate and compassionate will establish their dynasty and enjoy longevity by the grace of God (14). Parents that fail to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, and who never reprove or correct their offspring only bring shame on themselves (15). Sin naturally increases when the wicked enjoy power but the righteous will ultimately triumph to observe their downfall (16). A son (or daughter) raised in the discipline and instruction of God’s gospel and law of love will bring peace and joy to his or her parents (17). Where God’s word is silent, ignored, or defied however, the people live and wallow in sin. By contrast, blessed are those that hear and heed God and keep his commandments (18). A wayward and wilful servant is not disciplined by mere words which he understands but ignores (19). And so it is with the Christian who has come to understand the consequences of defiance and has received grace to hear and do God’s word. Solomon also issues a warning about speaking in haste or out of turn (20). He suggests there is more hope for a fool than a person that cannot guard his tongue. The meaning of verse 21 is somewhat obscure but I believe Solomon is warning his son that pampered servants are not prepared for the harsh realities of life in the world. Moreover, he could be suggesting that such people in a show a great ingratitude could conceivably exploit their master’s generosity to become heirs to his estate. And thereby displacing his rightful dependents (21). Those given to anger and rage stir up strife and sin (22). He reminds his readers that the proud will be abased whereas the humble will be exalted (23). Those that consort with criminals work their own ruin (24). Solomon adds, ‘The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe’ (25). While men expect and rightfully seek justice from temporal and spiritual authorities, they can be assured that God will judge all things in his time (26). While wickedness is loathsome to the faithful, integrity, godliness, and righteousness are hateful to the wicked (27).
To ponder! Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (Pro.29:18 KJV).
Bible Challenge: Day 485
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 6 & Proverbs 30:1- 17
In Ecclesiastes 6 Solomon ponders what he describes as an evil that lies heavy on mankind. He laments the premature deaths of those whom God blessed with wealth, material possessions, and honour. While ever busy they never had time to rest and enjoy the spoils of their labours which have passed to others. He similarly bemoans the person that is never content and satisfied with his lot, and who cannot take enjoyment in the simple and good things of life. He suggests that a stillborn child is better off than such a person because although ‘it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?’ A covetous and insatiable appetite, he therefore states, is ‘vanity and a striving after wind’. Moreover, no matter how articulate, learned, and sophisticated he is, man’s nature, needs, and frustrations (apart from grace) do not change. The strong triumph over the weak. All one’s labours and learning are ultimately meaningless in a godless existence. ‘For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?’
Proverbs 30:1-17 are attributed to Agur, the son of Jakeh. He feels weak and weary, and dispirited and frustrated by his lack of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. He bemoans his lack of progress in the spiritual life and theological comprehension. He nevertheless acknowledges that God is omnipotent and omniscient and therefore knows all things, and yet he remains ever mysterious. For how can the finite and fallen fully grasp the infinite and perfect? He writes, ‘5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.’ He warns against adding to or twisting the meaning of God’s word (6). And prays to God to remove all falsehood and hypocrisy from him and to provide for his needs so that he be neither rich nor poor. He desires to faithfully love and serve God and his people. And to that end, he offers practical advice to the church and indeed to all. He warns against slandering and defaming others and condemns those that curse their parents and do not recognise authority (10-11). He informs his readers to beware of self-righteousness and hence makes clear that we are ever dependent on God’s grace and mercy. Faith and repentance are not simply graces that are deployed at the beginning of the Christian life but rather they are a way of life for the believer. The Lord Jesus condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes in the days of the earthly ministry for this very reason. He likened them to white-washed sepulchres! He similarly taught that we ought to remove the log out of our own eyes and only then will we see clearly to take the speck out of our brother’s eye. Like Solomon did in numerous places, Agur also cautions and counsels against pride (13) ambition and avarice (14). The avaricious are never satisfied. ‘15 The leech’, he writes, ‘has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: 16 Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.”’ Furthermore, those that mock and scorn their parents bring condemnation upon themselves (17).
To ponder! If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1Cor.15:19-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 486
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7 & Proverbs 30:18-33
In Ecclesiastes 7 Solomon compares and contrasts wisdom and folly as he regularly does in the Book of Proverbs. He begins by extolling the virtues of a good reputation but suggests that the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth in a fallen world without meaning and purpose. Therefore, he says it is better to attend a funeral rather than a feast, and sorrow is better than jollity because by sorrow the heart is made glad. Therefore, ‘4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.’ It is better for a person to listen to wisdom than the empty words of foolishness. ‘6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.’ Oppression and bribery are a grave affront to the wise and only fuel greater corruption. The preacher commends patience and self-control in response to such provocations rather than pride and anger (8-9). There is little point in reminiscing on past days and merely complaining about the present. Rather one should seek wisdom which shows one how to live well in the present. Solomon then invites his readers to consider the works of God and tells us to be joyful in good times but to remember that God is sovereign when adversity and affliction strike. While trials and tragedies may take humanity by surprise and shock, God is in control. The Apostle Paul goes much further and tells us that all things work for the good of those that love God. Here, however, Solomon communicates his personal observations and laments how on occasion the righteous perish while evil-doers appear to flourish. One should avoid conceitedness and self-righteousness, as well as wickedness and foolishness, and rather respect and reverence God. Wisdom is a source of strength and stamina and should be earnestly sought. Moreover, it is good to be reminded that even the saints are sinners, and hence are ever dependent on God’s grace and mercy. There are none righteous, no not one. In our fallen world one should not be quick to take offence. Rather as someone once said, we require a tender heart and a thick skin, and we dare not get them reversed! Such knowledge is the fruit of wisdom. Solomon sought to make sense of our fallen world in order to avoid the allure and temptations that snare and enslave a person in sin. He concluded, ‘See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.’
Proverbs 30:18-33 begins with Agur musing on the wonders of God’s creation and acknowledging the limitations of his abilities and understanding therein (18-19). He struggles to make sense of things. He especially cannot comprehend how those that wilfully sin can claim to have done no wrong! (20). He marvels at apparent contradictions and unexpected outcomes like when a slave becomes a king, or a fool’s appetite is satisfied, or an unloved person finds a spouse, or a maidservant displaces her mistress (21-23). He ponders how small and seemingly insignificant creatures overcome the limitations of their nature by working together. Hence, ants labour in unity to provide stores of food, rock badgers while not mighty find refuge in the clefts of the rock, locusts find strength in numbers and order, and lizards are even found in the palaces of kings (24-28). He considers the courage of the lion, the pride of the strutting rooster and the he-goat, and the confidence of a king whose army is with him (29-31). And concludes, ‘If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.’ Agur is teaching his readers that the wise learn by personal observation, knowledge, reflection, and experience. One should be quick to think, humble to learn, and not act in haste or a show of bravado. One should trust God and hear and heed his word. That is wisdom.
To ponder! ‘When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly' (1Pt.2:23). It is not safe spaces from words we require but a Saviour whose word abides forever.
Bible Challenge: Day 487
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 8 & Proverbs 31:1-31
Solomon begins Ecclesiastes 8 by reminding the reader of the value of wisdom (1). As an expression of wisdom, he urges loyalty to the king as ruler of Israel under God – to keep his laws and humbly serve him and eschew all evil causes. This is particularly so with regards to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. For this is the Christian’s call. He writes, ‘Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.’ He again acknowledges man’s troubles and his limitations. He cannot tell the future. He struggles to retain his spirit and cannot know when he will die. Solomon has observed that strife and evil are endemic in our fallen world. He has observed the funerals of the wicked that hypocritically attended public worship and received the praise of men which he declares is vanity. Such people evaded justice in this life and thereby only encouraged others in evil. He states, ‘Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.’ It is bewildering and inexplicable vanity that wickedness can go unpunished in the present and the righteous suffer its consequences. However, Solomon suggests that one should not permit such a paradox to rob one of his or her joy in the present life. There are matters beyond our capacity to fully grasp but the wise person trusts God who knows and does all things well. Wisdom’s call is to keep the faith in all circumstances and situations.
Proverbs 31 is attributed to King Lemuel and contains sage advice given to him by his mother (1). She urged him to keep his vows and remain faithful (2). She warned him to avoid fornication and adultery which would only jeopardise his rule (3). She similarly counselled him against alcohol abuse lest it affect his capacity for sound judgement (4-5). Rather she suggested that strong drink should be give to the dying and those in distress to dull and alleviate their suffering and sorrow (6-7). The king moreover is urged to stand up for justice and defend the rights of the impoverished and vulnerable (8-9). The focus for the remainder of the chapter is upon finding an ‘excellent wife’. ‘She is far more precious than jewels’ (10). She is ever faithful and loving (11-12). She is diligent and disciplined in seeking the good of her household (13-15). She is thoughtful, creative, constructive, and dynamic (16-19). She is caring, compassionate, fearless and fruitful (20-22). She is supportive of her husband and works in partnership with him to prosper their family union (23-24). She is outwardly capable and inwardly strong and unflappable (25). She speaks wise words and gives encouragement to others (25-26). She ever seeks the good of her household and is praised and greatly treasured by her husband and children (27-28). She surpasses all others in their estimation (29). The chapter, and with it the book of Proverbs, concludes, ‘Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.’ The ‘excellent wife’ is emblematic of the church who is the bride of Christ, the Bridegroom. As such we are called to faithfulness and to good works done in love for the honour of the house of God and the glory of his name.
To ponder! Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev.19:7-8).
Bible Challenge: Day 488
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9 & Isaiah 1
In Ecclesiastes 9 Solomon continues his diatribe on life in this fallen world and bemoans the fact that the righteous and the wicked alike must sooner or later die. ‘It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.’ This he considers to be utterly wrong, but he ignores the very different eternal destinies of the two groups. The living, he insists, only have hope of reward, ‘for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ He enjoins his readers to seek God’s approval and enjoy life while they can. He bids us pursue purity of life with God’s rich blessing. He urges all to love their spouses, labour for reward, and do what makes for peace and happiness, for life is short and there will no opportunity for work, thought, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol (death). He again ponders the perplexities, apparent contradictions, and uncertainties of life in this fallen world. The swift do not always win the race, the strong do not always win the battle, the wise are sometimes impoverished, the intelligent experience poverty, and the knowledgeable fail to gain advantage because time and chance (providence) impact all. Solomon deploying an illustration of a poor yet wise man who saved his city from a mighty attacking army insists that wisdom is better than folly. ‘The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.’ Such is life under the sun.
Isaiah 1 begins by attributing the book or the vision to the Prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. It also reveals the names of the kings of Judah that ruled from Jerusalem during the days of Isaiah’s ministry. Isaiah calls the children of Israel, the people of God, the church of the Old Testament, to repent. To turn from their sin and turn back to God. They have rebelled against God and his covenant and commandments and are and will further suffer grave consequences. He laments, ‘Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged’ (4). Likening the church to a body, he insists the whole body is sick and diseased, spiritually speaking. The country is impoverished and has become easy prey to their foes. They have become like Sodom and Gomorrah. Their worship is worthless because they are faithless and fruitless. Isaiah, therefore, pleads with the people as God’s messenger, ‘Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.’ Again, speaking on behalf of God, he graciously and mercifully urges all, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah exposes and confronts the people, including the rich and powerful, with the extent of their sinful corruption, injustice, and depravity. God is about to judge them and restore justice, order, faithfulness, and righteousness. God is going to redeem and restore the repentant and judge and condemn the continuing rebellious.
To ponder! Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:45-47).
Bible Challenge: Day 489
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10 & Isaiah 2
Solomon begins Ecclesiastes 10 with a warning that a little folly stains and spoils wisdom and honour (1). He notes that the wise and the foolish are on different pathways (2). The fool lacks good sense or sound judgement and is known by his words and behaviour (3). Solomon advises calmness and patience if one should offend a king or someone in authority (4). He bemoans folly in high places as well as its unintended consequences (5-7). He then reflects on a few paradoxes or on the law of unintended consequences. So, on occasion a person that digs a pit will fall into it, just as he who breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake (. Sometimes those that quarry stones or split logs are injured thereby (9). Wisdom applied, however, can not only keep a person safe, but can help him or her succeed with greater ease (10-11). The words of the wise win favour whereas the opinions of a fool are pointless and wasteful (12). The fool’s endless talk is an expression of sinfulness and stupidity (13-14). The fool is essentially in labyrinth of darkness and is lost (15). Solomon cautions against immature, careless, and decadent rulers who endanger the peace and prosperity of their subjects (16). By contrast, the land (the people of Israel) flourishes when godly and hence wise, thoughtful, and responsible rulers reign (17). Solomon, as he repeatedly did in the Book of Proverbs, warns against laziness and lethargy (18). He indirectly advises his readers to work hard, earn a living, and to eat, drink and be merry (19). The chapter concludes with his warning not to speak ill of the king or others in authority. For if overheard such words could have grave consequences for the person that expressed them (20).
In chapter two Isaiah foresees and foretells an elevated and glorious future for God’s church. He begins, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” He prophesises such a time when the authority of God’s word shall be universally recognised and his law of love obeyed. Hatred and hostilities among the nations will cease and peace and prosperity will be established. He therefore bids the children of Israel to bear witness to this future reality in the present by walking in the light of the LORD. They must repent. That is, the prophet pleads with God’s chosen people to turn away and banish apostasy and idolatry which they have adopted and absorbed from the surrounding cultures and nations. He urges them to seek shelter from ‘the terror of the LORD and the splendour of his majesty.’ For God will humble the proud and exalt his name. He will judge and condemn the proud and rebellious. ‘In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, 21 to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendour of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.’ Isaiah, therefore, tells the people to put their faith in God rather than the foolish ways of fallen man.
To ponder! “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Bible Challenge: Day 490
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 11 & Isaiah 3
Given the unpredictability or uncertainty of life in this fallen world, Solomon begins Ecclesiastes 11 advising his readers to show care and compassion to others and to graciously spread their time, talents, and treasures widely and wisely (1-2). By such means, he suggests the thoughtful are likely to be better prepared and supported when calamity strikes. While one cannot alter the natural course of events, the person that does not labour in sowing will not reap a harvest (3-4). One should also accept their limitations. There are matters beyond our understanding. And therefore, the wise trust and obey God (5). One should work hard and utilise their different gifts and graces individually and collectively to prosper (6). It is good for people to make use of the light and to enjoy pleasant days (7). While folk should rejoice in longevity of years, we should also be prepared for death (. Similarly, young people should enjoy life and make the most of opportunities in their youth, but they should do so understanding that they will one day have to give an account to God for their words and works. Solomon writes, ‘Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.’ He concludes this passage by telling his readers to ‘Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.’ In other words, a person should not allow ailments, worries, and woes to rob him or her excessively and endlessly of the joys this present life offers.
Isaiah 3 is a forewarning of the judgement that is coming upon Judah and its capital city, Jerusalem, for the people’s ungodliness and unrighteousness. God is going to withhold his grace and blessing and leave them without support or supply. All ranks of people will be affected and the immature and unwise will govern and do so badly. ‘And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbour; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honourable.’ Society will be in turmoil. Law and order will be overturned, as well as goodness and truth. Isaiah makes the comparison with Sodom whose sinful defiance was on full display before it brought judgement on itself! And yet the faithful will be spared for ‘they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.’ God’s righteous indignation will be particularly focused on the pride, greed, exploitation, and indifference of the princes and leaders of the people. Speaking God’s word, Isaiah declares, ‘“It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.’ In his judgement, God will strip them of their largesse and luxurious adornments in which they paraded their wealth like a peacock his feathers. ‘Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.’ 25 Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground.’
To ponder! Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:28-29).
Bible Challenge: Day 491
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 12 & Isaiah 4
Ecclesiastes 12 concludes this book with the summation of Solomon’s thoughts therein. He begins, ‘Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near’. Again, his focus is on the brevity of life and the hardships and heartaches that are commonly associated with our existence in this fallen world. Losses and bereavements, illnesses and injustices, concerns and calamities are not uncommon. Therefore, a man should be reconciled to God and should trust him not only as Creator, Ruler, Judge and Benefactor, but as Lord and Saviour before going to his eternal home – the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. All is ultimately vanity or meaningless without God. The Preacher commends wisdom and hence the word of God. He writes, ‘11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.’ He warns against study for its own sake but rather that one may know God and keep his commandments. Solomon therefore concludes, ‘13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.’ Let us trust in God and do good. Let us be ever faithful and fruitful to God’s eternal praise.
Isaiah 4 continues the theme of God’s coming judgement upon the children of Israel for their apostasy. In that day when God withdraws his supply and support the nation will become prey to their enemies. Consequently, women will outnumber men by seven to one. There will be great suffering and want of husbands, providers, and protection (1). Nevertheless, a remnant will survive and be greatly blessed through the ministry of the branch of the LORD who is God’s Messiah. They shall be faithful, and their lives adorned by the fruits of the Spirit (2). The redeemed will be justified and sanctified and made holy by the grace of God in Christ Jesus the Saviour (3). He will wash away the stains of sin and the blood guilt of the people by his cross and crown (4). Just as God led his people by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night through the wilderness to the Promised Land, so God in Christ will lead his people to glory (5). ‘6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.’ The Lord Jesus Christ is the church’s Provider and Protector, her strength and security for now and eternity.
To ponder! I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev.7:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 492
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 1 & Isaiah 5
The Song of Solomon is a joyous love song attributed to King Solomon and consists of a poetic exchange between the king and his bride which is analogous to Christ and his church (see Eph.5). It begins with the bride expressing her desire for the bridegroom. ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine… 4 Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers (3-4). Such is the desire for and the draw of Christ to his church which is evident to observers. The bride is of humble origin. She has developed a tan by working conscientiously in her family’s vineyard in the hot sun. She longs to visit the king and repose in his presence (5-7). The bridegroom calls her the most beautiful of women and he loves her dearly and desires that she follow the path to his presence (8-10). Others are preparing ornaments of gold, studded with silver in readiness for the couple’s encounter. She adorns herself with jewellery and precious fragrant perfumes. She happily sings, ‘My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi (14). While he responds, ‘Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves’ (15). She finds great pleasure in the company of her beloved and the rich provision he makes for her (16-17). And so, the church not only reciprocates the love of Christ, our Beloved, but basks in the riches of God’s grace which is uniquely found in King Jesus.
Isaiah 5 begins with a love song for the beloved’s vineyard. The beloved is God and the vineyard Israel in its totality. The prophet explains how God prepared and planted his vineyard with choice vines on a very fertile hill. He placed a watchtower amid it to protect his investment and dug a wine vat to collect the juice of the grapes. Whereas he looked for a good yield of grapes the vineyard only produced wild sour grapes. God therefore asks Jerusalem and Judah to judge. What more could he have done for them? And now he is going to ‘remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured. He will withhold his protection and it shall be ‘trampled down’. It will become a wasteland because it failed to produce good fruit. Isaiah writes, ‘For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry’ (7). There follows a series of woes against the covetous (8-10), the decadent, drunken, and godless (11-12). The proud will be brought low. The children of Israel will tragically be killed by their enemies and those that survive will be taken into captivity because of their rebellion and rejection of God and his ways (13-15). Nevertheless, Isaiah insists that ‘the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness’ (16). There will be woe therefore for the corrupt and callous, and to fraudsters and those that call evil good and good evil (17-20). Woes are similarly pronounced on the conceited and on intoxicated boasters, as well as on those that accepts brides and deprive the innocent of justice (21-23). They stand condemned and are ready for judgement because ‘they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel’ (24). They have incurred the righteous anger of God who will punish them by the hand of foreign invaders whom he likens to a lions with their prey (25-29). ‘They will growl over it on that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.’
To ponder! I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Bible Challenge: Day 493
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 2 & Isaiah 6
Song of Solomon begins with words often rightly placed in the mouth of Christ, ‘I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.’ He is altogether beautiful, pure, and fragrant in spiritual gifts and graces who declares his love for his church (2). She (the bride) in turn lovingly and joyously responds by extolling his exceptionalism and uniqueness (3). She declares, ‘He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love’ (4). She recounts his loving tenderness and embrace, reminding us of the special and intimate communion the church enjoys with God in Christ on whom we depend (5-6). She delights in his company and courtship and loves nothing better than to hear his voice (8-9). In a poetic pastoral scene she professes, ‘10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away… Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. ….let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely” (10-14). Nothing and no one will be permitted to stain or spoil their relationship (15). She is the voice of the true church which says, ‘My beloved is mine, and I am his’. He is with his bride for now and eternity (16-17).
Isaiah 6 depicts a vision of Christ enthroned in glory which the prophet received in the year that King Uzziah died, over 700 years before the only begotten Son of the Father took our nature to himself in the person of Jesus. His crown followed his cross and Isaiah beholds him sitting on a throne, high and lifted up (1). Here is the One who has all authority, in heaven and on earth. The train of his robe fills the Temple. The anointing flows from his head to all parts of the body and beyond! Above him are the heavenly and hierarchical angelic (spiritual) host depicted in the seraphim who exist to worship and serve him day and night. They look on in adulation, awe, and amazement, like the two depicted in gold relief atop the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. And they worshipfully declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” The foundations shook at his voice echoing God’s revelation on Mount Sinai which was but a type of the heavenly reality, and reminding us of the almightiness of the King of kings and Lord of lords (4). In such close proximity to the Light, Isaiah is struck by his sinfulness and unworthiness. ‘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 LORD of hosts!”’ Here is a man who in comparative terms is a good and holy man and we are here taught an invaluable lesson that the saints are sinners still this side of glory. Moreover, we are made clean (justified and sanctified) by the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God who was typified in the animals offered at the altar in the Old Testament period. And so, we read that ‘one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”’ The sacrifice of the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God propitiated God’s wrath against sin and made atonement bringing about reconciliation and redemption, and establishing a new relationship rooted and built up in love. Isaiah was therefore not condemned but cleansed and commissioned to serve the Lord and his church in the ministry of the word. Hence, Isaiah heard the Lord’s effectual call and positively responded, “Here I am! Send me” (. His commission was challenging one for he is made to understand that it is one of judgement against Israel for its apostasy and idolatry. The majority of those he will preach to will not believe and repent, yet a remnant will be preserved who are the true Israel of God whose mission will be for the blessing of the nations in the Great Commission (9-13).
To ponder! Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (Pro.29:18).
‘The foundation of all other graces is laid in humility. Those who would build high must begin low’ (Matthew Henry).
Bible Challenge: Day 494
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 3 & Isaiah 7
Song of Solomon 3 begins with the bride (the church) expressing her deep desire for her Beloved and seeking or earnestly searching for him (1-2). ‘I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not.’ With the assistance of watchmen (ministers of word and sacrament) she finds and clings to him. Christ is the object of the church’s love, and she is satisfied with nothing less than intimate communion with him (3-5). In the second half of this chapter, we encounter Solomon the King and Bridegroom who is representative of God’s Christ who was yet to come making his way up to Jerusalem with a retinue of mighty men, all wearing swords and expert in war (6-8). Again, here are foreshadowed those ministers of the word that skilfully use the sword of the Spirit and regularly engage in spiritual warfare. The King rides in splendour to his wedding day. His carriage is constructed of wood from Lebanon and is overlaid in gold, silver, and the finest purple fabrics depicting his royalty. And ‘its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.’ The King is a sight to behold and is met with many rejoicing onlookers. The daughters of Zion are called to ‘look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.’
Isaiah 7 records how in the reign of King Ahaz, Judah was attacked by the joint armies of Ephraim (the breakaway northern tribes that comprised Israel or Samaria) and Syria (1). When the king and people heard that Ephraim had entered into a coalition with Syria they feared the worst (2). God instructed Isaiah and his son to confront Ahaz at a designated place and tell him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah’ (3-4). God gave assurance to Judah through the voice of his prophet that their enemies would not succeed (5-6). For ‘thus says the Lord GOD: “‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.”’ Rather these nations will themselves be conquered within a few decades (8-9). He added, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” Again, God invited Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm that these things were true, but he refused to put God to the test (10-12). Isaiah added, ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel’ (13-14). Here is the true and ultimate hope of God’s people. Isaiah peers down the centuries to the birth of the Blessed Hope, Immanuel, who is God with us and for us always. Here is the Seed of woman first mentioned after the Fall in the Garden of Eden. He is the Hope of the Israel of God. And God will preserve his people Judah through whom God’s Christ will come. He will deny himself and choose to do good. He will do the will of his Father in heaven unlike the children of Israel who repeatedly failed to be faithful. And he will not only save his people, but he will unite them, bringing about everlasting harmony, holiness, and happiness (15-17). He will judge the nations, punishing and condemning the wicked, and will establish justice. He will provide an abundance of gifts and graces, and draw people to himself (18-25). However, in the meantime Judah must walk by faith, trusting in the promises of God and obeying his commandments.
To ponder! Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus (Mt.1:18-25). See also the genealogy of Jesus preceding this passage which includes Ahaz.
Bible Challenge: Day 495
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 4 & Isaiah 8
Song of Solomon 4 begins with the bridegroom (Christ) declaring his delight in the beauty of his bride (the church) and professing his love for her. ‘Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful!’ The poetic language which follows is pastoral and utilises familiar objects, like animals, fruits, and flowers by way of analogy and metaphor. Hence, he writes, ‘Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. …Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil’ (2-5). He longs to be united to her in whom he sees no flaw (6-8). His bride, the church, has been cleansed, justified, adorned and beautified with graces, and sanctified for her wedding day. She has not only won but she captivates the king’s heart (9). His love for her abounds and will abide always. ‘…How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! 11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon’ (10-11). He likens her to a beautifully maintained, cultivated, and watered garden and orchard that blossoms and blooms with the most delightful flowers, fruits, and spices (12-15). He declares his longing for her, ‘Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow’ (16).
Isaiah 8 records the imminent invasion of the Northern Kingdom (and Syria) which will be conquered by the Assyrians and its surviving citizens taken into captivity for their conspiracy against Judah and continuing faithlessness and folly. Isaiah will have a son who is to be named as a testimony against them. We read, ‘And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”’ The prophet declares that Assyria is the hand of God’s judgement upon the breakaway tribes for their defiance, rebellion, and idolatry. Consequently, they will be completely overwhelmed, defeated, and destroyed by the coming Assyrian armies (5-10). Even Judah will be impacted but she will foolishly celebrate and attribute her enemies’ calamity to her own prowess rather than to God’s powerful judgement. God, therefore, tells Isaiah, “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Isaiah is to communicate God’s word to the remnant who will continue to place their hope and trust in God. This is the remnant that will be preserved as proof of God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises. Isaiah must call backsliders who turn to mediums and necromancers rather than to God to faith and repentance. ‘To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.’ Those that continue in the way of defiance and deformation will suffer distress and darkness (16-22).
To ponder! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling (Ps.46:1-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 496
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 5 & Isaiah 9
Song of Solomon 5 continues with the bridegroom’s preparations for his wedding day with encouragement from others (1). His betrothed longs for him. He is ever present in her dreams. She hears her beloved at the door calling, “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.” Prepared to embrace him, she opens the door to discover he is not there. Deeply disappointed and anxious, she calls out to him but there is no response (3-6). Here is a picture of the Christian’s or church’s desire for and dependency on Christ but sometimes he appears absent or distant from our lives. It is then that we must call on him and seek him earnestly. The bride rushes through the streets after curfew and is accosted by the watchmen (7). Rather than assist they beat and bruise her but she is undeterred and interjects, “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.” Such is the longing soul for Christ. Others enquire why her beloved is so special and there follows her paeon of praise of him. Again, deploying common metaphors and similes she responds by explaining that he is distinguished above all others and altogether desirable (10-16). “This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” The church extols him who surpasses all others and has no problem pledging to love, cherish, and obey God’s Christ.
Isaiah 9 anticipates and announces the coming of God’s Christ. He is the Lord and Saviour of the true Israel of God. Isaiah prophesied that the people of Galilee would behold him in the flesh in the fulness of time (1). The Light of the world will shine on those that walked and dwelt in deep darkness (2). He is the spring of hope and joy. He is the object of faith and the source of fruitfulness (3). He is the Lord our Righteousness who will establish justice (4). There follows the great and familiar text which is regularly read during the Christian Season in particular. ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; (here is the only begotten Son who took our flesh and was born to the Virgin Mary) and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this’ (6-7). However, Isaiah continues to pronounce God’s judgement on the proud and arrogant inhabitants of Ephraim and Samaria. The Syrians and Philistines are going to devour Israel with open mouth for its defiance of God and his commandments (8-12). The people have wilfully neglected and rejected God’s merciful calls to repent. Their leaders, priests and prophets have followed in the culture of rebellion and defiance and led the people further astray. Tragically, all are now godless and evildoers and will no longer be shown compassion (13-17). They plot and conspire against one another. They are covetous and devour one another and are never satisfied or content. They have incurred God’s wrath which is his righteous indignation against evil (18-21).
To ponder! Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb.1:1-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 497
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 6 & Isaiah 10
In Song of Solomon 6 the betrothed (the church) is described as the most beautiful of women, adorned as she is with the fruits of the Spirit. She is asked where her Beloved is and offered help in finding him (1). She explains that her Beloved is in his garden which carries overtures of Paradise (2). Christ is after all the One who came into our world to undo the effects of the Fall and he will lead his people into the new heavens and new earth. She lovingly asserts, “I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies” (3). He similarly extols her beauty and declares that she is his first love which love is unbounded (4-10). Walking amid the blossoms and blooms of the orchards she spots the chariots of her prince. Her heart is aflame with desire for him which he reciprocates while onlookers call upon her (11-13).
Isaiah 10 begins with the Prophet Isaiah’s denunciation of the wicked. He pronounces woe upon the callous, covetous, and cruel that exploit the poor and vulnerable and denies them justice (1-4). God, speaking through his messenger, similarly declares woe on the godless Assyrians that are his judgement upon Ephraim and Syria for their attack on Judah and its capital Jerusalem (5-11). ‘When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes’ (12). Despite the proud boasts of the Assyrian king and his mighty warriors God will demonstrate that he is sovereign not them. ‘Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!’ (15). And so, God will punish and destroy them by sending a plague upon them for their wickedness (16-19). In those days, God will preserve and will restore a remnant of Jacob who will come to trust the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth (20-23). God bids his people, therefore, not to be afraid of the Assyrians. He will protect and preserve them. Isaiah proclaims, ‘Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One (33-34). History is His story.
To ponder! Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk.13:4-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 498
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 7 & Isaiah 11
Song of Solomon 7 begins with the bridegroom expressing his adoration for his bride as he beholds and lyrically describes her beauty by means of metaphor and simile (1-9). He is captivated by her charm and appearance (5) and declares, “How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights! Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters. I say I will climb the palm tree and lay hold of its fruit. Oh may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the scent of your breath like apples, 9 and your mouth like the best wine.” She reciprocates his love and responds, “It goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding over lips and teeth. 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me.” Here is anticipated and foreshadowed the mutual love between Christ and his bride, the church. She bids her beloved come away with her, depicting the church’s earnest desire and need of intimate communion with Christ (11-13).
Amid the pronouncements of woe and the call and affirmation that a remnant will repent and be preserved, Isaiah 11 provides assurance that God’s Christ will come in the fulness of time for the salvation of his people. A descendant of Jesse, he is not only David’s son but his Lord. The prophet declares, ‘There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.’ Here is Jesus Christ upon who the Spirit descended like a dove at his baptism in the Jordan River and the Father declared, “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” He will personally, perpetually, and perfectly trust and obey his Father. He will do his will fulfilling all righteousness as the second Adam. And he will judge all and establish perfect justice (3-4). Isaiah proclaims, ‘Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins’ (5). He shall undo the effects of the Fall and re-establish harmony, happiness, and peace (6-8). ‘They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea’ (9). All peoples, and nations, and tribes shall be drawn to him. One day every knee will bow, and tongue confess that he is Lord (10-11). He will gather and reunite the scattered and divided tribes of the Israel of God from all over the earth and judge and destroy all evil (12-16).
To ponder! After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands (Rev.7:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 499
Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 8 & Isaiah 12
Song of Solomon 8 marks the conclusion of Solomon’s love song regarding his bride which anticipates and foreshadows Christ’s love for his church. Like a duet, it begins with the bride again expressing her earnest desire and longing to be united with her beloved (1-2). She wants to introduce him to the house of her mother, possibly, hinting at the rejection of Jesus by many Jewish people in the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry but anticipating their later restoration and recovery in the fulness of time. The betrothed dreams of the day when ‘His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! (3). The words of others only stimulate and stir up the flame of her love and longing (4-5). She lovingly pleads, ‘Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised (6-7). Others cryptically intercede for the ‘little sister’ and the bride gives assurance of provision by her beloved (8-12). I’m not entirely sure if the little sister is the remnant of the Jews or a reference to the Gentiles but either way, we are taught there is plentiful provision for all that look to and trust in the Beloved (see Isa.55:1-3). The book ends with the words of the bridegroom saying, “O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it” (13) and the bride responding, replies, “Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices” (14).
Isaiah 12 is a paeon of praise that again anticipates the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the salvation that will be proclaimed throughout the earth in the Great Commission. On behalf of God, Isaiah declares, ‘You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me (1).” This is the day of grace the Apostle Paul writes of in 2 Corinthians 6. Isaiah then speaking for the true Israel of God, which is Christ’s church proclaims, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Salvation is all of grace. God saves his people in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). In that day the prophet says, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (3) again pointing to Christ who said to the woman of Samaria at the well, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn.4:14). In that day, the people of God will give thanks to the LORD for his steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. They will call upon and exalt his name and make his gospel known near and far (4). He bids the church to “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Praise God indeed. Now and forevermore.
To ponder! He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Rev.22:20-21).
I little verse I wrote on The Song of Solomon 8:6-7:
Set me as a seal upon your heart.
Now holding fast, never depart.
Love is eternal, stronger than death.
Bound close together, beyond our last breath.
Beauty like blossom upon the apple tree.
Birds fill the air with sweet melody.
Kisses seductive, red rich the wine.
Come now my darling, say you’ll be mine.
Jealousy as fierce, as hungry the grave.
Fanning the flames, passions enslaved.
Endless the waters that never will quench.
Nor deep the floods, can drown it or drench.
Beauty like blossom upon the apple tree.
Birds fill the air with sweet melody.
Kisses seductive, red rich the wine.
Come now my darling, say you’ll be mine.
For our love’s sake, there can be no trade.
No sum of gold could ever be weighed.
Power and fame can never hope to sway.
Nothing and no-one, can ever take away.
Beauty like blossom upon the apple tree.
Birds fill the air with sweet melody.
Kisses seductive, red rich the wine.
Come now my darling, say you’ll be mine.
Come now my sweetheart, until end of time. [WP]
Bible Challenge: Day 500
Bible Reading: Isaiah 13 & Hosea 1
In Isaiah 13 Isaiah prophesises God’s future judgement on the mighty empire of Babylon for their pride and resultant wickedness. This is the nation that would conquer Judah and capture and raise its capital, Jerusalem, to the ground, desecrating and destroying the Temple in the process. God has chosen the instruments of his judgement upon them, describing them as consecrated for this particular purpose. Hereby, God is reminding Isaiah’s generation and subsequent generations that he alone is truly almighty and sovereign. The LORD of hosts is mustering a host of nations for battle against Babylon. Providence directs and determines the direction of history. Babylon will not simply be defeated but will be destroyed (1-5). ‘Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!’ (6). People will be utterly dismayed and demoralised by the desolation and destruction that they will witness (7-9). The mighty will fall for their arrogance and immoral and evil actions (10-11). God says, “I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.” None will come to their aid. No one can stay God’s righteous anger against them (12-14). None will escape God’s judgement. Their children will not be spared and therefore there will be no future for further generations to enjoy. Their wives will be ravished and their wealth will be plundered by the invaders (15-18). ‘And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendour and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them’ (19). It will be left a wasteland (20-22).
Hosea 1 opens, ‘The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.’ The Prophet Hosea was therefore contemporaneous with Isaiah. God instructed him to take a wife, Gomer, who would commit adultery with various men. His children would similarly betray his trust. Therein they personified the children of Israel’s betrayal of and unfaithfulness to God (2-3). God told Hosea to call his first son, Jezreel, “for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” Similarly, he was to name his daughter, Lo-ruhama, because God was going to show no further mercy on the House of Israel for its wilful apostasy and idolatry (6). God would however show mercy and spare the southern kingdom of Judah (7). Another son was to be named, Lo-ammi, which means ‘Not My People’ to give expression to God’s rejection of that generation who had rejected him (8-9). And yet, there follows good news that God shall preserve a remnant from whom the number “of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” Hosea foretells a future glorious time when the children of Judah and Israel shall be reunited under a great leader, possibly anticipating and foretelling Christ.
To ponder! Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev.11:15).
Bible Challenge: Day 501
Bible Reading: Isaiah 14 & Hosea 2
Isaiah 14 begins with a prophecy of Israel’s future restoration. God is going to judge them, but he will show compassion again to a distant generation who will repossess the land and prosper therein (1-2). In that day they will remember and taunt the mighty Babylon whom the LORD made a desolation, making way for restoration, peace. and prosperity (3-6). Isaiah hence anticipates a time of rejoicing for the people of God at his deliverance and amazing grace (7-8). God has given them cause for joy in banishing the pride and pomp of Babylon (9-11). Isaiah likens Babylon to Lucifer, the Fallen Angel, better known as Satan. And states, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Just as pride was Satan’s undoing – he wanted to be equal with God or be God. God however exalts the humble and humbles the proud. Just as he expelled Lucifer from the heavenly realms and has prepared a pit of fire for his doom, so God will similarly bring down and destroy Babylon (15-21). ‘“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the LORD’ (22). The chapter concludes with two oracles, the first against Assyria and the other against Philistia who were enemies of God’s people. God is going to judge and punish these two mighty kingdoms. They like Babylon will also be brought down to destruction (24-31). Isaiah ends by asking, “What will one answer the messengers of the nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”
In Hosea 2 the prophet is commanded to call the children of Israel to remembrance not only of their awesome privileges but also of their responsibilities and duties to God and others. It is a call to repentance for God’s mercy to them for their spiritual adultery (1-3). Failure to hear and heed God’s word will leave them (personified in the adulterous wife) naked and exposed to God’s judgement. He will show no mercy to those that stubbornly persist in their apostasy and idolatry and rejection of God and his ways (4-6). He will withhold his blessing and bewilder Israel for pursuing false gods. ‘She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’ 8 And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. 9 Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her nakedness’ (7-9). They forgot God and now must face the consequences (10-13). Nevertheless, God will not forsake them forever but will preserve a remnant and prosper a future generation. 14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 15 And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt” (14-15). In that day the people will castaway their idols and return to God. They shall truly know him, and God will receive and bless them with righteousness, justice, steadfast love, and mercy (16-19). They shall be faithful and fruitful “And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” God restores health, harmony, and happiness by his grace, love, and mercy.
To ponder! And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Lk.5:31-32).
A great disaster had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn).
Bible Challenge: Day 502
Bible Reading: Isaiah 15 & Hosea 3
Isaiah 15 contains the prophet’s oracle of woe against the nation of Moab which lay to the east of Judah and the Dead Sea. The Bible traces Moab’s origins to the incestuous union between Lot and his eldest daughter after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (see Gen.19:30-38). Moab was regularly in conflict with the children of Israel despite their shared ancestry. The Prophet Isaiah foretells their unexpected destruction and resultant desolation (1-9). Many of their principal cities and religious sites will be laid waste in a night. Those that survive the invasion, shall weep, wail, and mourn their great loss. The people will be forced to flee into neighbouring countries seeking refuge. Isaiah states, ‘Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Brook of the Willows. 8 For a cry has gone around the land of Moab; her wailing reaches to Eglaim; her wailing reaches to Beer-elim. 9 For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; for I will bring upon Dibon even more, a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.’ Again, Isaiah notes the hand of God’s judgement in Moab’s collapse.
In Hosea 3 God instructs the prophet to redeem his wife, Gomer, who was living with another man in an adulterous relationship. Therein he is to personify and enact God’s steadfast love for the children of Israel and his faithfulness towards them who are guilty of spiritual adultery. They have forsaken the one, living, and true God for the idols of the surrounding nations. They have embraced the culture of the world and have abandoned the commandments of God. God, however, will redeem them and call them back to faith and repentance. And hence Hosea says to his wife, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” While the children of Israel will suffer want and woe for their folly, God will save them through David’s son and Lord, who will come in the fulness of time. He is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, and is the church’s wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. For, ‘Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.’
To ponder! The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself (2Tim.2:11-13).
Bible Challenge: Day 503
Bible Reading: Isaiah 16 & Hosea 4
Isaiah 16 continues the prophet’s oracle of woe against Moab. Moab will plead for help from and refuge in Judah from the cruel and callous hand of its Assyrian invaders and oppressors. However, Isaiah prophecies the only true hope for the nations who is David’s offspring, Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who will come in the fulness of time. His “throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” Moab will be punished for its sinful arrogance, conceitedness, defiance, and pride. Their foolish boasting and complacency has led to their downfall. They shall weep and mourn their great loss. All that they worked for will be destroyed and their land left desolate. Isaiah states, “And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting” (10). Her sacrifices and prayers for deliverance will go unanswered. The prophet, speaking on behalf of God, concludes his oracle by emphasising the closeness of Moab’s fall. “In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble.”
Hosea 4 is a denunciation of Israel’s spiritual adultery and immorality. Ungodliness and unrighteousness characterise a people who had been chosen and called to love God and their neighbour. They were to be a light to the nations, but darkness prevails on account of their defiance and degeneracy. Therefore, Hosea summons them, “Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” Deploying poetic language, the prophet tells the people that the land languishes and mourns on account of their folly. And tragically, her priests and prophets do not denounce the people’s sinfulness but are complicit in the deplorable situation. God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (5-6). God is therefore going to turn their glory to shame. He will withhold his restraining grace on his servants and their arrogance, ignorance, greed, and lust will mirror those around them “because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding” (7-11). They have embraced and established idols and offer sacrifice to false gods on the high places which has led the people further astray (12-13). Their rulers love shame and are locked into a downward spiral of wickedness. Consequently, they are bringing punishment and ruination upon themselves (14-19). “Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the LORD lives.”
To ponder! But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people (2Tim.3:1-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 504
Bible Reading: Isaiah 17 & Hosea 5
Isaiah 17 records the prophet’s prophecy of doom against the city-state of Damascus and her satellite habitations for their defiance of the true and living God and crimes against God’s people. “Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.” In that day, Israel too will be humbled but a remnant, preserved by God’s grace, will give hope of a fruitful revival (4-6). “In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel” (7). The people will turn away from the worship of false gods and idols and will be re-established in peace and prosperity. Their cities were left desolate because they had rejected and forgotten the God of their salvation and the Rock of their refuge (9-10). Their grandiose plans to build a civilisation without God has ushered their fall and destruction which will be sudden and decisive (11-13). “At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us” (14).
Hosea 5 provides a warning of imminent judgement upon Israel for its spiritual adultery. The prophet calls the leaders in church and state and all the people to listen carefully to God’s word. “Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king!
For the judgment is for you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor” (1). They have turned places and scenes formerly associated with great victories and blessings to their sin and shame. Verse 2 is probably a reference to child sacrifice practiced by surrounding nations in perverse religious rituals to their idols which Israel adopted! God is omniscient and has observed their apostasy and idolatry (3). “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD” (4). They are too proud to humble themselves and confess their sins to God and so shall stumble and fall. Judah shall follow in due time having failed to learn from the calamity that came upon Ephraim (5). God will withdraw his provision and protection from them because of their faithlessness (6-7). Hosea is sounding the alarm against Israel and Judah who have invoked the wrath of God (8-10). The prophet foretells Israel’s response in seeking help from abroad, but none shall be forthcoming until the day they repent (11-14). Nothing and no-one can stay God’s hand. God says, “I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.”
To ponder! if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2Chron.7:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 505
Bible Reading: Isaiah 18 & Hosea 6
Isaiah 18 contains an oracle concerning the land of Cush (Ethiopia) which was situated near the Red Sea. It appears to represent the powerful nations of the world. Cush traced its ancestry back to Ham, a son of Noah. Cush’s son was Nimrod who was renowned for his military might, and his descendants were similarly feared for their fighting qualities. Aware of and no doubt concerned about Assyrian aggression and expansion in the Middle East, Cush appears to have sent envoys to Jerusalem to ascertain the political and diplomatic situation (1-3). The sovereign God, however, tells Isaiah, “I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” God is not taken by surprise. He is calm and in control, and is ultimately working all things for the good of those that love him. He will judge the nations in his time (5-6). The chapter concludes anticipating a future day when the nations will bow before the LORD and pay tribute to him. ‘At that time tribute will be brought to the LORD of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the LORD of hosts’ (7).
Hosea 6 contains a wonderful invitation which is really an imperative to repent – to turn back to God and walk by faith. Hosea calls the people, “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up” (1). He gives an assurance, as God’s messenger, that God will revive the faithful. “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him” (2). He urges the Israel of God to seek the LORD who will bless them abundantly like spring rains that water the earth (3). The prophet reminds the Old Testament church that despite their unfaithfulness, God has not forsaken them but has sent them messengers to call them back to God and warn them of the consequences of their failure to believe and repent (4-5). God tells the people that their worship without faith and faithfulness is worthless and is a sham. ‘For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me’ (6-7). Tragically, a people that should have known and practised the law of love have rather given expression to the fallen nature and have sinned grievously (8-10). He concludes, however, “For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I restore the fortunes of my people” (11). God will revive the spiritually dead and restore the fortunes of his people.
To ponder! The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price (Rev.22:17).
Bible Challenge: Day 506
Bible Reading: Isaiah 19 & Hosea 7
Isaiah 19 provides an oracle of woe against Egypt. Once a dominant power in the region under the mighty Pharaohs, its power, prestige, and prosperity were on the wane and would be supplanted by other empires. In the providence of God, the nation would experience division and civil unrest before being conquered by a cruel and callous foreign ruler. And their religious priests, prophets, mediums, and the like will be dumbfounded and impotent to help (1-4). Not only will Egypt suffer environmental degradation when the Nile and its tributaries are impacted by pollution and drought but her fishing and manufacturing capacity will greatly diminish, leaving her fishermen and weavers mourning their loss (5-10). Her foolish princes and their spiritual advisors will be left dazed and confused by the calamitous turn of events (11-15). In that day, Egypt will fear Judah and will swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. An altar will be set up among them and they will cry to God for deliverance, and he will send them a Saviour and Defender. Peace and harmonious relations and communication will be established between the former enemies, Egypt and Assyria, who will worship together (16-23). In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance” (24-25).
Hosea 7 contains God’s condemnation of the wickedness of the Northern nation of Israel that went by the name of Ephraim and had its capital at Samaria. The people have foolishly forsaken God and his ways. “But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face” (2). They are locked into a downward spiral of sinfulness. They stoke the flames of wickedness and like drunkards are oblivious to the evil they scheme, say, and do (3-6). God declares, “All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen, and none of them calls upon me.” Rather than remain faithful to God and their distinct calling and responsibilities, they willingly embraced the false gods and culture of the world around them in a stupefying expression of self-harm! (8-9). And pride prevents them from confessing their sin and turning back to God seeking his mercy and grace (10). Rather, they turn to the seemingly powerful surrounding nations of Assyria and Egypt (11). God is about to judge them for their apostasy and wilful defiance and rebellion (12-14). “Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me. They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow;
their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.”
To ponder! “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God[a] that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,[b] then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deut.30:15-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 507
Bible Reading: Isaiah 20 & Hosea 8
Isaiah 20 records a sign given via Isaiah to affirm not only the prophecy against Egypt and Cush but the imminence of their subjugation and enslavement. When the army commander of Assyria captured Ashdod, God instructed Isaiah, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet.” Isaiah complied and went about barefoot and naked. ‘Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.’ The nations that feared Assyrian aggression and conquest and who consequently put their hope and trust in Egypt and Cush to protect them will be utterly dismayed and dispirited and will be left asking, “And we, how shall we escape”.
In Hosea 8 the prophet is to declare the coming judgement upon Israel for its transgressions and rebellion again God and his covenant. They have foolishly spurned his overtures of grace and mercy and must now face the consequences of their wicked choices (1-3). Israel has forsaken God and his ways and has turned to spiritual adultery and idolatry (4-6). They have sowed the wind and now must reap the whirlwind. They are faithless and fruitless (7-8). They have foolishly turned to Assyria to make a diplomatic, political, and military alliance rather than trusting in the LORD’s protection and provision (9-10). They have corrupted the worship of God as revealed in his word and made it worthless (11-13). ‘Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt’ (bondage or slavery). God through Hosea sums up the cause of Israel’s perilous state, ‘For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.’
To ponder! Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’ (Jer.6:16).
Bible Challenge: Day 508
Bible Reading: Isaiah 21 & Hosea 9
Isaiah 21 contains an oracle or prophecy of doom against the mighty empire of Babylon which in the New Testament acts as a metaphor for the fallen world opposed to God. In the providence of God, he will judge Babylon for her sins. All are ultimately accountable to God and will be judged by him. She will be a victim to traitors within and enemies without who will attack with the suddenness and ferocity of a whirlwind. God’s word is reminding us of the fickleness and unreliability of human alliances and pledges of loyalty. As the psalmist makes clear at the heart of the Bible, ‘It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes’ (Ps.118:8-9). Babylon’s fall, like Assyria’s before it or Rome’s centuries later will cause great consternation, shock, and horror. The watchman will herald the words, ‘“Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.” 10 O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.’ Edom and Arabia will also suffer the consequences of the seismic upheaval. Darkness will prevail over the land of Edom which will long for the morning light. And refugees will seek help even in the desert places. Arabia’s trade routes will be badly affected, and her military strength will be depleted. In other words, the ramifications will be significant and will last for some time. The people of God, however, although ‘threshed and winnowed’ must walk by faith trusting in the promises of God.
Hosea 9 continues the theme of God’s judgement upon Israel for her spiritual adultery. The prophecy begins, ‘Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God. You have loved a prostitute's wages on all threshing floors.’ God will withdraw his rich provision and protection and the people of the Northern Kingdom will be prey to their enemies who will conquer and enslave them and forcibly take them into captivity (2-3). God will ignore their cries for deliverance as they have repeatedly rejected his commands to repent (4). Their cultic feasts will end, and their land will be left a desolation (5-6). ‘The days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred’ (7). They have corrupted God’s worship and have forsaken his word and have given expression to the fallen nature or the poisonous or rotten fruits of the flesh (8-9). They have coveted and emulated the ways of the world and thus shown themselves faithless (10). Despite their good heritage they have rejected their glorious inheritance and shall be left barren (11-14). Israel has forgotten its call and purpose. God had chosen them and had rescued them from slavery. He had led them through the wilderness of their own disbelief and folly to the Promised Land. They had crossed the Jordan and set up a memorial at Gilgal to remind them of what God had done for them and had called them to be but alas they have abandoned him and adopted gods of their own fancy. Hosea therefore declares, ‘My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations’ (17).
To ponder! Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (Jn.15:4-7).
Bible Challenge: Day 509
Bible Reading: Isaiah 22 & Hosea 10
Isaiah 22 records an oracle concerning Jerusalem. Isaiah is given a vision of the defeat and destruction that will be visited upon the Holy City. And contrasts his foreboding and grief with the people’s ignorance and self-indulgence (1-4). He declares, ‘For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision, a battering down of walls and a shouting to the mountains’ (5). Isaiah foresees enemy armies besieging and breaching Jerusalem and wreaking destruction upon the city (6-11). He laments their disregard for and defiance of God (11b). They had ignored and rejected God’s calls to repent and had given themselves over to worldly pleasures rather than a penitent spirit and piety (12-13). They had lived in the moment and had adopted the viewpoint which said, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” And therefore, the prophet writes, ‘The LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,” says the Lord GOD of hosts’ (14). In the remainder of the chapter (15-25), Isaiah personifies the cause of Jerusalem’s future fall in the example of two individuals. Shebna means ‘worthless’ and he exemplifies the folly that characterised Jerusalem and Judah in that day! The highest offices in the nation (or Old Testament church) will be occupied by corrupt, self-centred, and wicked men who will only lead others astray. As Solomon reminds us in the Book of Proverbs, ‘When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan’ (Pro.29:2) and ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Pro.14:34). Shebna brings judgement upon himself and other and is replaced by Eliakim who while a worthy man is nevertheless inadequate for the task at hand and therefore unable to bring about the required reformation. He is given authority in and over the House of David. God declares, “And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honour to his father's house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honour of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 25 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken” (23-25).
Hosea 10 continues the theme of Israel’s imminent fall. Despite its rebellion, the nation has prospered materially but it has used its wealth to indulge in spiritual adultery and idolatry (1). God therefore pronounces, ‘Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and destroy their pillars’ (2). They have no fear of God but have shown themselves to be contemptuous of his word and ways. They have devised their own syncretic systems of worship by the collusion and compliance of their leaders and priests. Their pledges are empty and their idols are an affront to God (3-5). Israel (Ephraim) will be conquered and taken into captivity by the Assyrians in judgement for their rebellion against God (6). Their kings will perish, and their nation will be left a wasteland of thorns and thistles reminding us of the Fall and hence of the consequences of sin (Gen.3:18). They will call for deliverance and refuge, but none will be found in that terrible day (7-10). God had blessed his people and had called them to be faithful and fruitful. He had looked for righteousness and steadfast love but alas they have ploughed iniquity and reaped injustice and have eaten the fruit of lies (11-13). They abandoned faith in God and reliance on his grace and replaced these with self-confidence based on their wealth and military prowess and strength (14). And now they must suffer the grave consequences of their folly. ‘Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great evil. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off’ (15).
To ponder! “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deu.30:15-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 510
Bible Reading: Isaiah 23 & Hosea 11
Isaiah 23 records an oracle of doom against the former Canaanite coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon which were part of Phoenicia. They will not escape Assyrian aggression and expansion. These port cities had prospered greatly through their large merchant fleet of ships. They carried goods all over the Mediterranean world and regional economies were dependent on their trade. However, their destruction will be sudden and unexpected and will produce a tsunami of shock and grief that will reach Cyprus, Egypt, and far off Tarshish – located in modern-day Spain (1-7). Isaiah asks, “Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honoured of the earth?” And he provides the answer: “The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonour all the honoured of the earth” (9). God’s judgement on Canaan may have been delayed but it was not forgotten! (10-12. See also Deut.20:16-18). The fall of these great trading ports will nevertheless provide an opportunity for others like Tarshish to develop and expand their own shipping and prosper thereby. As one kingdom falls another rises. Nevertheless, the prophet foretells Tyre’s future recovery when she shall serve the Lord and his people (13-17). Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD (18).
Hosea 11 articulates God’s great love for Israel. Hosea writes, ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.’ God nursed and nourished them. He healed them and showed great care and compassion. He drew and led them with cords of kindness and love (3-4). But alas, they defied and rejected God and his law of love and wilfully embraced apostasy and idolatry instead. Consequently, they will be conquered by Assyria having forsaken God’s gracious provision and protection (5-7). God asks, “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?” Unlike Admah and Zeboiim, which cities were completely and utterly destroyed, God is graciously going to preserve a remnant for his love’s sake (8-9). And one day he will restore them to fellowship and faithfulness (10-11). The chapter concludes with God declaring that “Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.” Judah and Jerusalem would be spared the coming judgement at the hands of Assyria.
To ponder! “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you (Lk.10:13-14).
Bible Challenge: Day 511
Bible Reading: Isaiah 24 & Hosea 12
Isaiah 24 pronounces a day of judgement upon the whole earth. ‘Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants’ (1). Priests and people, rich and poor, employer and employee, men and women will alike be judged irrespective of ethnic, social, political, or religious status, and the earth will be left desolate (2-3). Deploying poetic language, the prophet describes how the earth weeps and mourns on account of man’s faithlessness and sinfulness. The people have transgressed God’s law, violated his statutes, and broken his everlasting covenant (4-5). They are consequently under a curse and have brought misery and destruction upon themselves (6-9). Scarcity, suffering, and ruination mark their folly (10-13). And yet, God’s people, the redeemed, will sing for joy in that day and attribute glory to the Righteous One who is the Judge and who has saved them for a new heavens and new earth (14-16). Isaiah nevertheless laments the betrayal and treachery that characterise the fallen world around him (16b). However, the wicked will not escape the Judgement. Like drunkards they will stagger and stumble into the pit of doom (17-20). In apocalyptic style, the prophet concludes the chapter, ‘On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. 22 They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders’ (21-23). All wrongs will be righted. And justice, peace and joy will be established forever.
Hosea 12 records God indictment agasinst Israel and Judah. Ephraim has foolishly forsaken the LORD and his ways and has sought the protection and prosperity of the world by making alliances and trade agreements with its powerful neighbours, Assyria and Egypt (1). Judah too has strayed from God’s path despite its pledges of love and loyalty (2-5). “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” God chose and called his people to keep his commandments. He has shown them his glorious grace, measureless mercy, and limitless love but alas they have become blind to their own sin. They are conceited and defiant. And yet God takes note and has sent them prophets to call and command them to repent and believe repeatedly (7-9). They have forgotten and forsaken their remarkable heritage and wonderful inheritance. Like Esau they have sold their souls to satisfy their bellies. They need to remember God their deliverer and saviour (10-12). ‘By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds’ (13-14). Judgement is coming upon Israel (Ephraim) for its wilful refusal to repent.
To ponder! If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1John 1:8-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 512
Bible Reading: Isaiah 25 & Hosea 13
Isaiah 25 contains the prophet’s paeon of praise to God. He begins, ‘O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure’ (1). He praises God’s sovereign implementation of justice, his preservation of a remnant, and the restoration of his people which God will bring to fruition and fulfilment in the fulness of time (2-3). Isaiah rejoices in God who is the Rock and Refuge of his church. He defends and delivers his people and subdues their enemies (4-5). Isaiah reveals that ‘On this mountain [Mt Zion] the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined’ (6). God will remove the veil of ignorance that characterised the nations that knew him not (7). He will destroy death, our greatest enemy, and there will be no more suffering and tears (. ‘It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (9). God will destroy the enemies of the Israel of God represented by the proud nation of Moab and will dwell with his people forevermore (10-12).
Hosea 13 continues to lament Ephraim’s arrogance and idolatry. Turning their backs on God they brought up about their own downfall and spiritual death (1). And rather than repent sinned with wanton abandon in a degenerate spiral that even included human sacrifice (2). Therefore, the destruction will be sudden and unexpected (3). For they have forsaken the one, living, and true God who was their Deliverer and Saviour (4). God had provided for them in the wilderness and had led them to a land flowing with milk and honey where they flourished. However, in their prosperity and comfort they forgot God, became proud and embraced false gods (5-6). And so, God is about to suddenly judge them and destroy the nation for its wickedness (7-9). Their indigenous dynasties and rulers are impotent and cannot stay God’s hand (10-11). Ephraim in its wilful refusal to turn from its sin and be healed and restored to fellowship with God is likened to a baby that refuses to be born (12-13). While God will preserve a remnant so that Israel is not given over entirely to death, that generation will face his wrath via the instrumentality of cruel and callous Assyrian aggression, conquest, and subsequent captivity (14-16).
To ponder! When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor.15:54-57).
Bible Challenge: Day 513
Bible Reading: Isaiah 26 & Hosea 14
Isaiah 26 anticipates a song of joy for the children of God represented by Judah and Jerusalem its capital. God saves his people reminding the reader that salvation is of grace. His church will be known for its faithfulness and fruitfulness. They enjoy righteousness, joy, and peace. The prophet praying to God says, ‘You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you’ (4). Isaiah therefore urges the people, ‘Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock’ (5). God will abase the proud and exalt the humble. He will establish lasting justice and make provision for his people (5-7). The church therefore places its faith and hope in the LORD. It anchors itself to the Rock of Ages and finds sanctuary in his promises. God’s people delight in and desire communion with him (8-9). They say along with the psalmist, ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever’ (Ps.73:25-26). Tragically, and by contrast, the wicked spurn and abuse God’s grace and mercy. They have little comprehension of and no yearning for God. Too late will they learn their folly (10-11). Despite the apparent success of the wicked in the world, Isaiah remembers God’s goodness and believes in his promise of a wonderful future and a blessed hope (12-13). He foretells the destruction of the haughty and evil and the revival and restoration of God’s people who nevertheless will suffer like a woman giving birth before they are born again (14-18). Anticipating Ezekiel’s later vision of dry bones (Eze.37), the church of God will arise and sing for joy to God for his grace and glory (19). The prophet bids the church to persevere and wait patiently for justice and everlasting joy (20-21).
Hosea 14 is a final call to Israel to repent. ‘Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.’ On God’s behalf, the prophet urges the people to forsake their spiritual adultery in the form of apostasy and idolatry, confess their sins to God, and seek his forgiveness (2). They must trust in God rather than man and false gods (3). If they turn to God in sincerity, in love he will turn away his anger from them. He will heal them and restore health, harmony, and lasting happiness (4). He will bless them and beautify them with his graces, and they will blossom, flourish, and be fruitful (5-7). God asks, ‘O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. 9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.’ Lamentably, the Israel of Hosea’s day failed to hear and heed God’s overtures of grace and mercy and suffered the consequences. Let the church similarly listen and learn well the lesson that is taught us in this prophecy. Let us exercise faith in Christ and repentance towards God now and always.
To ponder! You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 514
Bible Reading: Isaiah 27 & Joel 1
Isaiah 27 continues the theme of Israel’s future redemption by God’s grace and mercy in the Day of the Lord. Deploying symbolic language, the prophet reveals that God will judge and destroy the powers of darkness (1). Given the Fall led to paradise lost, he will re-establish it to dwell in loving fellowship with his people. He will re-plant his vineyard (chapter 5), water and keep it always. His church will rejoice in him and enjoy his peace (2-5). The Israel of God shall be faithful and fruitful and will flourish in the new creation (6). They have suffered for their sins, but God will redeem them and remove their guilt (7- 9). Whereas their enemies will suffer desolation and destruction (10-11), the Israel of God will enjoy peace and plenty (12). ‘And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.’ God will recover and restore the fortunes of his people reminding us that salvation is of grace – ‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense’.
Joel 1 is a call to repentance and faith. While little is known about the prophet, he proclaimed God’s word to Judah and Jerusalem. He foresees in the destruction and desolation of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the coming Day of the Lord when God would judge and condemn the unrepentant throughout the world, including the visible church. Joel calls the leaders and people alike to hear and heed God’s revelation. Moreover, he demands that they not only take it to heart but that they teach it to their children and future generations (1-3). Deploying the imagery of a plague of locusts, he describes the desolation that is left after they have passed through the land (4). Likening the people to drunkards whose sense and sensibility has been dulled and deadened by the effects of alcohol, he urges the church to awaken and pay close attention (5-7). He calls the priests and people alike to lament the great loss. The land that once flowed with milk and honey is now a wasteland (8-11). They abandoned the faith, and their fecundity was lost as God withdrew his provision and protection as we have seen elsewhere. And now Judah has failed to learn the lesson and is following in Israel’s footsteps.
Joel, therefore, calls the people to mourn and fast. The elders must call a solemn assembly at the House of the LORD and cry to God for grace and mercy (13-14). He declares, “Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes” (15). Already, they are suffering drought and dearth. The pastures are withering, and the livestock are emaciated. Their food supplies are diminished and drying up and joy and gladness no longer characterise their worship (16-20). They must turn to God in faith, hope, and love.
To ponder! When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD (PS.107:39-43).
Bible Challenge: Day 515
Bible Reading: Isaiah 28 & Joel 2:1-17
Isaiah 28 provides a stark warning to the self-centred, self-assured, and self-indulgent among the leaders and people of Israel and Assyria. They are drunk on their own pride, but their crown and beauty will soon fall and fade (1-4). The prophet declares, “In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people, 6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” But the apostate prophets and priests like drunkards will stagger and stumble. Their words will be worthless and are likened to vile vomit. Such is their sceptical and scornful disdain of God’s word (7-8). Isaiah asks, “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? 10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (9-10). Lamentably, the people rejected God’s word and now will be spoken to in the callous and cruel tones of the invaders who will be God’s instrument of judgement upon Ephraim (11-13). From verse 14 Isaiah addresses Jerusalem whose inhabitants are little better than their northern compatriots. They made a covenant of death, turning to Egypt to save them from Assyria rather than trusting in God. Their leaders similarly scoff at God’s revelation and take refuge in falsehood and lies. God, anticipating the ministry and mission of his Christ, says to them, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste” (16). God will judge and condemn Jerusalem for its wickedness. Like the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ in the days of his earthly ministry her people placed their trust in their Abrahamic heritage rather than the God of grace! Jerusalem and Judah must therefore repent lest they be destroyed by the LORD God of hosts when he comes in judgement (17-22). The prophet bids his hearers and readers to take heed of his warning. However, and for the sake of the remnant and the glory of his grace, God, like a farmer that prepares, cultivates, and plants in season, will sovereignly work all things for the good of those that love him (23-28). Isaiah concludes the chapter: ‘This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom’ (29).
Joel 2:1-17 continues the theme of the ‘Day of the Lord’, and begins, ‘Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near’ (1). It is a Day of Judgement and anticipate the Final Judgement. It has no parallels. It is a day of impenetrable darkness for the wicked. God’s righteous wrath will consume all evil. His enemies will amass before him, but they will be destroyed (2-5). The wicked will be struck with anguish and terror before the Lord of hosts who is likened to a conquering army. There will be no escaping his justice (6-9). Deploying apocalyptic language, the prophet highlights the seismic and revolutionary nature of the event, and declares, ‘The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 11 The LORD, utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?’ Therefore, in his amazing grace and mercy, God calls the people to repent - “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Joel pleads with the Old Testament church to turn back to their God for he is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. They must place their faith and hope in him before it is too late (13-14). He urges all his fellow Judeans to consecrate a fast and call a solemn assembly in Jerusalem (15-16). He instructs the priests and ministers to earnestly cry to God, saying, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
To ponder! I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live (Deut.30:19).
Bible Challenge: Day 516
Bible Reading: Isaiah 29 & Joel 2:18-32
Isaiah 29 foretells the siege and fall of Jerusalem. The city captured and made the capital of Judah and Israel by King David will be surrounded and destroyed by foreign armies that will be God’s judgement upon the people for their unfaithfulness and sinfulness (1-4). Their appearance will be sudden, unexpected, shocking, and devastatingly destructive (5-8). Yet, Jerusalem and Judah have been complacent in their sin and oblivious to the consequent damage and danger they would reap. Therefore, the prophet declares, “Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! Be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not with strong drink! 10 For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers) (9-10). [Read again Isaiah’s call and commission in chapter 6:8-13]. The people have little appetite for God’s word and in their spiritual slumbers cannot comprehend its teaching. It has become a closed book to them (11-12). ‘And the Lord says: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men’ (13). Yet, God will do wonders before them that will confound their wise men whose discernment will fail them (14). Their own wisdom has led them astray from knowledge of God and his ways, but the ears of the deaf shall yet hear and the eyes of the blind will be opened by God’s grace (15-18). ‘The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor [in spirit] among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.’ By contrast, the wicked and faithless will be cut off (20-21). God will redeem the remnant who will sanctify his name, who is the ‘Holy One of Israel’. They will stand in awe of the God of Israel (23). “And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction” (24).
Joel 2:18-32 records God’s compassion towards his people. ‘Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people’ (18). He made rich provision for them and promised to remove their reproach among the nations (19). He would banish their enemies from their land (20). Joel therefore joyously declares, “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! (21). He will shower upon his church abundant blessing, and they shall be faithful and fruitful. He will graciously restore their provision, protection, and prosperity (22-25). They shall eat and be satisfied. And they shall praise the LORD their God for his goodness to them. They shall never again be put to shame. God says to his people, “You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame” (27). Anticipating the New Covenant era, God promises to pour out his Spirit on all flesh and declares, “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (28-29). Again, using apocalyptic language (writing in word pictures), emphasis is given to the seismic nature of the resultant upheaval and transformation that will follow (30-31). ‘And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls’ (32). The Lord will save, build, and bless his church.
To ponder! But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel (Acts 2:14-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 517
Bible Reading: Isaiah 30 & Joel 3
In Isaiah 30, God, through the prophet, admonishes Judah and Jerusalem for their stubborn and stupid neglect of God. They have made alliances and have acted without seeking God’s will and approval and have been negligent of his word. They have foolishly turned to Egypt rather than the LORD for provision and protection (1-5). Therefore, the chapter begins, “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin (1). And the opening paragraph concludes, ‘everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.” Just as God condemned the spiritual adultery and faithlessness of Israel through Hosea, so an oracle is similarly spoken and pronounced against Judah (6-7). God instructs Isaiah to record the rebellious nature of the children of Judah (8-11). God will suddenly bring judgement upon them for their oppression, perverseness, and iniquity (12-14). Many will tragically be condemned because of their own folly in neglecting and rejecting not only God’s law of love but also his amazing grace and mercy (15-17). ‘For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling’ (15). Nevertheless, God will preserve a remnant who repent and turn to him in faith whom he will restore in the fulness of time. The prophet reminds his hearers and readers that blessed are those who anchor their souls on the promises of God and patiently wait on him who is ever gracious and merciful (18). God will be their guide. He will show them the Way who is also the Truth and the Life and wipe away all tears from their eyes. They have not only a wonderful heritage but an even more glorious inheritance whose hope is fixed on the LORD (19-26). Their enemies, who are also God’s enemies, will be destroyed (27-28). God’s judgement upon Assyria anticipates and foreshadows the Day of the Lord when he will judge the world in righteousness and lead his people in joyful procession into everlasting peace and joy (29-33).
Given today’s reading in Isaiah 30, Joel 3 appropriately focusses on the restoration of God’s favour upon Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, which acts as a type of the entire church (1). In that day he will gather the Israel of God to himself and re-establish harmony and unity in holy communion. And he will judge the church’s enemies (2-3). He will condemn those that persecuted and enslaved his people and who robbed and desecrated the things of God (4-8). His enemies will marshal their forces against him but will be decisively destroyed by his righteous wrath and judgement. It is the Day of the Lord, a day of judgement (9-15). The prophet declares, ‘Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great’ (13). Yet God will not only destroy the wicked, but he will also be the rock and refuge of his church. ‘The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel’ (16). In that day every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. God will dwell with his people who will enjoy everlasting provision, peace, and happiness whose enemies shall be no more (17-21). Paradise will be restored forever. Praise God for his amazing grace.
To ponder! Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom.12:19). “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Mt.24:29-31).
Bible Challenge: Day 518
Bible Reading: Isaiah 31 & Amos 1-2:1-3
Isaiah 31 is a pronouncement of doom on those that trusted in Egyptian political, economic, and military strength rather than the Sovereign Lord. The prophet begins, ‘Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!’ (1). Judah and Jerusalem have forgotten and rejected God and is word. They have ignored the words of the psalmist who stated, ‘It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes’ (Ps.118:8-9). ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright’ (Ps.20:7-8). The prophet reminds the people that God is almighty whereas man is not. Moreover, he makes clear that the wicked will perish who continue unrepentant (2-3). God is undaunted and undeterred by man’s bravado and folly (4). And he will protect, deliver, and save his church (5). Isaiah urges the people to repent. He cries, ‘Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel’ (6). He makes abundantly clear that their idols are useless and are affront to God, but they will be cast away when God judges the wicked (7-9).
Amos 1 introduces the prophet who was a shepherd from Tekoa which was located south of Jerusalem not far from Bethlehem. He lived during the respective reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and Benjamin with Jerusalem as his capital and King Jeroboam II who ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel (1). He was therefore contemporaneous with Isaiah. He prophesied in a day of political stability and prosperity, but the people of God had become complacent and corrupt before the LORD. Idolatry, injustice, and iniquity were endemic and therefore God sent Amos to call his people to repentance and faith. The first chapter nevertheless begins the prophecy with Amos pronouncing God’s judgement upon the enemies of the children of Israel. God was going to visit the mighty city-states of Damascus (2-5), Gaza (6-8), and Tyre (9-10), as well as the nations of Edom (11-12), Ammon (13-15), and Moab (2:1-3), and bring destruction upon them for their cruel and callous treatment of his people. Their rulers will be killed, their citizens will be forced into exile, and their wealth will be plundered. As an aside it is worth remembering that chapter and verse divisions were not part of the original scriptures and that is why I’m including the first three verses of chapter two with my summary of chapter 1. We can but imagine the initial relief and rejoicing of the people as they heard Amos’ prophecy concerning the coming woes upon their enemies, but the prophet is not finished and he will soon wipe the smile off their smug faces. He is about to denounce Judah and Israel for their sin and announce God’s coming judgement upon them.
To ponder! There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk.13:1-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 519
Bible Reading: Isaiah 32 & Amos 2:4-16
Isaiah 32 foretells the coming reign of Christ, the King of Righteousness, and his representatives in the church who will uphold perfect justice on his behalf (1). He is the salvation and sanctuary of his people and is coming to re-establish God’s law of love. He will judge the wicked and provide for the poor in spirit. In that day every knee will bow, and tongue confess that he is Lord. There will be abundant provision for all. In those days, ‘The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honourable’ (5). The ungodly schemes of the wicked and their devices of evil will be negated and nullified (6-7). ‘But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands’ (. Isaiah then turns back to the present and urges the people to hear and heed him and repent. He confronts their carelessness and complacency and bids them weep and mourn for their faithlessness. Judgement is coming upon them. They have forsaken God whose grace was the spring and source of their productivity and prosperity. Their fields and vineyards will become barren and overgrown with thorns and thistles, a sign of their fall, and their cities and towns will be left deserted (9-13). ‘For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest’ (14-15). Isaiah not only prophesises judgement, but he foretells the church’s revival after God pours out his Spirit upon his people. This will mark their rebirth in the New Covenant age. ‘Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places’ (16-18). Nevertheless, before the coming of God’s Christ (Messiah) their enemies, here likened to a forest, will be cut down and the Holy City will be humbled. God in his amazing grace will preserve a remnant (19-20).
After prophesying judgement upon the enemies of Judah and Israel, in Amos 2 the prophet foretells similar judgement upon the people of God. Firstly, he addresses Judah and its capital Jerusalem and tells them that God will punish them for their faithlessness. Fiery judgement is coming upon them because they ‘have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked’ (4-5). Amos then turns to Israel and tells them that God is going to punish them for their greed and social injustice and immorality (6-8). God had delivered them from the hands of the Amorites and provided them with a land of milk and honey. He had saved them from slavery in Egypt and made provision for them in the wilderness but alas they are ungrateful. Israel has forgotten and forsaken their God. God mercifully sent them Nazarites and prophets to call them back through faith and repentance, but they would not hear and heed them (11-12). Therefore, the day of grace is going to turn to a day of judgement. ‘“Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. 14 Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; 15 he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; 16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” declares the LORD’ (13-16).
To ponder! For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1Pt.3:10-12).
Bible Challenge: Day 520
Bible Reading: Isaiah 33 & Amos 3
Isaiah 33 begins with the prophet addressing Assyria, Israel’s enemy, and destroyer. It too will be destroyed! (1). He cries to God to show grace and mercy to the people of God. ‘O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble’ (2). He praises God’s awesome power and sovereignty (3-4). And adds, ‘The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, 6 and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure’ (5-6). Isaiah foretells of a day when their mighty warriors will be slain, peace envoys will weep and wail, and alliances and agreements will be shown to be meaningless (7-9). All because Israel forgot and forsook their God and trusted instead in their own notions and guile. They have brought judgement upon themselves (10-12). Sinners will be struck with fear, and the nations near and far will marvel (13-14). The prophet asks who can stand before the God of Israel and makes it clear that only the righteous and upright can do so (15). These are those that walk by faith and practice repentance. They look to King Christ as the Author and Finisher of their faith and his kingdom to come, and find protection and provision in God, their Rock and Refuge (16-19). They will enter the City of Peace and plenty. Love will compel them to keep God’s commandments and they will forever pay homage to their Saviour-King who will judge the world in perfect righteousness (20-22). The faithful and repentant will then dwell safe, secure, and satisfied (23-24).
In Amos 3 the prophet confronts Israel with its guiltiness before God. Despite their awesome privileges as God’s chosen people, they have turned their backs upon him and given themselves over to sinfulness (1-2). Amos wants them to understand the grave consequences of their ungodly and immoral actions (3-6). The trumpet like an alarm is being blown as a warning of imminent judgement from God unless they repent. “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (7-8). Their enemies will observe and be astonished at their fall which is the result of their wicked wrong doings (9-10). Therefore, an adversary (Assyria) will conquer and plunder their land (11). Their places of worship (idolatry) and palaces of opulence will be utterly destroyed, but God will preserve a faithful remnant (12-15).
To ponder! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (Jn.3:16-17).
Bible Challenge: Day 521
Bible Reading: Isaiah 34 & Amos 4
In Isaiah 34 the prophet calls the nations to take heed of the Day of Judgement. God will condemn the faithless and unrepentant and destroy all that is wicked and evil (1-4). Therefore, Isaiah urges all to ‘Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it.’ It will be a day of seismic upheaval and transformation when God’s enemies both spiritual and temporal will be destroyed. And it will usher in the final eternal state. Utilising the example or symbol of Edom and its fall as a type for all the nations that stand in opposition to God and his people, the prophet foretells the fearful sword of justice that will consume the unjust and malicious (5-7). ‘For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion’ (. Edom shall perish and be made a wasteland (9-12). It shall become a wilderness for wild animals and birds (13-15). Hence, Isaiah concludes, ‘Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them; his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; they shall possess it forever; from generation to generation they shall dwell in it’ (16-17). God is sovereign. He knows the end from the beginning and will bring his plans and purposes to fruition.
In Amos 4 the prophet continues to warn Israel of the near judgement that is coming upon them for their idolatry, greed, indifference, and immorality (1). The Northern Kingdom of Israel will be conquered, and her people taken away into captivity because they have forsaken God and failed to keep his covenant. The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks. 3 And you shall go out through the breaches, each one straight ahead; and you shall be cast out into Harmon,” declares the LORD’ (2-3). Their idolatrous worship at Gilgal and Bethel with its freewill offerings and professions of love are only an affront and abomination to God who has told them how he will be worshipped in the Book of the Law which they are ignoring (4-5). God has sent them signs of his displeasure, granting them ample opportunity to repent and return to him and his ways but hardships, drought, bad harvests, disease, nor gracious deliverances have awakened them from their sinful folly and stupor (6-11). ‘“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” 13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!’ (12-13). Again, we are reminded that God rules and he calls his people to trust and obey.
To ponder! Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap (Gal.6:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 522
Bible Reading: Isaiah 35 & Amos 5
Isaiah 35 foretells the joyous restoration of the Israel of God. Deploying beautiful word pictures, the prophet begins, ‘The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing’ (1-2a). The people shall behold the wonderful majesty and glory of God (2). The church must walk by faith and hope and take heart and courage because the LORD will save his people and judge their enemies (3-4). In that day the blind will see, and the deaf will hear, the lame will walk and dance, and the mute will sing for joy. There will be streams of blessing upon the children of God who will flourish in a place of plenty (5-7). The redeemed shall know the Way of Holiness and will persevere in faithfulness by the grace of God (8-9). ‘And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away’ (10).
In Amos 5 the prophet laments the fall of Israel and pleads with the people to repent. Tragically, they have forsaken God and ignored his word and therefore have brought judgement upon themselves. And yet God will graciously and mercifully preserve a remnant among them (1-3). He would forgive them and bless them if only they would turn to him. God commands the people, “Seek me and live; 5 but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing” (4-5). They must seek God for their lives! They cannot defy and rebel against the Sovereign LORD with impunity and immunity. They will not withstand his judgement (6-9). God declares their time as evil. They have rejected his truth and the words of those that would reprove and correct their covetousness, corruption, and callous disregard for the poor and now they must face the grave consequences of their unjust choices and actions (10-13, 16). God declares, ‘Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph’ (14-15). The Day of the LORD will be a day of judgement and hence of darkness for those that have defied and disobeyed his law of love (18-20). The worship of Israel is a mockery and an affront to God. He says, ‘Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream’ (23-24). Their idols are impotent and are an abomination to the LORD of hosts.
To ponder! Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Mt.11:2-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 523
Bible Reading: Isaiah 36 & Amos 6
Isaiah 36 records the Assyrian invasion of Judah in the reign of King Hezekiah. The Assyrians captured several cities and consequently a delegation led by Eliakim was sent by Hezekiah to meet with their military commander (1-4). He poured scorn on Judah’s defensive alliance with Egypt and pointed out the inadequacies of their armed forces. He asked, ‘“Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it”’ (5-10). In response, Eliakim and his colleagues sought to persuade the Assyrian commander to speak in Aramaic rather than Hebrew to conceal his words from the people of Judah but the commander reiterated Judah’s destruction and doom (11-12). Furthermore, he raised his voice and declared, “Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD by saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria” (13-15). The commander urged Judah to rebel against Hezekiah and make peace with Assyria. He promised provision and life in a new land like Judah. He sought to convince the people that nothing and no one could withstand Assyria or its gods (16-20). The Judean delegation kept silent as commanded by their king and returned to Hezekiah to inform him. Their torn clothes were a sign of their despair and sorrow at Judah, Jerusalem, and its dynasty’s plight.
In Amos 6 the prophet pronounces woe on those at ease in the visible church in the Old Testament period symbolised by Jerusalem (Zion), the capital of Judah, and Samaria the capital of Israel. The leaders and the people have become careless and complacent. Amos asks them to consider nearby foreign states that had already fallen to the mighty Assyrian army (1-3). He asks, ‘Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?’ He condemns their decadence, self-indulgence, and disregard of the danger posed to their nations (4-6). And yet Israel is about to be conquered and her people taken into captivity (7). Speaking through his prophet, God, therefore, declares, “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it” (. A time of death and destruction is near, which will bring about the fragmentation or disintegration of their heritage and fear and despair for those that survive the military conquest and occupation of the land (9-10). This, the prophet states, is not fate or bad luck but rather God’s judgement against them for their iniquity and indifference towards his covenant and commandments (11-13). “For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of hosts; “and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah” (14).
To ponder! For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned (Heb.6:4-8).
Bible Challenge: Day 524
Bible Reading: Isaiah 37 & Amos 7
In Isaiah 37 King Hezekiah sends Eliakim and other servants to ask Isaiah to pray for deliverance for the remnant from the Assyrians in what Hezekiah describes as a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace (1-4). The prophet tells them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumour and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land’” (5-7). In the meantime, the commander of the Assyrian army in Judah, aware of his king’s conquests elsewhere, threatened Hezekiah and sought to convince him of his need to surrender because God would not and could not help them (8-13). Hezekiah prostrated himself and cried to Almighty God in prayer to save his people and their heritage from Sennacherib’s army (14-20). “So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.” God heard his prayer and answered him through the prophet. The mockery and boasting of the Assyrians against the Holy One of Israel will not go unanswered. Isaiah makes clear that God is sovereign. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He will confound and dismay their enemy. Speaking of Assyria, God declares, “‘I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. 29 Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came”’ (21-29). Concerning Judah and Jerusalem God will give them a sign that he will graciously preserve a remnant. “For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (30-32). God announces that the Assyrians will not enter or conquer Jerusalem because God will defend and deliver them (33-35). The Angel of the LORD consequently struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, compelling Sennacherib and the remainder of his armed forces to return Nineveh (36-37). ‘And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place’ (38).
Amos 7 concerns grave warnings of judgement upon Israel given by God to the prophet in visions. God had heard Amos’ cries and pleadings for mercy towards Israel and had twice relented or withheld his fiery judgement upon their great sinfulness. God will show them mercy if they but repent. That is, turn from their idolatry and iniquity and return to God in faithfulness and their neighbour in love but tragically, Israel will not, and is stubbornly and stupidly determined to cling to the path of self-destruction! (1-6). And therefore, God shows Amos a plumbline and says to him, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; 9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” (7-9). Shortly afterwards, Amaziah, a worldly high priest in Israel, made aware of Amos’ prophecy, made accusations of false prophecy against him to King Jeroboam. Furthermore, he ordered Amos to flee from Israel to Judah, “but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Amos defended his God-appointed call to the prophetic office and told Amaziah, “Thus says the LORD, “‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’” Tragically, severe judgement is about to fall upon Israel because she will not hear and heed God’s word. Her spiritual and temporal rulers are deaf to God and contemptuous of his ways.
To ponder! For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling (Isa.30:15).
Bible Challenge: Day 525
Bible Reading: Isaiah 38 & Amos 8
Isaiah 38 records the prophet’s role in the recovery of King Hezekiah from death’s door. Isaiah visited the king on his death bed and told him that he was not going to recover from his illness. Hezekiah wept bitterly and earnestly prayed to God, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight” (1-3). The word of God then came to Isaiah which he communicated to the king that God had heard his prayer and seen his tears and would spare his life for a further fifteen years. Furthermore, he was told that God would defend and deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians (4-6). And a sign was given to affirm God’s promise (7-8). There follow the words of Hezekiah as he recalls his intense prayer to God and expresses his gratitude to the LORD for his grace and mercy (9-20). He passionately prayed and praised, “Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness. 20 The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD.” God fulfilled his word given to the king through the Prophet Isaiah. Great is his faithfulness.
Amos 8 begins with God showing the prophet a basket of summer fruit and telling him that “the end has come upon my people Israel. I will never again pass by them” (1-2). Israel has reaped a harvest of judgement for its sinfulness. Weeping and wailing will replace songs of joy and jubilation. They have defied and disregarded God’s law of love by breaking his commandments to love God and their neighbour. Rather they have desecrated the Sabbath, and the rich have callously and cruelly exploited the poor and needy, and shown themselves covetous and corrupt (3-6). ‘The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely, I will never forget any of their deeds. 8 Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who dwells in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?”’ (7-8). God is about to dramatically change their circumstances (9) and their gladness will be turned to bitterness and their dancing to mourning (9-10). God will speak to them no more and they will be forced to wander like nomads (11-12). They will cry to him but receive no response. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD” (11). They will faint for thirst in a spiritual desert. And their idols will be shown to be impotent and worthless in that dark and bitter time (13-14).
To ponder! “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isa.55:6).
Bible Challenge: Day 526
Bible Reading: Isaiah 39 & Amos 9
In Isaiah 39 the king of Babylon having heard that Hezekiah had recovered from his sickness sent a delegation with gifts which were warmly received at the royal court in Jerusalem (1-1a). Hezekiah gave his guests a tour and unadvisedly showed them his all his treasures, armoury, and storehouses. And later told Isaiah, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them” (2-4) The prophet in response declared the word of God, “Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 7 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (5-7). Hezekiah believed the prophet’s words were true but rather than lamenting and repenting of his folly, he selfishly thought to himself, “There will be peace and security in my days” (.
Amos 9 concludes the book of Amos and concerns the destruction and restoration of Israel. The prophet in a vision saw God by the altar and from there he declared great and grave judgement upon Israel. There will be no escape from the sword of divine justice. There will be no hiding place from God’s righteous wrath. “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down” (1-3). Even those taken into captivity will not evade God’s justice (4). Nothing and no one can stay the hand of the LORD God of hosts (5-6). They have ignored his pleas to repent and turn back to him in faith. They have wilfully defied and ignored his commandments. They have transgressed his holy law and spurned his overtures of grace and mercy. They have squandered and spurned their heritage and done evil in the sight of God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and had given them a land flowing with milk and honey. But alas, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD” (7-10). God is going to mercifully preserve a remnant and he will in the fulness of time rebuild, restore, and greatly bless the Israel of God (11-13). “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God.” Such is the greatness and the goodness of God.
To ponder! And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins” (Rom.11:26-27).
Bible Challenge: Day 527
Bible Reading: Isaiah 40 & Obadiah 1
Isaiah 40 prophesises comfort for God’s church. The chapter begins, ‘Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins’ (1-2). The prophet foretells the coming of the Messiah’s forerunner who will appear in the wilderness to herald the good news and command the people to repent and be baptised in readiness for the glory of the LORD, who is Immanuel (3-5). Isaiah reminds his readers that whereas man is finite, frail, and mortal, God’s Word abides forever (6-8). He points the church to God’s gospel and reminds her of her call and commission not only to believe it but to proclaim it near and far. He bids God’s people to behold their God – to look to the Author and Finisher of their faith. He is both the messenger and the message of the covenant. He is the Lord and Saviour of his church. He is the Good Shepherd who lays downs his life and takes it up again for his flock, and who leads and cares for his sheep and lambs (9-11). Isaiah reminds his readers that they are the recipients of the amazing grace of God who is omnipotent and omniscient. He will do as he has promised. The church’s hope is wholly in him (12-17). He asks, ‘To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?’ Nothing and no one are comparable. He notes the inadequacy and folly of crafting idols to represent God or some aspect of his essence or character (19-20). He reiterates God’s sovereignty in and over all things. History is His story, and he is working out his plans and purposes, and nothing and no one can stop him. He is the Almighty, the Holy One, the all-Wise Creator, Ruler, Benefactor, and Redeemer (21-26). The prophet therefore asks, ‘Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint’ (27-31). The church must hope in God. He will enable his people to persevere and will bring to fruition, completion, and perfection the glorious promises he has made to us.
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament and was written shortly after the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, in 586 BC. It is a prophecy of doom against Edom which nation descended from Jacob’s (Israel’s) brother, Esau. The Edomites will pay dearly for assisting Babylon in the capture of fleeing Judeans. God has passed judgement upon them for their arrogance, boasting, pride, callous and cruel indifference to Judah’s suffering people. God declares, ‘The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD’ (1-4). Their nation will be invaded, subjugated, pillaged, and people slaughtered. Their wise men will be destroyed, and their mighty men will be dismayed (5-9). ‘Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever’ (10). They had refused help to the people of God and had rejoiced in their distress, and in the destruction and desecration of the Holy City (11-14). Nevertheless, whereas the Edomites, along with others, will perish in a day of judgement (15-16), God will preserve a remnant of his people and restore them in the fulness of time (15-18). The promise made to Abraham and others of a land will be fulfilled (19-20). ‘Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's’ (21).
To ponder! For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Hab.2:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 528
Bible Reading: Isaiah 41 & Jonah 1
Isaiah 41 invites God’s people to draw near to him for salvation, strength, and succour. God will judge the wicked but give great joy to his people. The LORD is the first and the last. He is the great I Am who fulfils his word and promise (1-4). The ends of the earth will tremble and quake at his judgements. The idols of the nations are impotent before him (5-7). He says, ‘But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (9-10). By contrast, the church’s enemies will be put to shame and shall be condemned (11-13). God is with his people. He will uphold and help them (13). He declares, ‘Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel’ (14). God will give his people victory and they will glorify him and enjoy him forever (15-16). God will not only mercifully protect his church, but he will graciously provide for her needs. His people shall flourish in the presence of God (17-20). In the remainder of chapter 41 God reminds his people of the futility and folly of idolatry which is an affront and abomination to him (21-27). The passage concludes with God saying, ‘But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counsellor who, when I ask, gives an answer. Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images are empty wind (28-29).
Jonah 1 begins with the prophet’s commission. God commanded him, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me” (1-2). Rather than trust and obey God, Jonah, however, foolishly sought to flee in the opposite direction to far away Tarshish which was situated on the coastline of modern-day Spain (3). But the Sovereign LORD would not be so defied and providentially sent a great storm upon the sea that threatened to smash the cargo ship in which Jonah had taken flight. Such was the ferocity of the tempest that the sailors feared not only for their cargo but for their very lives (4-5). The captain awoke Jonah from his slumbers, saying, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” They drew lots to determine who had been responsible for bringing such a judgement upon them and the lot fell on Jonah (6-7). Jonah answering their questions, told captain and crew, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (8-9). Furthermore, the men were terrified when Jonah revealed that he was fleeing from God (10). Enquiring what could be done to appease God’s wrath and spare their lives, Jonah told them to cast him into the sea. Failing to make any progress in their attempts to make for land and a safe haven, they called out to God, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” Hurling Jonah into the sea, the tempest ceased. Awestruck the sailors worshipped God (11-16). ‘And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights’ (17).
To ponder: And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy ((Ex.20:1-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 529
Bible Reading: Isaiah 42 & Jonah 2
Isaiah 42 anticipates and foretells the coming of God’s servant, the Messiah, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father delights in him and will anoint him with the Holy Spirit in all his fulness (1). ‘He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law’ (3-4). He is the LORD our righteousness. He is God’s promise to his people. God’s covenant will be signed and sealed through his life, death, and resurrection. He is the glory of God and the light of the world. He will open the eyes of the spiritually blind and liberate those held in slavery to sin (5-9). There follows a paeon of praise that looks forward to the glorious day when all the nations will sing God’s praise and glorify his name in, through, and because of Christ. The Lord will turn the peoples’ darkness to light. He will guide them in the way of righteousness, peace, and joy and banish their enemies (10-17). And yet, alas, Isaiah’s prophecy fell on deaf ears in Israel, just as God told him it would when God gave him his commission in chapter 6. The prophet asks, ‘Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come? 24 Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?’ (23-24). Therefore, Israel brought judgement upon itself. They defied and rejected God’s word and ways and failed to understand God’s judgement and ‘did not take it to heart’ (25).
Jonah 2 contains Jonah’s earnest prayer to God while trapped in the belly of the great fish. His prayer anticipates and foreshadows the cry of Christ from the tomb of death and therefore is a type of the resurrection which was to come. He begins, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.’ Jonah recognised the sovereignty of God and therefore God’s hand in his grave plight. He had defied God and had paid a heavy price (3). But even in the deep darkness his faith and hope are in God. ‘Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look your holy temple’ (4). As he sank to the depths of the seabed God delivered him from death (5-6). The fish in other words is the instrument of his salvation which possibly points to or reminds us of the fish symbolism of the early church and the word ‘Ichthys’ (fish) – which was shorthand for ‘Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter’ which translated means ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour’. Jonah writes, ‘When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple’ (7). His hope was in God’s steadfast love. He believed that God would save him, and that he would yet worship God and fulfil his vows. He reminds his readers that “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (8-9). By God’s supernatural intervention the fish vomited Jonah out onto the shore (10).
To ponder! ‘Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.’ – Elisabeth Elliot.
Bible Challenge: Day 530
Bible Reading: Isaiah 43 & Jonah 3
Isaiah 43 begins with God reminding his people that he chose and called them into a special relationship with himself. The Israel of God belongs to God. He movingly tells them, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Therefore, God will not abandon the faithful but be with them through their trials, troubles, and tribulations. He assures his church, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour...” (2-3). He tells his people that they are infinitely precious to him, and are highly honoured and loved (3b-4). God will gather and restore the fortunes of his people (5-7). They (we) are to be his witnesses to the nations. They are to proclaim God in word and deed that others may know and believe in him (8-10). God declares, “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no saviour” (11). God again makes clear that he is sovereign. By his judgement his people will be taken into captivity and by his grace and mercy he will preserve a remnant who will return to rejoice in God (12-17). Anticipating the new covenant era, God will do something new which will be for the blessing and bounty of his church despite their defiance and degeneracy (18-24). In that day God will blot out their transgressions and remember not their sins for the sake of his grace and glory (25-27). Nevertheless, the Israel of Isaiah’s day will be destroyed for turning its back on its Creator, Lord, and Saviour (28).
In Jonah 3 God once again commands Jonah to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you” (1-2). This time, Jonah did as he was commissioned. On arriving in Nineveh, which was an exceedingly great city, he made his way through its streets calling out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (3-4). In response, ‘the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them’ (5). Even the king of Nineveh put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of his contrition and confession. He issued a proclamation ordering his subjects to do likewise and to fast and ‘call out mightily to God’ for mercy (6-8a). He urged the people, “Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish (8b-9). God noting the sincerity of their penitence mercifully relented of his judgement upon them (10). Such is the grace of God. The Lord Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
To ponder! O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Ps.51:15-17).
Bible Challenge: Day 531
Bible Reading: Isaiah 44 & Jonah 4
In Isaiah 44 God tells Israel, the people of God, the church, not to fear and reassures them that he has chosen them and will revive and restore them in the fulness of time (1-2). God says, “I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. 5 This one will say, ‘I am the LORD's,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD's,’ and name himself by the name of Israel” (3-5). God reminds his church that he is Lord and Saviour. He is the First and the Last. He alone is God. There is no other. He will do as he has promised. He is our Rock in whom we find shelter, security, and stability (6-8). In verses 9 through 20 God reiterates the folly of idolatry. Those that make idols for profits and those that superstitiously and defiantly trust in them lack discernment and wisdom and have been led astray by the fallen nature referred to as the heart. As the Prophet Jeremiah will note, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?’ (Jer.17:9). The reformer, John Calvin, once referred to the heart as a factory of idols! In other words, it has a propensity towards idolatry which is the worship of things created rather than the Creator and Redeemer God (see Rom.1:24-25). God urges his people to remember his teaching and commandments, repent, and return to him and his ways, for he alone is our Saviour (21-22). Let his church praise and glorify him and show gratitude to him for his amazing grace, love, and mercy (23-28). He will shepherd his flock. He will rebuild Zion. He will fulfil his plans, purposes, and promises. Worship his great and holy name.
Jonah 4 records Jonah’s great displeasure and disgust at Nineveh’s repentance and God’s compassion upon them (1). He confesses to God that it had been fear of this very outcome that had compelled him to originally defy God’s command and commission and attempt to flee to Tarshish. He says, “for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (2). Peeved and smarting from the display of God’s grace and mercy towards the Ninevites, he asks God to take his life (3). In response, God asks him if anger and his rash request were justified? (4). Jonah made a shelter and sulked in its shade outside of the city (5). There God had appointed a plant to provide shade from the scorching sun for which Jonah was thankful (6). However, the following day as he observed the city God appointed a worm to attack the plant which withered and died exposing Jonah to a hot easterly wind and the scorching sun. Again, Jonah exposed to discomfort prayed that he might die (7-8). God once more confronted his folly, saying, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night” (9-10). And then with a view to teaching Jonah and his readers an invaluable lesson, God added, “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (11). Praise God for his grace and mercy.
To ponder! And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 532
Bible Reading: Isaiah 45 & Micah 1
Isaiah 45 prophecies and names King Cyrus of Persia as God’s instrument of judgement on Babylon. It does so to show that God is sovereign and in control of historical developments. God will fulfil his plans and purposes. He will use a pagan king in the restoration of the remnant in the Holy City which will ultimately prepare the way for the true Messiah, God’s Christ. Cyrus will triumph over the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem and recognise the living God (1-3). God does so ‘For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other’ (4-6). He is working out his plans and purposes and will provide righteousness and salvation for his people. It is futile to question his dominion for he alone is our Creator, Ruler, Judge, Benefactor, and Saviour. He fulfils his promises to his people. Great is his faithfulness. Such is his amazing grace (7-12) which is evident is using Cyrus to restore his exiled people. ‘I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the LORD of hosts.’ Other mighty nations will recognise that God is with his church (14). ‘They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.’” God saves his people with everlasting salvation (15-17). He is true to his word. His covenant pledges cannot and will not be broken (18-19). The church must trust in him alone. Idolaters only delude and deceive themselves. One day they will acknowledge their folly and recognise that the LORD is the one, true, and living God (20-21). Anticipating our New Covenant era and the Great Commission, God therefore graciously bids all, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance’ (22-23). Righteousness and strength are found in no other (24). “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.” Praise God our Saviour and Lord.
Micah 1 begins, ‘The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem’ (1). The Prophet Micah prophesied in Judah and was contemporaneous with the Prophet Isaiah. He lived through the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and witnessed the near destruction of Judah. He warned the Old Testament church of impending judgement on account of their defiance of God and disregard of his commandments. He proclaimed a message of hope, however, to the faithful remnant. He urges the people to hear and heed God’s word for God is coming to punish their idolatrous defiance and disobedience towards God as well as their immoral behaviour (2-5). Israel will be stripped bare and left a wasteland for her spiritual adultery (6-7). There will be weeping and mourning, along with anxiety and angst in Judah and its capital Jerusalem for disaster will draw near – to the very gates of the Holy City. The prophet points out that their enemies will neither have cause to grieve or rejoice as several of Judah’s cities are besieged, plundered, and laid waste (8-12). He urges the said places to prepare their chariots not to fight but rather for flight for they have followed the sinful example of the Northern Kingdom and have brought God’s judgement upon themselves (13-15). Micah urges the people to show contrition and confess their sins to God. ‘Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair, for the children of your delight; make yourselves as bald as the eagle, for they shall go from you into exile’ (16).
To ponder! For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom.10:11-13).
Bible Challenge: Day 533
Bible Reading: Isaiah 46 & Micah 2
In Isaiah 46 God again warns his people of the faithlessness and futility of idolatry (1-2). He assures his church, the remnant of the house of Jacob, however, that he has chosen and called them, and he will preserve and restore them in the fulness of time. “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; 4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (3-4). God points out the folly of idols and images. Nothing and no one are comparable with God. They are but inanimate objects, the work of the artisan’s hand. They cannot help or save anyone (5-7). God commands his people to remember that he is the one, living, and true God and there is no other (8-9). “I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (9-10). God’s will be done. He calls his people to repentance and faith. They (we) must clothe themselves in his righteousness and abandon their wilful folly and sin (11-12). God declares, “I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory” (13).
In Micah 2 the prophet pronounces woe upon the wicked. God is about to punish them for their sinful designs, avarice, oppressions, and pride (1-3). Disaster is about to be visited upon Israel. ‘In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly,
and say, “We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields” (4). The unscrupulous will have no share in Israel’s inheritance (5). And yet, they foolishly ban preachers who call them to repent. And will deny God’s coming judgement upon them until it is too late. They have forsaken God’s ways, and have rejected his commandments, and set themselves in opposition to him (6-8). Their women and children will be driven from their homes. The people will find no rest in the land. Destruction is on its way (9-10). And yet, how their leaders had welcomed preachers, priests, and prophets that had tickled their ears and supported their ungodly and immoral practices (11). Thankfully, God will shepherd, guide, and be gracious to the faithful remnant (12-13). Let us follow the Good Shepherd who laid down his life and took it up again for his sheep. His sheep hear his voice and follow him.
To ponder! I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (Jn.10:9).
Bible Challenge: Day 534
Bible Reading: Isaiah 47 & Micah 3
Isaiah 47 is a pronouncement of God’s woe upon Babylon. She will be humbled and disgraced, and her wealth, beauty, and splendour stripped bare (1-4). God is going to take vengeance upon her, and will do so through the instrumentality of Cyrus of Persia. The prophet declares, “Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel. 5 Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms” (5). God had given his people into the hands of the Babylonians, who had shown them no mercy and had treated them exceedingly harshly (6). They were not only cruel and callous, but they grew careless and complacent. They failed to learn the lesson of Judah’s fall. They thought themselves invincible and indulged the fallen nature. They were known for their decadence and love of pleasure (7-8). Judgement was coming upon them, and the sword of justice would hit them unexpectedly and decisively. They will seek refuge in idolatry and sorceries who had felt secure in their wickedness, but they will not escape disaster and ruination (9-10). They will call upon their gods and seek the counsel of sages but in vain (11-13). Isaiah states, “Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before! 15 Such to you are those with whom you have laboured, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you” (14-15).
In Micah 3 the prophet confronts the leaders of the visible church in Israel and Judah and asks, “Is it not for you to know justice? —2 you who hate the good and love the evil” (1-2a). He condemns their cruel and covetous treatment of the people whom they regard as a mere commodity and resource to exploit, misuse, abuse, and consume (2-3). Judgement is coming and while the rulers in church and state will cry to God to rescue them and give them refuge, ‘he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil’ (4). Speaking through Micah, God also condemns the prophets and preachers that proclaimed ‘peace’ to Israel. More concerned with keeping favour with the rich and powerful and content to go with the prevailing culture, they failed to confront ungodliness and unrighteousness in the nation, nor did they call Israel to repentance, and were thereby complicit in evil. Consequently, they too will be silenced, shamed, and disgraced (5-7). By contrast, Micah declares, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. 9 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity” (8-10). The prophet courageously confronts and condemns their corruption of justice. He similarly exposes the priests and prophets that spoke lies for a price and a life of ease (11). Tragically, they are bringing disaster and destruction upon the Old Testament church (12).
To ponder! And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Heb.9:27-28).
Bible Challenge: Day 535
Bible Reading: Isaiah 48 & Micah 4
In Isaiah 48, through the prophet, God calls his people “who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right”, to hear and heed his word (1). Time after time he has fulfilled his promises to them as revealed beforehand by his prophets, and yet they have stubbornly and stupidly attributed their good fortune to idols (2-5). Being omniscient, God, nevertheless, foresaw their defiance and rebellion. He is now going to give them a new revelation (6-8). He will ‘defer his anger’ or righteous judgement against them, although they will be severely tried and tested (9-10). “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another” (11). God is the Creator of all things. He is sovereign. He must be their Redeemer or they must perish. He urges his people to draw near and listen carefully. The Babylonians or Chaldeans are but instruments in his hand (12-16). ‘Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; 19 your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me”’ (17-19). Nevertheless, God will preserve a remnant who will return from Babylon to be a witness to the nations to God’s amazing grace. They will declare, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!” (20). God provides for his church (21). He will preserve the faithful. However, “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked” (22).
Micah 4 anticipates the glorious restoration and elevation of Zion in the New Covenant era when she will draw all nations to worship God and walk in his paths (1-2). In that wonderful day, the church will enjoy unprecedented peace and prosperity (3-4). While there is a plethora of gods among the nations of this fallen world, God’s true church will keep the faith and will glorify God and enjoy him always (5). God will gather his afflicted remnant and will reign over them in perfect love and righteousness forevermore (6-7). And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem (8 ). Nevertheless, Micah foretells the coming fall of Jerusalem when her citizens will be taken captive into exile by Babylon. From there God will rescue and redeem the remnant in preparation for the coming of his Christ (9-10). Their enemies are many and they are powerful, but they are no match for the LORD (11-12). Therefore, God declares through his prophet, “Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth” (13). By God’s enabling, his church will triumph over its enemies. The battle is not physical but a spiritual one and therefore his people must put on the full armour of God in Christ our Victor.
To ponder! Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (Eph.6:10-18).
Bible Challenge: Day 536
Bible Reading: Isaiah 49 & Micah 5
Isaiah 49 anticipates and foretells the coming of the Servant of the LORD, who is God’s Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father who is full of grace and truth. He is the embodiment of the true Israel of God and will gather his church not only from the Jews but also from among the Gentiles. Israel has failed in her mission to be a light to the nations but through the remnant God will send forth his Son who will fulfil God’s plans and purposes of redemption and judgement. He will call all nations to himself. His word will be like a double-edged sword piercing the hearts and minds of his hearers. He will exalt his people and glorify his Father in heaven (1-5). God asks, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (6). He is the Holy One of Israel and one day the rulers of the nations will pay homage to him and profess his name (7). Through God’s Servant, the prophet looks forward to the restoration of Israel. He will gather and show grace to his people. He will provide for their needs and prosper them (8-12). Isaiah therefore urges the church to rejoice. “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted” (13). He reassures the Old Testament church that God will not forget or forsake them. Rather, God’s say to the fretful and fearful, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me” (14-16). Despite Israel and Judah’s fall and exile, the true Israel shall yet be exalted over her enemies by God’s sovereign grace (17-23). God will make them more than conquerors in Christ. “Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (24-26).
How wonderfully providential that our first reading today in Isaiah 49 should focus on the saving and restorative work of God’s Christ, the Servant of the LORD, because Micah 5 concerns his identity and birth! Despite the faithless folly of the children of God (Israel and Judah) which brought judgement upon them, God will graciously preserve and restore a remnant through which will come his Christ. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (1-2). God will fulfil his promises to his chosen people through his Christ who was indeed born of the Virgin in the fulness of time as foretold. God’s promises are yes, and they are amen, in him. He is the Shepherd of God’s flock. He is the strength and song of his redeemed who shall possess a peace from the Prince of Peace that surpasses all understanding (3-5). He will protect and prosper his people and defeat their enemies (6). The Lord shall save the remnant of Jacob and gather them from among the nations (7-9). God will take away their silly sense of self-reliance and of putting their trust in force of arms and idols which will be purged from the church. He will judge and condemn the unrepentant world (10-15).
To ponder! But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Gal.4:4-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 537
Bible Reading: Isaiah 50 & Micah 6
Isaiah 50 contrasts Israel’s sinful defiance and disobedience to the trust and obedience of God’s Servant who would come in the fulness of time. The visible Old Testament church understandably felt forgotten and forsaken. Conquered and taken into captivity, she has brought judgement upon herself because of her ungodliness and unrighteousness (1). God had graciously and mercifully sent prophet after prophet calling her to repent and return to the LORD and keep his commandments but tragically, his overtures had fallen on deaf ears. God had also similarly given his people signs of his displeasure, but these they simply dismissed, ignored, or explained away (2-3). By way of contrast, his Christ, the Servant of the LORD, will keep the faith and do the will of God. His words will sustain the weary and give them rest. He will live in communion with his Father in heaven. He will suffer greatly in his ‘passion’ and will accomplish his mission for the sake of the true Israel of God, his people (4-5). He will say, “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting” (6). The LORD will strengthen and sustain him and will wholly vindicate his life and ministry through his death, resurrection, and ascension. He will triumph over all his enemies and reign forever (7-9). Therefore, God says, ‘Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God (10). The Lord Jesus Christ is our Light and Life. By contrast those that reject him only bring judgement upon themselves (11).
Micah 6 begins with God’s indictment against Israel (1-2). God asks, “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!” (3). God had graciously delivered them from slavery in Egypt, had provided and protected them in the wilderness. He had brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey. And made a covenant with them and dwelt in their midst. He gave them meticulous instructions on how to approach and worship him and taught them what it means to love God and their neighbour (4-7). And therefore, the prophet declares, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” But alas, they have turned their backs on God and have ignored his covenant and commandments, wrongly thinking they could sin with impunity and immunity. They are full of greed, deceit, and violence (9-12). As forewarned, God declares, “Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins” (13). They have brought God’s judgement upon themselves for their idolatry and immorality. They will sow but they will not reap. Rather they will lose their inheritance which will be left barren (14-16).
To ponder: Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt.11:28-30).
Bible Challenge: Day 538
Bible Reading: Isaiah 51 & Micah 7
Isaiah 51 offers comfort to God’s people. It begins with the prophet beckoning the church to “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug” (1). He urges Israel to look back to their heritage and take hold of the promises God has made to the faithful (2). God must be their comfort and confidence. He will minister to them in their afflictions. He will make their wilderness like Eden and their desert like the garden of the LORD. They will praise and thank him with joy and gladness (3). God will establish true and lasting justice. He will save his people throughout the nations. He will be their Light and Righteousness. He will establish a new heavens and new earth (4-6). The church must therefore walk by faith rather than sight. God saves his people to the uttermost and has given them a future and a lasting hope (7-8). In the present the church must show conviction and courage because God is her strength and song (9-10). “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (11). They must reverence and respect God rather than fear their fellow men who cannot stay or avert God’s plans, purposes, and promises (12-14). God is the Almighty. He has chosen his people and given them his word, and nothing and no one can pluck them from his hand (15-16). They must awaken and stand firm in the faith. Disaster, destruction, and desolation came upon them because they defied and denied God’s covenant. They had turned their backs on God and forsaken him despite God’s warning of the grave consequences in so doing. They had consequently brought judgement upon themselves, but God will preserve and ultimately prosper the faithful remnant (17-23). God will build and bless his church.
Micah 7 begins with the prophet lamenting and condemning the ubiquitous sinfulness that characterised Israel and Judah in his day. Defiance, decadence, degeneracy, deceit, and distrust were endemic. And now judgement is imminent (1-6). Yet, Micah, personifies the faithful remnant by declaring, “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (7). God will be the light of his people who sit in darkness. He will vindicate his word and his holy name in judgement and in preserving the faithful (8-10). God will reverse the fortunes of his church. He will rebuild and restore his Zion which he will protect and prosper in the fulness of time. And he will judge the world in righteousness (11-13). God will shepherd his flock and show them marvellous things, and their enemies will not only fear him but will bow before his greatness and glory (14-17). Micah concludes his prophecy and book with a wonderful paeon of praise to God for his grace, love, and mercy to his church. He asks, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?” (18). He informs his readers and hearers that God “does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” He assures the faithful, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.” Marvelling at God’s amazing grace, he ends his praise and prayer, “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old” (19-20). God is altogether faithful and good. Let us trust him and praise his glorious name.
To ponder! The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! (Ps.9:9-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 539
Bible Reading: Isaiah 52 & Nahum 1
Isaiah 52 anticipates the day of restoration and calls the children of God to awake from their complacency and complicity and return to God in sincerity and sanctification. It begins, “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean” (1). God will grant his people freedom not for license but for faith and faithfulness (2). In his sovereign and amazing grace, God is going to redeem, restore, and reveal his love to his church (3-6). There will understandably follow a joyous song of praise for the good news of God’s salvation. It begins, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns”” (7). Ministers of the word and the people alike will sing for joy in that day “for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (8-10). God will gather, guide, and guard his church and dwell among her (11-12). And this, God will accomplish in and through the saving work of his Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. God says, “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted” (13). People shall be astonished at his passion and suffering for he will be beaten, and scourged, and nailed to a cross for the sake of his people (14). He will die for our sins and rise again for our justification and regeneration. And “so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand” (15). God’s Servant is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is salvation in no other.
Nahum 1 begins the vision of Nahum of Elkosh concerning God’s coming judgement upon Nineveh. Jonah, you will recall had preached a message of repentance to Nineveh in the century before Nahum. And to his great disappointment and disgust the Ninevites had repented and had been spared God’s grave judgement. However, they have returned to their evil ways and have invaded, slaughtered, plundered, and enslaved the Northern Kingdom of Israel and threatened Judah. While the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, he will by no means clear the unrepentant and faithless guilty Ninevites whose wickedness was proverbial (1-5). Nahum asks, “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him (6). He points out that the LORD is good and is the rock and refuge of all who trust and obey him. However, he shall judge his adversaries and nothing and no one will stay his hand (7-8). The prophet highlights the folly and futility of those that cabal and conspire against God and his ways (9-11). He will deliver his people from the hands of the Ninevites and restore their liberty. He will destroy their enemies whose gods are worthless and impotent idols (12-14). Like Isaiah before him, Nahum anticipates and foretells good news of peace and plenty for God’s people. “Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off (15).
To ponder: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Mt.28:18).
Bible Challenge: Day 540 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53 & Nahum 2
Isaiah 53 is the gospel anticipated, articulated, and announced centuries in advance of Christ’s saving ministry. The prophet asks, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” When Christ came to his own in the fulness of time many rejected him and cried ‘crucify him, crucify him!’ (1). He was born in Bethlehem as foretold in the Book of Micah. He grew up in Nazareth of Galilee “like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground’. There was nothing in his appearance or status growing up in the family home of his parents that drew the attention of the children of Israel to him. It was not until the ministry of John the Baptist who identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world that he gained real prominence (2). He was the Suffering Servant who was “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (3). However, God’s Servant will save his people by his vicarious (substitutionary) suffering and sacrifice. Therefore, the prophet asks and makes clear: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (4-5). Christ was the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God. There was no sin in him. Rather he died in our stead bearing the punishment for our sin. Hence the prophet continues, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (6). And he willingly came and fulfilled the law as the second Adam and then bore his cross. Isaiah writes, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?” The sinless One was crucified between two criminals, died on the cross, and was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, fulfilling the will of his heavenly Father as revealed here and elsewhere in the Old Testament scriptures (9). “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (10). His cross preceded his crown. He died for our sin and would rise for our justification. He is the LORD our Righteousness who has died to make atonement for his church and who clothes his people in his righteousness. He is the one and only Mediator between God and man who ever lives to make intercession for his people (11-12). Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
Nahum 2 describes the siege and destruction of Nineveh which was God’s judgement upon it for its wickedness, particularly for its invasion of Israel and the slaughter and enslavement of her people (1). Therein, moreover, God will restore the majesty of Israel (2). Nahum’s prophesy reads like an eye-witness account with chariots racing through the capital of Assyria, with swords glinting in the sunlight, and shields stained with the blood of Nineveh’s soldiery and citizens (3-4). Her palaces and public places are plundered and left desolate. Women and girls weep and wail and are abused and mistreated by the invaders as they seek to flee in fear (5-7). “Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. “Halt! Halt!” they cry, but none turns back” (. Their treasures are being looted and the widespread destruction and devastation strikes terror into the hearts of her people (9-10). The glorious capital and centre of Assyria’s vast empire has fallen, along with her seemingly invincible and mighty rulers (11-12). “Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard” (13).
To ponder! Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2Cor.5:20-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 541 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 54 & Nahum 3
Because of the saving work of God’s Messiah outlined in chapter 53, in Isaiah 54, the prophet reveals that the Israel of God will have significant cause to rejoice not only in her restoration, but she will also take great delight in her expansion among the nations. Christ’s church will be enlarged by Christians from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue. “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities” (1-3). God’s faithful people need not fear. “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” The church’s victory is secure in Jesus Christ. The enemies of God, however, will be ashamed, confounded, and disgraced (4-5). Despite their spiritual adultery that resulted in banishment from loving communion with God, God will show compassion to his chosen people on account of his everlasting love and redeem and restore them to fellowship (6-8). He likens their deliverance to that of Noah who along with his family were spared God’s righteous judgement for their own sake and for the sake of the nations (9). “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (10). God will abundantly build and bless his church (11-12). He will teach them and establish them in the way of peace and righteousness, and he will protect them (13-15). The sovereign God will do this and refute the church’s enemies (16-17). “This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
Nahum 3 provides a pronouncement of woe on the ‘bloody city’ of Nineveh built on lies and plunder (1). Death and destruction mark her demise (2-3). God, through his prophet, likens her to a prostitute that ‘who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms” (4). And declares, “Behold, I am against you… and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame” (5). She will become a spectacle to the nations who will marvel at her sudden catastrophic end, but none will go to her aid or offer her comfort (6-7). Like the mighty Thebes in previous centuries her glory will be destroyed and her people either slaughtered or enslaved (8-10). All attempts at either fight or flight will prove futile (11-17). “There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust.” Their religious and rulers have been complacent and complicit in evil (18). Therefore, “There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?” God will judge and condemn the wicked sooner or later and therefore calls all to repent and believe the gospel in this day of grace.
To ponder! Thus says the LORD: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, 3 the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you (Jer.31:2-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 542 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 55 & Habakkuk 1
It is hardly any wonder that Isaiah has historically been referred to as the ‘evangelical prophet’. Isaiah 55 articulates the free offer of the gospel, reminding us that salvation is of grace. It cannot be earned, purchased, or merited but rather must be received as a gift from God in his Christ. And so, speaking through the prophet, God says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (1). He asks, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?” (2). And he invites us to “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David” (3). Through the Lord Christ the Israel of God will be a light to the nations and will draw and attract countless numbers through his effectual grace in the gospel (4-5). God’s gospel will be preached to every creature. All are called to “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (6-7). Faith and repentance will characterise God’s church. Such is the glorious grace, limitless love and measureless mercy of God. He says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (8-11). By sovereign grace, God’s people will dwell in righteousness, peace, and joy. They shall be faithful and fruitful in the present and everlastingly (12-13). Praise his gracious and glorious name!
The first chapter of Habakkuk, who was contemporaneous with the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, and who prophesied to the people of Judah, begins with a complaint. He asks, “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (1-4). Habakkuk’s desperate cry to God is so often the cry of the Christian individually and the church collectively in our day. We live in a fallen world where hatred and hostility, violence and victimhood, degeneracy and destruction, injustice and iniquity, ungodliness and unrighteousness abound and are endemic, even in the visible church as they were in the prophet’s day. We read or watch the news and find little to edify or encourage us but plenty to discourage and demoralise us. We pray to God for revival and the restoration of faith and morality throughout the church and nation and further afield, but things only appear to be getting worse! God’s response to Habakkuk’s prayer is possibly not what he wanted to hear but he and his hearers and readers then and now should take note. Judah, the Old Testament church, is under God’s judgement for its defiance of God and disobedience to his commandments and covenant. God is about to punish them severely through the instrumentality of Babylon (the Chaldeans). And so, God responds, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own” (5-6). They will conquer Judah and Jerusalem, the Holy City, and lead her people away into captivity because they did not trust and obey God but rather turned to idols, having adopted the prevailing culture of the surrounding nations and they gave unrestrained expression to the fallen nature (7-11). No doubt they would have sought to justify their thought and actions despite the clear teaching of God’s word which they rejected or neglected to their grave cost. Habakkuk therefore acknowledges God’s righteous judgement and lamenting asks God, “Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” Here the prophet enunciates the age-old question as to why God allows evil to go unpunished and its grim consequences to continue unchecked? Speaking of Babylon which acts as a type for the wicked in every generation, the prophet cannot understand why God allows the wicked to succeed in their evil schemes and ways. Why are they allowed to flourish from the spoils of their covetousness, murderous cruelty, exploitation, and lust for power, prestige, and prosperity at the expense of others? (14-17). It is a question that continues to be asked by many today.
To ponder! And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them (Rom.1:28-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 543 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 56 & Habakkuk 2
In Isaiah 56 God bids the faithful to “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed” (1). God’s church must walk by faith, hope, and love trusting God and obeying his commands. They must keep his Sabbath holy and adhere to his covenant, and worship him in spirit and in truth. This is the way to God’s approval and rich blessing. And this includes all who will be added to the church from among the nations. The mention of eunuchs in verse 4 reminds us of the God-fearing official of Queen Candace who was born again through the ministry of Philip while returning to Ethiopia after worshipping in Jerusalem (see Acts8. The Sabbath principle established in the Moral Law of a day for holy communion with God and spiritual and physical rest continues in the Christian Sabbath which is the Lord’s Day, the commemoration of Christ’s resurrection and the beginning of the new creation (2-6). God will graciously gather his people as living stones and will build them up into a holy temple, the church, which will be a house of prayer for all nations (7). Anticipating this new covenant era, the Lord GOD, ‘who gathers the outcasts of Israel’, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” Nevertheless, he will judge careless, complacent, and covetous pastors and preachers that enrich themselves and endanger God’s visible church by their arrogance, ignorance, and selfishness (9-12).
Habakkuk 2 begins with the prophet alert to and awaiting God’s further revelation (1). And God again communicated to him and through him to his church. God told him to write down the vision he was about to receive for others (2). God assures him that his prophecy will be fulfilled but God’s people must patiently wait for it and persevere by faith (3). While the wicked are arrogant and crooked and appear to abound and flourish, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (4). This is God’s response to Habakkuk’s question as to what can be done while evil and suffering continue to abound in our world. God will indeed judge and condemn the evil and establish everlasting righteousness, peace, and joy in the fulness of time, but his people must wait and walk by faith in the present. They must do what they can to promote godliness and righteousness and love while understanding that evil will continue until the end of this age. They must take hold of God’s promises and worship, work, and witness in the day of grace knowing that all things are ultimately working for the good of those that love God. His people will be more than conquerors in and through the Lord Jesus Christ in whom God’s promises are yes and amen. Nevertheless, worldly utopias are beyond fallen man’s means. Defiance, disobedience, decadence, degeneracy, pride, greed, and injustice will continue until the new heavens and new earth are established (5). There follows a pronouncement of woe on the Chaldeans who stand as a symbol of all who continue in slavery to the Evil One. They have prospered through brutal and bloody conquest. They have looted and plundered the treasures of others. They have shown themselves callously and cruelly indifferent to the suffering of their victims. They have arrogantly built their towers of Babel and foolishly think that they are invincible (6-11). But God declares, “Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!” By contrast, God will fulfil his plans purposes (13). “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (14). God will not only be glorified in the salvation of his people but will be glorified in the judgement and condemnation of the ungodly and unrighteous who refusing to repent and believe continued in evil like the wicked Chaldeans whose idols proved impotent and worthless (15-19). The chapter concludes with a poignant reminder that “the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (20).
To ponder! And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Rev.20:12-15).
Bible Challenge: Day 544 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 57 & Habakkuk 3
Isaiah 57 begins by contrasting the righteousness with the ungodly. In Habakkuk’s day the righteous were few, and their demise in the Old Testament church went largely unnoticed (1). In what was a time of chaos, confusion, and calamity the righteous nevertheless enjoyed an inner peace in the present and anticipated an eternal peace in the presence of God. The prophet declares that ‘they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness’ (2). By contrast, he calls the unrighteous the children of transgression. They have polluted and desecrated the true worship of God which ordained in his word. They are idolaters that worship false gods at special sites (the high places) ordered by themselves and contrary to God’s command. They sacrificed their children to the gods of the surrounding nations which they had appropriated as their own in syncretistic defiance and confusion (3-6). We might say that they were followers of the zeitgeist rather than the LORD. Tragically, they had defied and deserted the one, living, and true God and set up memorials to their spiritual adultery. Political expediency and fear of their neighbours rather than the fear of God had motivated their rebellious and wicked course of action (7-10). God asks, “Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?” (11). God, however, is going to bring judgement upon them. In vain will they cry to their impotent idols for relief and refuge (12-13). “But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.” Through his prophet God offers comfort to the repentant and faithful (14). He reassures his humble and hopeful church, “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made” (15-16). Comfort, healing, and peace await those who trust and obey God. Whereas the wicked will not evade his judgement and condemnation (17-21).
Habakkuk 3 records the prophet’s prayer. Based on his knowledge and experience of God’s grace, love, and mercy, in faith, Habakkuk prays to God for revival. He pleads that in his wrath God will remember mercy (1-2). He next poetically foretells God’s sovereign judgement upon the enemies of his people. God’s divine majesty, splendour, and power will be evident to all. The wicked will fear and seek to flee from his presence but will not be able to escape his righteous wrath. However, he will save his people for the sake of his Christ (3-13). His victory over the forces of darkness will be overwhelming and complete which the prophet anticipates and foretells through the example of Zion’s enemies (14-16). Trusting in God’s revelation, Habakkuk t declares, “Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.” He lyrically and beautifully concludes his book with a paeon of praise expressing his faith, hope, and love in God. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places” (17-19). He confidently concludes with a note declaring his song is to be sung and played in the Temple which was a type for the church of Christ, the people of the living God.
To ponder! Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity (Ps.98).
Bible Challenge: Day 545 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 58 & Zephaniah 1
In Isaiah 58 God commands his prophet to cry aloud to the people, calling them to repent of their ungodliness and unrighteousness (1). For the children of Israel had not acknowledged their sinfulness. They continued to worship God, believing that they were paragons of virtue and holiness (2). They prayed to God asking, ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ (3). Yet their rites and rituals and expressions of humility before God were a sham. They put sensuality and personal pleasures before God and oppressed workers and the poor. God asked of them, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard” (6-8). Only then will God hear and answer their prayers. Only then will they be a beacon of light to the nations, showing others a more excellent way (9-10). Only then will the God restore, rebuild, and prosper his church in the promised land (11-12). The chapter concludes with a reminder to the people of God to keep the Sabbath, a holy, honourable, healthy, and happy day for the glory of God and their mutual good. God says, “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (13-14). God is reminding his church that faithfulness precedes fruitfulness and blessing.
Zephaniah 1 begins by identifying the Prophet Zephaniah as the son of Cushi, who proclaimed God’s word to Judah in the reign of King Josiah (1). It is a pronouncement of coming judgement upon Judah and Jerusalem for her idolatry, wickedness, and worldliness. She has embraced foreign gods, engaged in ungodly and unrighteous practices, and has forgotten and forsaken the LORD her God (2-6). The prophet calls the people to hear and heed God’s word. Punishment is near at hand. God is about to judge their rich and powerful rulers for their sinfulness as well all who engaged in violence and fraud, and wilfully broke God’s moral law (7-9). A day of wailing, weeping, and woe is coming upon the Holy City which will be besieged and destroyed. God declares, “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill” (10-12). Their treasures and manufactures will be plundered, their vineyards destroyed, and wine appropriated by others, and they shall be dispossessed of their homes, city, and nation (13). Anticipating and foretelling the eschatological Day of Judgement in Jerusalem’s fall, the prophet announces, “The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. 15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements” (14-16). On that day God will judge all humanity for their sinfulness. Even the great wealth and resources of the unrepentant rich and powerful will not be able to protect or spare them from God’s righteous judgement and condemnation on that day (17-18).
To ponder! But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Mt.3:7-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 546 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 59 & Zephaniah 2
In Isaiah 59 the prophet condemns Israel’s wickedness. He boldly points out to the people the grave consequences of their sinfulness. He begins, “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (1). Israel has wantonly given full expression to the fallen nature. Violence, murder, corruption, theft, and deceitfulness are endemic (2-6). Isaiah states, “Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. 8 The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace” (7-8). Darkness and gloom have engulfed the nation. The remnant can only hope and pray for justice and salvation (9-13). But alas, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey (14-15). Nevertheless, in the fulness of time God will save his people (16). “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak” (17). God will repay his adversaries and will be glorified near and far (18-19). ““And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD” (20). God will fulfil his covenant and save his people in and through his Christ. And so the chapter concludes, “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore” (21).
Zephaniah 2 prophesies judgement upon a ‘shameless nation’. He calls the people to repent and seek mercy to be spared the wrath of God (1-2). “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD” (3). He foretells the coming judgement upon the church’s adversaries and the restoration of the remnant (4-15). The enemies of God’s people will be destroyed, and their lands made desolate. The great cities of the Philistines shall be reduced to rubble. The lands of the Moabites and Ammonites shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah, the Cushites shall be slain, and the mighty Assyrian Empire shall fall and be made a wasteland. “This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts. 11 The LORD will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations” (10-11). God will nevertheless re-establish and prosper the faithful remnant. Such is his amazing grace and mercy. In the meantime, they must walk by faith, trusting and obeying God.
To ponder! And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved (Rom.9:27).
Bible Challenge: Day 547 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 60 & Zephaniah 3
Isaiah 60 foretells the future restoration of Israel. The prophet begins, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you” (1). The Israel of God will be a beacon of light to the nations sitting in darkness in that day (2-3). They will draw rich and poor alike from the nations of the earth to their light. Men and women will be born again to respond to their good news and will consequently be added to Christ’s church as sons and daughters by the Spirit of adoption. The people of God will rejoice and glorify God (4-5). The church will flourish, and God’s benediction will rest upon her. He will beautify his beautiful house (6-7). God will manifest his glorious grace (8-9). Deserving of judgement God showed mercy to the remnant of his people who will once again grow and thrive in his appointed time (10). Their gates will be continuously open to new converts, but their adversaries will perish. Rulers will acknowledge and pay tribute to them. The humble and hopeful will find a home among them and the nations shall call them ‘the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel’ (11-14). They will become the joy of the world (15). “You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (16). Righteousness, peace, and joy shall characterise the church of God which will be known for God’s salvation and praise (17-18). The LORD will be the everlasting light and glory of his people (19-20). They will forever rightly express their gratitude for God’s amazing grace. And therefore, the chapter concludes with God’s declaration, “Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. 22 The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it” (21-22).
Zephaniah 3 begins with God’s judgement upon Jerusalem. She ignored God’s word, refused to trust him, or return to his in faith and repentance (1-2). While God is righteous and just her officials and ministers in church and state are corrupt, covetous, callous, and cruel (3-5). God has given them ample warnings and opportunity to turn away from their wickedness, but they have eschewed his correction and overtures of grace (6-7). However, God will judge all the nations and they cannot evade his justice (. The prophet foretells that their fall from grace will lead to the future conversion of the nations by God’s effectual grace (9-11). Nevertheless, God will preserve a remnant. He says, “But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid” (12-13). The remainder of the chapter (14-20) is a paeon of praise that foretells Zion’s restoration, rejuvenation, and rejoicing. They will rejoice and exult because God has forgiven and saved them and reestablished them as the apple of his eye (14-16). God will dwell amid his people and rejoice over them with gladness and manifest his limitless love (17). God will judge their enemies and transform their shame to praise (18-19). They shall become the renown of all the earth. “At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD” (20). Such is the goodness of God. Praise his holy name.
To ponder: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Rom.11:33-36).
Bible Challenge: Day 548 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 61 & Haggai 1
Isaiah 61 foretells the ministry of God’s Christ. Anticipating the Lord Jesus, God declares through his prophet, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”(1). This is the ‘year of the LORD’s favour’. It marks the beginning of the day of grace. It also hastens God’s judgement upon sinners that ignore or reject the gospel of Christ. However, to all who turn to his in faith and repentance God will “comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit (2-3). God will be glorified in the salvation and transformation of his people. He shall be gracious to them, and they will rebuild the ancient foundations (4). God’s benediction will rest upon them. They will willingly worship, witness, and work for God as a kingdom and priests. Strangers will serve them and be drawn to the Israel of God (5-6). Their shame will be turned to honour. Their sadness to rejoicing because of God’s everlasting covenant of peace and love (7-8). “Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed” (9). The chapter concludes with the prophet personifying or representing God’s faithful remnant exalting God and exulting in his good news. For God will clothe his people in the garments of salvation and cover them in the robe of his righteousness (10). “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations” (11).
Haggai 1 prophesied to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, in the second year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia (1). The exiled Judeans had returned to Judea and the Holy City from Babylon but the Temple still lay in ruins. God, therefore, asked his people through his prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” God called his people to consider their ways. “You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes” (2-6). God commanded them to rebuild the House of God “that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified”. They have not and they will not prosper while God’s House lies in ruins. God has withheld his rich blessing from them (9-11). The fear of God stirred the people. And Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people responded positively to God’s word spoken through Haggai (12). God assured his church of his presence with them and favour towards them (13). And he moved and motivated them to begin rebuilding the Temple ‘on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king’ (14-15).
To ponder! When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126).
Bible Challenge: Day 549 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 62 & Haggai 2
Isaiah 62 again focuses on Zion’s future salvation. Her righteousness will go forth brightly and her salvation will be as a burning torch (1). It will be evident to all and a light to the nations who will be drawn to her (2). The prophet confidently declares, “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (3). They shall no longer be forsaken, nor will their land be left desolate because God will delight in them and dwell with them (4). “For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (5). God’s ministers will remind the people of his promises and of the requirement to remain faithful (6). By God’s grace his Jerusalem will be restored and rejuvenated to the praise and glory of the living and true God (7). And God will protect and prosper his people forevermore (8-9). While God will do this the people must not think that they are merely passive observers. Rather they must worship, work, and witness in readiness for the revival (10). The chapter concludes with the prophet announcing, “Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” 12 And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken” (11-12). Isaiah anticipated the New Covenant era. The Great Commission continues.
Haggai 2 foretells the coming glory of the Temple. The word of God again came to Haggai who communicated it to Zerubbabel, the governor, Joshua, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people (1-2). He asked, “‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (3). Evidently, the rebuilt Temple was not as glorious a building to behold as the one desecrated, looted, and destroyed by the Babylonians. Yet, God urges the leaders in state and church, and the people to be strong because he was with them and for them. God will fulfil his covenant promises to them (4-5). He will fill his House with glory (6-7). He reminds his people that he rules, and his resources are unlimited. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts” (. And therefore, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts’” (9). Again, the word of God came to Haggai concerning the worship practices of the Temple. And he in turn proclaimed it to the priests that served in the House of God (10-19). They must adhere to the regulative principle of worship. In other words, God commands them to worship in accordance with the rites and rituals he has given his Old Testament church, which were inscripturated in the Law or Torah. Grace and mercy flow from and are to be appropriated thereby. God makes clear that forgiveness and fruitfulness follow faithfulness. The church is called to trust and obey God. Haggai similarly communicated God’s word to Zerubbabel assuring him that God would protect his people from their enemies who would be destroyed. Zerubbabel will be made ‘like a signet ring’ through whom God will sign and seal his word and fulfill his promises (20-23).
To ponder! Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,[c] and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken (Jn.2:19-22).
Bible Challenge: Day 550 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 63 & Zechariah 1
Isaiah 63 foretells and contrasts God’s day of vengeance with his year of salvation. God’s Christ appears in Zion having triumphed over the enemies of God, symbolised in the nation of Edom which was contemptuous toward God, his ways, and his people. The blood-stained and all-conquering Christ speaks in righteousness and is mighty to save (1). He tells his church, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples, no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come” (2-4). Christ the Saviour is also Christ the King and Judge of all (5-6). The prophet, speaking on behalf of the faithful, confidently declares, that he will remember the steadfast love, goodness, and compassion of the LORD. God in Christ is the Saviour of his church who will ever remember and rejoice that he redeemed them in his limitless love, measureless mercy, and glorious grace (7-9). Despite the reality that they had rebelled and grieved the Spirit of God, God, as he did in the days of Moses, will have pity on them and save them by his glorious arm (mighty power) (10-14). “So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.” Therefore, the remainder of the chapter is the prophet’s prayer for compassion and mercy for the sake of God’s church and the glory of his name. He pleads with God the Father to look down from heaven on his holy and beautiful habitation (15-16). And asks, “O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. 18 Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. 19 We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name” (17-19). God’s people are ever dependent on his grace.
If Haggai was primarily concerned with the rebuilding of the House of God in the Holy City, Zechariah focuses on the preparation of the holy people, the church, to worship God in spirit and in truth in the rebuilt Temple. And therefore Zechariah 1 begins with God’s call through his prophet to repentance and renewed faith. God says to the remnant who have returned to the Holy Land and Holy City from exile in Babylon, “Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds” (1-4). While people and generations come and go, God’s word abides forever, and God’s people must trust and obey it. “So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us’” (5-6). Verses 7-17 contain a vision of a horseman astride a red horse with others following close behind. They have patrolled the earth and noted that while the fallen world lies in complacent and contemptuous rest, Jerusalem has no peace. An angel (messenger) of the LORD, therefore, asks, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ And God responded graciously and compassionately. Zechariah is to cry out to the people and reassure them that God is with them and for them once again. His House will be rebuilt, and he will protect and prosper his people. “Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’” Such is the undeserved favour of God towards his church. We are not only recipients of God’s grace but are ever dependent upon him.
To ponder! Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Ps.2:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 551 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 64 & Zechariah 2
Isaiah 64 begins with the prophet’s earnest prayer to God. He cries, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence… to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! (1-2). Isaiah recalls God’s glorious interventions in past centuries when he rescued his people, and guided, protected, and provided for them, and gave them victory over their enemies (3-4). The prophet acknowledges no God besides the LORD who is the one, living, and true God. He recognises the children of Israel’s (Israel-Judah) call to keep God’s commandments and walk before him in humility, love, and uprightness but alas they have grievously sinned against God and broken his covenant (5). “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (6). He laments the faithlessness of the Old Testament church and the consequences that flow from it. God is a stranger to Israel because they have forsaken him (7). Nevertheless, trusting in God’s faithfulness and his grace, love, and mercy, the prophet pleads with God the Father to have pity on them and turn away his righteous anger against their iniquity (8-9). They are deserving of wrath, but Isaiah begs for grace. Zion has become a wilderness and the Holy City a desolation (10). “Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins” (11). He asks, “Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?”
Zechariah 2 records the prophet’s vision of a man measuring the width and length of Jerusalem which is Zion - and which acts as a symbol or type for the true church of God (1-3). In the vision an angel says, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” God is going to restore his people, rebuild his church, and prosper and protect her (4-5). God will summons his people and gather them from the places of their exile (6). “Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon” (7). Babylon acts as a symbol for the world in opposition to God and his church in the New Testament scriptures. God’s people are the apple of his eye, and he will punish their enemies (8-9). The church will worship God and rejoice in his presence. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD” (10). Anticipating and foretelling our New Covenant era, the prophet is assured that many people will be added to their number from the nations of the earth (11). “And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem” (12). Such, the prophet declares, will be the doing of the LORD and it will it will be wondrous to behold. His people will marvel at his amazing grace and his enemies will be silenced (13).
To ponder: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chron.7:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 552 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 65 & Zechariah 3
Isaiah 65 communicates the folly of forsaking and ignoring God’s word and with it his overtures of grace. God declares, “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me” (1). He repeatedly called them to repentance and faith and spread out his arms to embrace them in love but tragically they continued in their idolatry and iniquities (2-5). Rejecting grace, they must therefore face God’s justice. He will judge them according to their sin (6-7). Nevertheless, God will preserve the faithful remnant that remains among them (v8). “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there” (9). Those recipients of grace that trust and obey God will be blessed whereas those that rebelled and rejected God will be condemned (10-12). God says, “behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you [that rejected God and his commandments] shall be put to shame; 14 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit” (13-14). God’s people will walk before him in faith, love, and truth (15-16). God will create a new heavens and new earth in which dwells righteousness, peace, and joy (17-18). “I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress” (19). God’s church will be holy, healthy, and happy therein (20-22). “They shall not labour in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them” (23). They will enjoy uninterrupted fellowship and friendship with God and love and peace will prevail (24-25).
Zechariah 3 contains a vision of Joshua the high priest. Standing before him is the Angel of the LORD who is possibly Christ, and Satan who makes accusations against Joshua who represents the church. God rebukes the Accuser. He has saved his people personified in Joshua who stands before God in his filthy robes which act as a symbol of his unrighteousness before God. Such is man (male and female) in his fallen state. God says to him, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” (1-4), which are the righteousness of Christ. By God’s amazing grace, Joshua is suitably attired and sanctified for service to God and his church (5). Then the Angel of the LORD assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here” (6-7). Joshua is told of the coming of God’s Christ, the Branch, who will be the Lord and Saviour of the church. He will triumph over his enemies, make atonement for sin, and his righteousness will be imputed to all who receive and rest in him by faith. Christ will make reconciliation and restore harmony and happiness among God and his people (8-10).
To ponder! “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jer.23:5-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 553 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 66 & Zechariah 4
In Isaiah 66 God reminds his hearers and readers that he is sovereign, and he requires of his people that they be humble, contrite, and tremble at his word (1-2). That is, that they trust and obey him. He makes clear that it is not enough to call on his name and worship him if one continues to ignore or reject his commands and teaching revealed in his word (3-4). Too often the Old Testament church did what was right in its own eyes rather than keep faith with God. Yes, and much of the church in our New Covenant era continues in the same folly! They contaminated his worship and ignored his commandments. God says, “they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.” And yet while they saw no wrong in their beliefs and practices, they were presumptuously, complacently, and conceitedly bringing judgement upon themselves (5-6). And yet, God will preserve and show grace, love, and mercy to the faithful remnant. God will bring about a new birth, a new beginning. He will fulfil and bring to completion his plans and purposes as promised. Zion will yet give birth to her children (7-9). God declares, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance” (10-11). God will comfort his people and give them cause to rejoice. For he will establish the City of Peace, which is a symbol for his faithful and true church, and “extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream (12-14). The remainder of the chapter and the conclusion of the book focuses on the Final Judgement and the glory of God. He will suddenly and unexpectedly come to punish and destroy all evil (15-17). The omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God will gather all before him and judge the world in perfect righteousness. While the wicked will be eternally condemned God’s people shall worship him and declare and rejoice in his glory (18-21, 24). “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. 23 From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD” (22-23). Praise the LORD.
Zechariah 4 records the vision of the golden lampstand. The angel that communicated to the prophet woke him and asked him what he saw? Zechariah responded by saying that he could see a golden lampstand with a bowl on top of it with seven lamps with lips on each. And on either side of it, he saw an olive tree (1-3). Somewhat confused, the prophet asked what they represented or what was the meaning of the vision? (4-6). The angel responded, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” (6-7). God’s word then came to the prophet who was assured that God was with Zerubbabel in the rebuilding of the House of God (8-9). And “whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel” (10). It was further explained to Zechariah that the seven lamps symbolised the omniscience of God who beheld all things throughout the earth. The two branches of the olive trees beside the two golden pipes from which oil was poured represented “the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (11-14). The oil symbolised the Spirit of God which set apart, empowered, and equipped the two figures, Zerubbabel and Joshua, for God’s service in rebuilding the Temple and re-establishing the true worship of God. By God’s grace, his servants will succeed in their mission.
To ponder! To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified (Isa.61:3).
Bible Challenge: Day 554 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1 & Zechariah 5
Jeremiah 1 begins by informing the reader that Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah and was a priest from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. He was therefore a Levite by descent, and he prophesied to the southern kingdom of Judah-Benjamin with its capital Jerusalem in the days of Kings Josiah and Zedekiah (1-3). God declared to him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (4). Afraid, Jeremiah, however, sought to excuse himself from God’s commission arguing that he was too young, was not eloquent, and was too inexperienced (5-6). God nevertheless urged him not to be afraid and assured him that he would be present with him, would provide the words he was to speak, and would protect him from his adversaries (7-8). God touched the prophet’s mouth and said, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (9-10). God then gave a vision of an almond branch and reassured Jeremiah that what he saw was from God (11-12). He then saw a boiling pot facing away from the North and God told him that disaster was coming upon Judah from that direction. Invaders would besiege the land and the Holy City (13-15). God was going to judge Judah for forsaking him, his commandments and covenant. They had embraced evil in the form of idolatry and iniquity (16). Jeremiah is told not to be dismayed but rather to prophesy against them as commanded by God (17). He is forewarned that the people of Judah, including their rulers in church and state, will universally oppose him for his message of woe, but God will protect him and deliver him from their attacks (18-19). The prophet must faithfully proclaim God’s word. He is but a messenger or herald sent by God to a wayward and wicked people.
Zechariah 5 records two visions given by God to Zechariah. The first was of a flying scroll which symbolised God’s indictment upon Judah and its capital Jerusalem for its ungodliness and unrighteousness (1-2). God told his prophet, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side” (3). God was going to condemn the callous, covetous, careless, and complacent for their wickedness (4). There follows a vision of a woman in a basket (5-11). God’s messenger (the angel) asked the prophet to lift up his eyes and see what is going on, and he told Zechariah, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land” (5-6). The prophet saw a woman sitting in the basket pressed down with a heavy weight. She symbolised the wickedness of the people weighed down with their sin (7-8). Again, Zechariah looked up and saw another two women who had the wings of a stork. And they carried the basket away with the woman in it (9-10). Enquiring where they were taking the basket, the angel told Zechariah, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base” (11). Shinar is Babylon where God’s church would be taken into captivity for their defiance, disobedience, and degeneracy. God will nevertheless there graciously preserve the faithful remnant and restore them to the promised land in the fulness of time.
To ponder! For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling (Isa.30:15).
Bible Challenge: Day 555 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 2 & Zechariah 6
In Jeremiah 2 God instructed the prophet to prophesy against Jerusalem. Despite the inhabitants’ glorious heritage as God’s uniquely chosen people who enjoyed God’s presence, provision, and protection they had ‘went after worthlessness and became worthless (1-5). The children of Israel forgot or ignored how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. He had led them though the wilderness, providing for their needs and protecting them from their enemies. He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey, along with his covenant and commandments and blessed them greatly (6-7). However, God declares, “But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination (7). Their priests failed to call the people out for their iniquity and ingratitude, and worse they adopted and worshipped the false god’s of the surrounding nations (. God now righteously contends against them for their sin (9-10). He asks, “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (11-13). Having forgotten and forsaken the one, living, and true God who had been their rock and refuge, they only compounded their evil by placing their trust in worldly powers (14-19). Giving expression to the lusts of the fallen nature they turned to spiritual adultery and degeneracy (20-25). The House of Israel will therefore be shamed for its idolatrous and iniquitous folly. Rather than repent and believe in God who is omnipotent they have placed their hope in impotent man-made deities (26-28). They have ignored, resisted, and rejected God’s discipline and calls to repent. They have stubbornly and stupidly refused to acknowledge their sin against God and their neighbour. And consequently, they have brought God’s judgement upon themselves (29-37).
Zechariah 6 is divided by a vision and a command. The vision reminds Zechariah and subsequently his hearers and readers that God is the Ruler of the nations. He providentially governs the world and is in control of history. His will be done. The command is then given to make clear to the prophet and others that God is King of his church through his Christ who was typified in Joshua (the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus) who anticipated the Branch who was to come in the fulness of time. In the vision the prophet witnesses four chariots emerging between two mountains of bronze. The chariots had powerful red, black, white, and dappled horses in turn (1-3). The prophet enquired of the angel as to the meaning of the vision and was told, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth” (5). The chariot with the black horses went towards the north country, with the one with the white horses following in their train (6). Israel and Judah’s conquerors, Assyria and Babylon had emerged from the North, but they were merely instruments in the sovereign plan and purpose of God. By contrast God’s chariots of fire and powerful horses keenly went to patrol the earth as God’s servants symbolise God’s sovereign power and rule (7). The angel told Zechariah, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” While God’s people were exiled in Babylon, they would be restored to the Holy Land and would rebuild God’s House by God’s amazing grace. And so, God’s word came to the prophet. He was instructed to take gold and silver from certain exiles and go to the house of Josiah and make a crown. It was to be set on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest (9-11). He was told to say, ‘“Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honour, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ The crown will be a reminder to those that were in exile and future generations that God fulfils his promises. Nevertheless, while God is sovereign, his church must diligently and dutifully trust and obey his word (14-15).
To ponder! The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death (Ps.68:17-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 556 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 3 & Zechariah 7
Jeremiah 3 begins with God comparing his people to an adulterous wife who had left her husband for many lovers. She is now divorced and has become another man’s wife. And God asks, “If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her?” (1-2). God calls them to consider their ways. They pray to God in their extremity, calling him Father, and asking why he has turned his favour from them, but they foolishly fail to forsake their apostasy, idolatry, and immorality (3-5). They have embraced syncretism despite the clear warnings given in the scriptures to eschew the false gods of the world and the practices associated with them. And so, during the reign of Josiah, God spoke to Jeremiah and asked him, “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? 7 And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. 9 Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. 10 Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD” (6-10). That Judah was repeating Israel’s great and grave folly made her sin even worse in God’s sight (11). God, therefore, commands Jeremiah to call the captive remnant of Israel scattered among the nations to the North to repent and return to God. If they acknowledge their rebellion and guilt and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness, he will bring them back to Zion (12-14). And God will provide them with faithful pastors to give them knowledge and understanding to worship and serve him in spirit and in truth (15). God will provide for them, protect them, and prosper them once again. They will be united with their separated brothers and sisters in the one true church and shall enjoy communion with God and one another as a people rooted and built up in love (16-18). God had given them a pleasant land and a beautiful heritage, but they had forsaken him and his ways (19-20). Therefore, the voice of the weeping prophet is heard pleading with Israel’s sons to turn back to God in faith and repentance (21). “Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.” Jeremiah earnestly prays, “Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God. 23 Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel” (22-23). Israel has dishonoured and shamed itself and suffered the consequences of its defiance and disobedience to God (24-25). They must therefore humbly turn back to him in repentance as prodigals.
In Zechariah 7 the word of the LORD came to the prophet in the fourth year of King Darius of Persia’s reign. The people of Bethel had sent representatives to the priests and prophets asking if they should mourn and fast during the fifth month as was their custom (1-3). In response, God questions the sincerity of his visible church and commands Zechariah to ask the people and their priests, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?” (4-6). Former prophets had repeatedly posed the same question to their predecessors during times of peace and prosperity, but they had nonchalantly and carelessly failed to consider or correct their ways (7). God, therefore, communicated to Zechariah to remind the people of their call to “Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” Their forebears alas refused to hear and heed God’s word and warnings and suffered the consequences. Their diamond-hard hearts had made them deaf to God’s overtures of grace and mercy (11-12). God declared, “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, 14 “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.” Through his prophet, God is making clear to his church that they must hear and heed his word. They must trust and obey God.
To ponder! But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (Js.1:22).
Bible Challenge: Day 557 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 4 & Zechariah 8
In Jeremiah 4 God promises to forgive and restore the remnant of Israel if they should turn from their detestable practices and swear ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory” (1-2). He similarly calls Judah and Jerusalem to circumcise their hearts. That is, they must repent, fear the LORD, and walk in all his ways, which is to love God and their neighbour. Otherwise, God will judge them for their evil deeds (3-4). The prophet warns the people of Judah and Jerusalem that destruction and disaster is coming upon them from the North (Babylon) (5-7). They must, therefore, cry to God for mercy. “For this put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us” (. Without God’s protection, their rulers will cower and flee before the mighty army of Babylon. Their priests and prophets who had deceitfully assured the people that they need not worry for God was with them while they defied and disobeyed him, will be appalled and astounded (9-10). Babylon’s invasion, however, is God’s judgement upon his church for their sin (11-12). “Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles—woe to us, for we are ruined! 14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?” (13-14). Tragically, the prophet must proclaim Judah and Jerusalem’s imminent doom (15-18). He expresses his deep anguish at the fall of God’s church (19-21). He cries out in great distress, “For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not” (22). The prophet was given a glimpse of the desolation and dearth of faith throughout the world and the shock at the ruination of Jerusalem (23-26). Yet, this is God’s judgement upon a stiff-necked and sinful people who wilfully forsaken him to embrace idolatry and iniquity. Lamentably they reject God’s call through his minister to repent and believe (27-31).
Zechariah 8 proclaims the restoration of Jerusalem. God declares, “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain” (1-3). God is going to save his people. He will gather the remnant and bring them back to the Holy City. Young and old alike shall dwell in peace and prosperity (4-8). God says, “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” He therefore calls the people to be confident, courageous, and committed. God will bless their worship, work, and witness. And they will flourish by faith and be respected among the nations once again (9-13). ‘For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not” (14-15). God people, nevertheless, must remain faithful and true (16-17). Their fasting will turn to feasting. Seasons of joy and gladness are on the way by God’s amazing grace. They must therefore love truth and peace (18-19). In that day people shall come from near and far seeking the favour of God (20-22). ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (23).
To ponder! Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God (Ps.98:1-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 558 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 5 & Zechariah 9
Jeremiah 5 records Jerusalem’s refusal to repent. There was no one that sought justice and truth. Yet, they falsely spoke and acted in God’s name. Tragically, they refused correction by God’s word which is given not only for training in righteousness but to reprove and correct his people (2Tim.3:16-17). The prophet declared, “They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent” (1-3). Jeremiah pitied them and reasoned that he could correct their ignorance and folly. He had been determined to teach their rulers the way of the LORD and the justice of God, but they would not hear and heed him (4-5). God will therefore judge them for their transgressions and apostasies (6). They have been unfaithful and have committed spiritual adultery. God says, therefore, “Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” (7-9). They have brought disaster upon themselves by rejecting their Helper and by acting treacherously towards him (10-12). Even their preachers proclaim not the word of God (13). The remainder of the chapter is God’s proclamation of judgement against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. God is about to withdraw his protecting hand and their nation, and its capital will be invaded and conquered by foreigners (14-17). They turned to foreign gods and now they will serve a foreign nation in captivity. Yet God will preserve a remnant and will restore them in the fulness of time (18-19). God calls Jeremiah to proclaim his judgement upon the children of Jacob who as a foolish and senseless people have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear. Stubborn and rebellious they have turned aside from God and gone far astray. The fear of the LORD was no longer in them. They neither revered nor respected God. They trampled his law of love under their feet and gave full expression to the fallen nature (20-29). God says, An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” (30-31).
Zechariah 9 begins with God’s judgement against his people’s enemies. They have prospered at Israel’s expense, but they will be stripped bare of their wealth and brought to ruination (1-4). God will strike fear into the hearts of the church’s adversaries. He will abase the arrogant and proud of the surrounding nations but preserve, restore, and raise up the remnant of his people and be their rock and refuge (5-8). He will gloriously fulfil his promises to his people in and through his Christ in the fulness of time. And therefore, the prophet foretells the coming of the Servant King and declares, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (9). God’s people will be more than conquerors in and through his Messiah, their Lord and Saviour. He will defeat the enemies of God through the blood of his covenant of peace. He will liberate and save his people and provide hope and victory to his church (10-13). He will go forth conquering and to conquer. He will gather, protect, and prosper his people from among the nations of the earth. He will destroy the wicked. “On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. 17 For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women” (14-17). Praise God for the Saviour. Praise God for so great salvation. God is with and for his people in Immanuel.
To ponder! And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 5 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” (Jn.12:4-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 559 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 6 & Zechariah 10
Jeremiah 6 provides an urgent warning to flee the Holy City because disaster and destruction are imminent (1). The opulence and splendour of Jerusalem will be raised to the ground or stripped bare. The City of Peace and prosperity will be destroyed and looted by warriors from the North and will be left desolate and a place where shepherds will graze their flocks (2-3). Their enemies will attack at night adding to the terror and the resultant chaos and confusion (4-5). The darkness of night possibly symbolises the absence of light in Jerusalem whose people has turned away from the Light of the World and embraced the darkness of idolatry and iniquity. Despite the clear warnings in God’s word that defiance and disobedience would bring judgement upon them, they have ignored repeated warnings to repent and return to God and his law of love. And now Babylon is God’s instrument of punishment (6-7). God declared, “Be warned, O Jerusalem, lest I turn from you in disgust, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land” ( . There shall be no escape. The ears of the people are described as uncircumcised. They are deaf to the word of God (9-10). And have provoked God’s wrath by their sinfulness. They have rejected their only hope and help which is in God. And so, many shall be killed by the invaders and others taken captive as slaves back to Babylon. Their homes and possessions will be either looted and destroyed or taken possession of by foreigners (11-12). Their priests and pastors were no better and would suffer the same fate. They have dealt treacherously with God and his visible church. They had failed to admonish and reprove the people. They had proclaimed, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (14). God asks, “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?” And answers, “No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush” (15). ‘Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’ (16). God sent prophets to call them back from the way of danger and destruction. He set watchman over them to blow the trumpet of warning but alas they have stubbornly persisted on the wide road that leads to destruction! (17-19). Even their worship and invocation of God’s name is an affront to him while they continue in their waywardness and wickedness (20-21). They have courted judgement and now it will come upon them in the instrumentality of Babylon (22-23). They will be overwhelmed by the invaders. They will not be able to evade their fierce and cruel enemy (24-25). With a heavy heart, the prophet cries, “O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us” (26). Tragically, they have rebelled against God and rejected him. And now “Rejected silver they are called, for the LORD has rejected them” (27-30).
Zechariah 10 records the restoration of Israel and Judah by God’s wondrous grace and mercy. Unlike the impotent false gods of the nations that had so enchanted and intoxicated the Old Testament church, God aids and provides for his people (1). “For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation” (2). God’s people having succumbed to the allure of the surrounding culture or world and had foolishly wandered from God’s green pastures and still waters like sheep without a shepherd. Their leaders in church and state had provoked God’s righteous anger by their collusion in falsehood and folly. Yet God cares and shows compassion to his flock. God will gather and strengthen his people. He shall restore them to the land flowing with milk and honey and rebuild his church (3-6). The remnant of Israel (Ephraim) shall be rejoined with those of Judah. They will be redeemed and renewed, and they will together rejoice in the LORD (7-8). Although scattered among the nations they shall live and return home. God will be their guide and governor once again. He will judge and condemn their enemies and abase the proud (9-11). ‘“I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD’ (12).
To ponder! preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2Tim.4:2-4).
Bible Challenge: Day 560 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 7 & Zechariah 11
In Jeremiah 7 the word of God came again to the prophet who was commanded to communicate it to the people of Judah and Jerusalem (1-2). ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ And Jeremiah complied (3-4). The people had presumptuously thought that despite their defiance of God and disobedience to his law that God would bless them because they continued to frequent and keep rituals and rites associated with the Temple. However, they must immediately repent. Judgement is imminent. They must turn from their idolatry, iniquity, and injustice to God for forgiveness (5-7). But tragically they will not listen. They are conceited and continue in their deceptive ways, polluting and desecrating the worship of God and exploiting the vulnerable. They have turned God’s house into a den of robbers. Therefore, like the northern kingdom of Ephraim, they will be cast out of the Promised Land (8-15). God tells Jeremiah not to pray for them anymore. They have shunned God’s grace and provoked his righteous wrath by their wilful wickedness (16-20). They have forgotten their call and forsaken God and his ways despite their token worship. God had commanded his church, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you’ (21-23). But alas, ‘they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward’ (24). Yet God mercifully sent them prophet after prophet to call them back to faith and repentance, but they ignored them and did worse than their forefathers (25-26). Jeremiah has pleaded with them in vain and God now declares, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips’ (27-28). Therefore, he instructs the prophet, “‘Cut off your hair and cast it away; raise a lamentation on the bare heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath’ (29). They have defiled the holy things and engaged in detestable practices. Their idols will not save them. Spurning God’s grace, they stand condemned by the law. Disaster, destruction, and death await. God declares, ‘And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste’ (30-34).
Like Jeremiah 7, Zechariah 11 foretells a day of destruction and devastation that was coming upon the deceitful and wicked. Unfaithful shepherds (leaders) and flock (people) alike will perish. The sound will be heard near and far of wailing shepherds ‘for their glory is ruined’ (1-3). God appoints Zechariah to become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. Their leaders have failed to feed and care for the flock but rather have exploited them for their own selfish and nefarious purposes (4-5). God declares, moreover, “For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land.” Rather God is going to withdraw his restraining grace and permit them to devour one another (6). Zechariah in a highly symbolic gesture, then took two staffs, one named ‘favour’ and the other ‘union’ and he tended the sheep (the people) but they rebelled and rejected his ministry (7-8). And so, he turned his back on them and let them go their sinful ways. He broke the staff symbolising God’s favour or grace, thereby annulling the covenant that he had made with the surrounding nations to protect his scattered sheep. Thereby the flock was exposed to predation (9-11). He received a pitiful thirty pieces of silver for his wages which was the price of a slave and which he threw to the potter, in another symbolic gesture of God’s rejection of his people’s offerings and worship (12-13). He then proceeded to break his second staff which represented ‘union’, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel (14). The LORD instructed Zechariah, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs” (15-16). God declares, “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!” (17).
To ponder! He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers” (Mt.21:13).
Bible Challenge: Day 561 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 8 & Zechariah 12
Jeremiah 8 foretells the grim and grave consequences of the coming judgement upon Jerusalem and Judah. The bodies of rich and poor alike, including royalty, governors, priests, and prophets, slain at the hands of the Babylonian invaders will be left to rot under the stars which they had foolishly worshipped. The graves of the existing dead will similarly be opened, looted, and their remains left exposed to the sun and moon (1-2). And ‘Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, declares the LORD of hosts’ (3). God commands Jeremiah to confront the Old Testament church for its refusal to repent (4-5). God was ready to receive and restore the penitent but there were none. Tragically, they did not understand their call to keep God’s commandments, nor did they recognise their dependency and reliance on God’s grace and mercy for his presence, provision, and protection (6-7). They thought themselves wise, but they were fools. They presumptuously called on the name of the LORD while defiantly ignoring his word and breaking his covenant and commands (8-9). Their priests and prophets were no better, possibly worse given their special call and responsibility within the church. Alas, they were conceited and covetous, and they colluded in falsehood, proclaiming peace to an unfaithful and unrepentant people rather than reproving and correcting them. Therefore, they too will perish in the approaching calamity (10-13). The people respond and ask, “Why do we sit still? Gather together; let us go into the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us to perish and has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. 15 We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror” (14-15). God’s judgement is imminent. The enemy invasion force is fast approaching (16-17). Jeremiah mourns for Judah. He cries out in deep anguish and sorrow, “My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick within me.” And asks, “Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” (18-19). He acknowledges that the endless and endemic idolatry and iniquity have provoked God to righteous wrath. The refusal of the people to repent and believe has brought disaster upon them. He laments, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” And again adds, “For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.” He asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?” The day of grace has passed. The day of reckoning or judgement is come.
Zechariah 12 foretells the restoration and renewal of God’s people through the House of David which anticipates David’s son and Lord who is God’s Christ. The Creator God who is Lord of all will create a new society out of the apparent chaos and confusion of the world centring on Jerusalem, the City of Peace, where God will make peace by the blood of Christ’s cross. Though a fallen and hostile world will gather and oppose Judah which symbolises God’s church, ‘the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God’ (1-5). The holy city will be reoccupied and restored, and God’s people will ultimately conquer in and through God’s Christ (6). God will save his adopted children. He will protect his church. And he will destroy her enemies (7-9). God says, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (10). Those that opposed God’s Christ will grieve their great folly and wickedness and find forgiveness, regeneration, and reunion by God’s amazing grace, love, and mercy (11-14).
To ponder! And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (Jn.3:19-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 562 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 9 & Zechariah 13
Jeremiah 9 continues the prophet’s lament for the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have shown themselves apostate and treacherous and have proceeded from evil to evil. Tragically, despite their token religiosity, they know not God. Rather they have rejected and forsaken the one, living, and true God and his word (1-3). As a result, not only do they no longer love God, but they do not even love one another. They are deceitful and no longer trust their neighbour. They slander and speak falsehood against each other. They heap oppression upon oppression and deceit upon deceit as they give full expression to the fallen nature (4-6). Their selfishness and sinfulness are worthy of judgement (7-9). Therefore, the land will be left desolate. God declares, “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant” (10-11). The prophet asks if there is anyone with enough sense to understand the reason for the approaching calamity? (12). ‘And the LORD says: “Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, 14 but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them” (13-14). Therefore, they will be consumed by God’s righteous wrath (15-16). The day of mourning has arrived. Zion has brought great shame and ruination upon itself (17-19). The women should hear and heed the warning and prepare their daughters to lament to loss of their husbands and sons who will be slain by the fierce and cruel Babylonian invaders (20-21). “Thus declares the LORD, ‘The dead bodies of men shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves after the reaper, and none shall gather them’” (22). Moreover, God declared, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” God will therefore punish proud and unrepentant sinners, sparing not even those that bare the outward marks of church membership, like Judah (25-26).
Zechariah 13 anticipates the day of salvation when “there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (1). God will banish the idols that intoxicated and so enslaved his people, and they will be remembered no more. He will purify and cleanse his church of all uncleanness. Moreover, false prophets will no longer lead the people astray (2-3). They will repent of their lies and be thankful to those that called them out and corrected them (4-6). Anticipating and foretelling God’s Christ, the Good Shepherd, who will save his people through his life, death, and resurrection, God declares through his prophet, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me”. Prophesying the trauma and terror that Christ’s disciples will momentarily experience on the night of his betrayal and the day of his passion culminating in his cross, death and burial, he continues, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones” (7). Anticipating the time of the occupation of the land and the destruction of the Temple, Zechariah says, “In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God’” (8-9). Christ’s church will experience trials, troubles, and tribulations but they will triumph by the abiding presence and power of the Lord Jesus.
To ponder! And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Lk.11:41-44).
Bible Challenge: Day 563 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 10 & Zechariah 14
In Jeremiah 10 God tells his people to eschew the ways of the world and particularly in its superstitions and idolatry. He likens the idols or false gods of the nations to scarecrows that are made by human hands and placed in a field and adds, “Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good” (1-5). Jeremiah acknowledges that the LORD alone in God. He is the maker and ruler of all. It is the height of ingratitude and folly therefore to worship the constructions of fallen man’s imagination and craftsmanship. “But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation” (6-10). He made the heavens and earth by his power and ordered the world by his wisdom. By contrast, the idols manufactured by fallen man are worthless, are a delusion, and will perish. The prophet adds, “Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name” (11-16). And yet, the Old Testament church has forgotten and forsaken God and followed the ways of the world. Likening his people to a flock, God declares that their shepherds were foolish, had not prospered, and the sheep were scattered (17-21). And now, comes judgement from the North in the shape of the cruel and callous Babylonians (22). Acknowledging God’s sovereignty, Jeremiah prays that God would correct him in justice rather than wrath. And asks God to pour out his wrath upon the church’s enemies and revenge the destruction of Jacob (23-24).
Zechariah 14 again foretells the coming day of the LORD. It will be a day of judgement against his enemies. Jerusalem shall be besieged and looted by the nations. Her women will be abused, and many of her citizens will be forced into exile (1-2). ‘Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward’ (3-4). After the people flee in fear, God the LORD will come with his saints (5). The Lord will be the light of his people and he will prosper them. He will be universally acknowledged and worshipped as Lord among the nations (6-9). The Holy City will be elevated above the cities of the world and shall enjoy God’s peace (10-11). Any that seek it harm will be struck down with disease (12). God’s people will be united and will triumph over their enemies by God’s power and presence (13-15). And those that survive from among the nations will worship the Lord as King. The unrepentant and unbelievers will no longer flourish (16-19). Holiness will be established, and the people will glorify the one, living, and true God and enjoy him in and through Jesus Christ his Son forever (20-21). Here ends the prophecy or Book of Zechariah.
To ponder! “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Mt.25:31-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 564 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 11 & Malachi 1
In Jeremiah 11 God commands the prophet to proclaim a curse upon the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem that have rejected and forsaken his covenant which he gave to their forebears when he brought them into the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. The people of God were chosen and specifically called to hear and heed God’s word, but alas they have failed to keep the faith (1-5). Therefore, Jeremiah must declare on God’s behalf, “For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not” (6-8). Destruction and disaster are coming upon the visible church because of its idolatry and iniquities. God will no longer hear their cries. And their idols like the false god Baal and other popular foreign deities are impotent to help them in the fast-approaching day of calamity (9-13). The prophet need not pray or plead on behalf of the people because the day of grace and mercy has ended. A people once faithful and fruitful have forsaken God and all that is good and true and have embraced evil which has become endemic (14-17). They have ignored repeated calls to repent and warnings against provoking God’s righteous wrath. By contrast, Jeremiah has remained faithful despite the provocations and opposition of his compatriots. He trusts God to judge righteously (18-20). Even those in Jeremiah’s hometown that stupidly sought his life will perish in the year of their punishment (21-23).
The Book of Malachi is the final book in our Old Testament scriptures and chapter 1 begins with God reassuring Israel through his prophet of his particular favour and love towards his chosen people. God declares, “I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated” (1-5). He assures them that they will yet gladly proclaim “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” Yet, God asks his people why they do not honour, reverence, and respect him as they should? He singles out the priests, given charge of the worship of God, and asks why they despise his name by ignoring his word and thereby compromising and corrupting the sacrifices associated with Temple worship (6-8). And yet the priests bid the people to entreat God’s grace. However, God takes no pleasure in their worship and in vain do they call upon his name (9-10). Nevertheless, anticipating our New Covenant era, God says, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts” (11). Israel, however, must stop polluting the Lord’s table by offering stolen and blemished sacrifices contrary to his law (12-13). “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations” (14).
To ponder! O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof (Ps.96:9-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 565 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 12 & Malachi 2
In Jeremiah 12, the prophet, echoing the question of Habakkuk, asks why the wicked prosper and the treacherous thrive? They often have the audacity to take the name of God upon their lips while their hearts are far from him (1-2). Jeremiah prays, “But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you.” He asks God to judge the wicked for their presumption and wilful sinfulness (3-4). God’s reply indicates that Jeremiah’s indignation and weariness will only increase in exile and that even his own family while appearing friendly will deal treacherously towards him (5-6). Therein the prophet’s experience parallels God’s who declares, “I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her” (7-8). For her stubborn and unrepentant defiance, disobedience, desecration, and degeneracy, Judah and Jerusalem will be devoured (9). Her shepherds (ministers-priests) are singled out for bringing desolation and destruction upon the Old Testament church (10-12). As a result, the people “have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD” (13). Therefore, that generation will be plucked out of the land. Many will be slain, while others will be taken into captivity by their enemies (14). And yet God will compassionately and graciously preserve a remnant whom he will bring back to the Land of Promise in the fulness of time (15). He declares, “And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD” (16-17).
In Malachi 2 God warns the priests that if they will not hear and heed his word then a curse will fall upon them and their ministry. God adds, “Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart” (1-2). God will moreover rebuke their posterity if they do not keep his commandments and covenant (3-4). God declares, “My covenant with him [Levi, from whom descended the priesthood] was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.” God makes clear that his ministers should guard knowledge and the people should seek instruction from their faithful ministry of word and sacrament (7). But alas, they have turned their backs on the truth, corrupted the covenant, and led the people astray (. And therefore, they will be abased by God and despised by the church they claimed to serve (9). Malachi therefore rightly asks, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?” (10). Judah and Jerusalem have brought judgement upon themselves by foolishly adopting religious syncretism and by deviating from the law, thereby profaning the worship of God (11-12). Despite their protestations and tears, God will not bless them while they continue faithless and fruitless (13-14). God chose, called, and sanctified them by a portion of his Spirit but they have committed spiritual adultery (15-16). The prophet tells them, “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” (17).
To ponder! “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them (Ezek.34:7-10).
Bible Challenge: Day 566 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 13 & Malachi 3
Jeremiah 13 begins with an acted parable with the prophet obeying God’s commands concerning a loincloth. Heeding God’s instruction, he hid it near the cleft of a rock next to the Euphrates River where it got spoiled and stained and became ‘good for nothing’ (1-7). Then God explained, “Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem” (9). Like the loincloth the Old Testament church has made itself good for nothing by foolishly following the inclinations of their own evil hearts and worshipping the gods of the world rather than the one, living and true God (10). They have forgotten their unique call and commission and broken the covenant that God made with them. Just like the loincloth, Judah and Jerusalem ought to have clung to the LORD their God that they might be a people “a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen” (11). Just like jars filled with wine, so the rulers, priests, and people are drunk on their own folly and will perish thereby (12-14). The people of God are instructed to give glory to God, but they will not hear and heed and therefore a day of doom and darkness is fast approaching. God will weep in secret as their land is made desolate and a remnant of his flock are led away into captivity (15-17). The crown of Judah will fall. There will be no place to escape to or country to seek refuge in even for the royal dynasty (18-19). Anguish and bewilderment will follow at the conquest of the Babylonians. The survivors will come to realise that it was on account of their pride, complacency, idolatry, and great immorality that they brought ruination upon themselves (20-22). God asks, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. 24 I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert. 25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, declares the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies” (23-25). God will expose their shame who have committed spiritual adultery and acted unjustly! (26). The chapter concludes with God’s pronouncement, Woe to you, O Jerusalem!” He asks, “How long will it be before you are made clean?” (27).
Malachi 3 begins by anticipating the ministry of John the Baptist. God says, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me” (1). He will prepare the way for God’s Christ, who is Immanuel, who will sign and seal God’s covenant through his life, death, and resurrection. And so, God adds, “And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts”. He will gather his people to himself. He will save, shape, and sanctify them. He will separate the wheat from the tares, or the sheep from the goats. While he will judge all at the end of the age, that judgement begins in the present. He will justify his people who shall live to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Therefore, God speaking through his prophet asks, “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years” (2-4). God is going to judge his people and punish those that remain faithless and unrepentant (5). God is slow to righteous anger and is longsuffering. He declares, “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts” (6-7). To return is to repent. Israel must turn from its ungodliness and unrighteousness and turn back to God and keep the faith as revealed in his word. If they do so God will bless them. He will make his presence known to them, and will provide for their needs, prosper, and protect them (8-11). “Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts” (12). They must however, turn from, and eschew arrogance, self-centredness, and evil lest they bring a curse upon themselves (13-15). Those that feared the LORD and esteemed his name heard and heeded God and their names were written down in a book of remembrance (16). “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him” (17-18).
To ponder! In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
Bible Challenge: Day 567 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 14 & Malachi 4
Jeremiah 14 is a lament over Judah and Jerusalem who are suffering the dreadful affects of drought, famine, sword, and disease. Rich and poor alike seek relief but find none. They are ashamed, abased, and confounded. Their crops are destroyed and there is no pasture for their livestock which are easy prey for predators (1-6). In their extremity they cry out to God, “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 O you hope of Israel, its saviour in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveller who turns aside to tarry for a night?” (7-8). However, they have tragically brought judgement upon themselves by their refusal to forsake their evil ways. And God no longer hears their cries for help (9-10). Indeed, God tells Jeremiah not to intercede for Judah at the throne of grace for he will not rescue them from sword, famine, and pestilence (11-12). The day of grace has ended, and the night of judgement has fallen upon them, anticipating, and acting as a type of the final judgement spoken of by the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry. Jeremiah’s pleas for the prophets (ministers/pastors) similarly falls on deaf ears because they were no better but worse than the people because they proclaimed falsehoods rather than the word of God (13-14). They and their families too will be consumed by sword and famine, and evil will be their lot (15-16). God further instructs Jeremiah. “You shall say to them this word: ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, with a very grievous blow” (17). Prophet, priest, and people will suffer alike (18). They will cry out in desperation, “Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror” (19). They will acknowledge their great and grave sinfulness and their stupidity in forsaking the one, living, and true God for the idols of the nations but alas only a remnant will be spared and preserved for the glory of God’s grace (20-22).
Malachi 4 concludes the prophecy of Malachi and closes our Old Testament scriptures. There will be no further word from God until the voice of John the Baptist is heard in the wilderness calling the people to repent and be baptised in readiness for the revelation of God’s Christ. Malachi proclaims the coming great day of the LORD “when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch” (1). God will judge and destroy all evil. However, the said day will be glorious one for the true church of God. And so, God, speaking through his prophet, adds, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts” (2-3). God’s people will triumph in and through King Christ, the Son of Righteousness, who will lead them in triumphal procession. He has fulfilled the law given to God’s people via Moses (4). He is the church’s wisdom from God, and its righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. His people will be holy for he is holy and will dwell forever in perfect love for God and one another. However, before his coming God will send a herald. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (5-6). The Lord Jesus says that John the Baptist was God’s Elijah who was to come or a type thereof. We wait patiently for the second coming of Christ, the Final Judgement, and the new heavens and new earth in its spotless perfection and glory.
To ponder! The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2Pt.3:9).
Bible Challenge: Day 568 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 15 & Daniel 1
Jeremiah 15 begins with God telling an evidently anxious and frustrated Jeremiah that even if Moses or Samuel had been interceding for the people of Judah, he would not relent of the judgement that must now fall upon them (1). Pestilence, sword, famine, or captivity will be the lot of that generation who have spurned God’s repeated calls to repent and whose sinfulness knew no bounds (2). They will become a horror to the nations on account of the judgement that fell upon them for their idolatry and immorality, which included sacrificing their children like Manasseh to foreign deities (3-4). And no one will take pity upon them, come to their rescue and relief, or inquire of their welfare. Their widows will be like the sand of the sea in number. They have brought shame and disgrace upon themselves (5-9). There follows Jeremiah’s complaint that the people curse him for proclaiming the word of God. Yet God is with him and will preserve his prophet in the land of captivity (10-14). Jeremiah prays for God’s protection from his enemies and that God would avenge his cause (15). He tells God, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the company of revellers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation (16-17). He further asks, “Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?” (18). God assures him of that he will be his rock and refuge if he continues in the path of faith and repentance (19-20). God promises, “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless” (21).
Daniel 1 begins with the Babylonian conquest of Judah and Jerusalem under the leadership of Emperor Nebuchadnezzar in the reign of Jehoiakim. The Temple was desecrated and plundered of its holy treasures before it was destroyed in the ensuing conflagration. Those that were spared the Babylonian sword were taken off into captivity by the triumphant Babylonian army, including members of the royal family and nobility (1-3). Command had been given by the emperor to spare and enslave ’youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans’ (4). As specially chosen servants of the Babylonian royal house, daily provision was to be made for them from the king’s largesse. And they were to be carefully educated and instructed in the language, customs, and culture of Babylon as well as in courtly etiquette and protocol for the space of three years in preparation for royal service (5). ‘Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego (6-7). Daniel resolved not to defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine and consequently found favour and compassion from God. Moreover, he persuaded the chief eunuch to test them after he had expressed concern that Daniel’s strict diet would impair his demeanour and vitality thereby jeopardising their lives if the king should take offence at their appearance. And so, for ten days, Daniel and his Jewish companions lived on a diet of only vegetables and water (8-14). ‘At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables’ (15-16). God graced Daniel and his companions with an aptitude for learning literature and wisdom. And Daniel was given the peculiar gift of understanding all visions and dreams (17). At the completion of their training they were introduced to royal service where they greatly excelled all others and won the admiration and respect of the emperor (18-19). ‘And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus’ (20-21).
To ponder! Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Col.3:23).
Bible Challenge: Day 569 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 16 & Daniel 2
In Jeremiah 16 God prohibits the prophet from marrying and having children on account of the imminent invasion of Judah and its resultant mass death of the population by sword and famine. Such will be the extent of the coming death and desolation that there will be no one left to attend to the burials of the dead whose remains will be food for scavengers (1-4). The passage paints a very grim and dark picture of the coming catastrophe and reminds the reader of the grave and serious consequence of sin or evil. “For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy, declares the LORD” (5). Jeremiah is not to lament or mourn for either rich or poor. He is not to participate in funereal rites and rituals or offer words of comfort and consolation to the bereaved in that fearful and terrible day. He is not to attend memorial celebrations of those that have lost their lives (6-8). “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will silence in this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (9). When asked by the people why such a calamity has been visited upon Judah and Jerusalem, the prophet is to tell them that it is because they have forsaken God, the faith, and his law of love. They have stubbornly and wilfully repeatedly rejected his overtures of grace and mercy. They have not only refused to repent, but they have wholly given themselves over to idolatry and immorality. God had graciously given them a land flowing with milk and honey so that they might be a beacon of hope, light, and love to the nations, but they have broken his covenant despite its clear warnings. Therefore, they will be ejected from the Promised Land to serve their false gods day and night in a land of captivity (10-13). And yet, in his amazing grace, God will preserve a remnant there and restore them to the land in the fulness of time (14-15). Nevertheless, the present generation will be judged for filling Judah/Jerusalem with iniquity and abominable practices. The faithless and unrepentant people will not evade or escape the judgement of God who is omniscient and omnipotent (16-18). Jeremiah, therefore, acknowledging the great and grave folly of idolatry, prays, “O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. 20 Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!” The LORD however, will make his power and might known that the people will be brought to recognise that he alone is God.
In Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar is greatly troubled by a recurring dream. He suffered insomnia as a result. He therefore summoned his fellow Chaldean magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers, or wizards and diviners but none of them were able to interpret his dream despite his threat of death or promise of great riches to the person that successfully and accurately explained its meaning. However, they told him, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (10-11). In a fit of frustration and rage, Nebuchadnezzar responded by issuing a warrant for the arrest and execution of all the wise men who had been unable to interpret his dream. Daniel, on receiving word of the king’s decree, intervened, and offered to reveal the meaning of the king’s dream (12-16). He asked his Judean companions to pray to God to reveal the meaning of the mystery and for protection from the king’s murderous ire. God answered their prayers. And the mystery was revealed to Daniel. There follows Daniel’s prayer of praise to God who graciously gives wisdom and knowledge and reveals the deep and hidden things (17-22). “To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter” (23). Daniel persuaded Arioch, the king’s chief counsellor and confidante that he knew the meaning of the dream and was therefore hastily given access to the king (25-26).
Daniel made it known to Nebuchadnezzar that only God could reveal the meaning of such mysteries and that he had graciously made it known to Daniel (27-30). He then revealed the king’s dream in accurate detail and proceeded to give its meaning (31-35). The dream revealed God’s sovereignty over history and the great kingdoms of the earth. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian kingdom would be superseded in time by an inferior one, the Medo-Persian, which is turn would be conquered by another (Alexandrian or Greek Empire) which in turn would be followed by the Roman Empire which would in time manifest internal weaknesses leading to its division, decline and eventual fall (36-43). Daniel further explained in contrast that, “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure” (44-45). Nebuchadnezzar accepted Daniel’s interpretation. He humbled himself and paid homage to Daniel as the servant of the God of gods and Lord of kings. He richly rewarded Daniel and appointed him his chief governor over the province of Babylon and chief prefect over the kingdom’s wise men. Daniel further received warrant from the king to appoint his Jewish companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high office in Babylon. And Daniel remained close to the king, serving the kingdom from the royal court (46-49).
To ponder! For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Col.1:16-17).
Bible Challenge: Day 570 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 17 & Daniel 3
Jeremiah 17 begins with a remainder of the stubborn sinfulness of Judah and Jerusalem. The people have spurned every call and command to repent and have brought judgement upon themselves. They have wilfully embraced idolatry and iniquity which has become endemic throughout the land so that they now consider good evil, the evil good. Consequently, the survivors of the Babylonian invasion and conquest will be taken into captivity where they will serve their foreign gods in a foreign land (1-4). God declares, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD” (5). He likens such a person to a barren tree in a desolate landscape (6). Whereas, echoing Psalm 1, God says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit” (7-8). God further reminds the prophet and through him his church that fallen man is not so much as wicked to the core but rather is wicked from the core, as the Lord Jesus reminds us in the gospels. God declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (9). The heart refers to our nature or the interior life, and includes the affections, emotions, intellect, and will. And this is why we need a new heart and a right spirit in the New Covenant. The LORD searches the heart and tests the mind. While we look on the outward appearance and actions God knows our interior thoughts and motivations and will judge accordingly (10-11). It is the supreme folly to ignore or forsake the LORD, the fountain of living water (12-13). Jeremiah responds to God’s revelation with a prayer for deliverance. He asks God to heal and save him. And to be his rock and refuge. He has and will continue to faithfully proclaim God’s word to a people that will not listen to it. Expressing his passion for the justice of God and the vindication of his name he prays for the destruction of his evil enemies (14-18). The prophet is instructed to go to the ‘People’s Gate’ at Jerusalem where the monarch and the people alike entered the city and there urge all to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Yet, king and people alike would not hear and heed the word of God (19-23). God further explains to Jeremiah that obedience, particularly by the king and leading officials as an example to others, will bring blessing while disobedience will bring judgement and with it the destruction of the Holy City and House of God (24-27).
Daniel 3 records the construction of a hugely impressive and ornate golden image commissioned by Nebuchadnezzar and erected on the plain of Dura in Babylon. The king ordered his courtiers, nobility, and officials from all over his empire to gather for its dedication, along with crowds of people (1-3). There a herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up” (4-5). Anyone failing to do so was to be cast into a burning fiery furnace (6). And so, the people of Babylon worshipped the golden image established by the king as a symbol of his power and prestige (7). Malicious accusations were soon levelled against Daniel’s Jewish companions for failing to comply with the decree. Nebuchadnezzar was told “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (8-12). In a rage, the king summoned them and warned them that if they would not bow down and worship the image then they would suffer the penalty of death in the flames. He added, “And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (13-15). The three men however, placed their trust in God and willing to suffer the penalty of remaining faithful to God they refused to comply with the order which would have necessitated their engaging in idolatry contrary to God’s commands. And so, while they recognised and respected the authority of the king and state whom they served in sincerity and all diligence they like the apostles could have said, ‘we must obey God rather than men’ (16-18). Furious, the king ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be cast into the fiery furnace which was to be heated seven times hotter than usual (19-23). Gazing into the furnace the king asked, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (24-25). Here was the pre-Incarnate Christ who was with his people even in the fiery furnace or crucible of suffering. Amazed that the men were supernaturally protected from the flames, the king ordered them to come out of the furnace to the astonishment of all present (26-27). ‘Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God” (28). And he further decreed it a capital offense to speak ill of God and he rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for their faith with promotion in his service (29-30).
To ponder! The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them (Ps.34:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 571 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 18 & Daniel 4
In Jeremiah 18 God instructs the prophet to go to the potter’s house where he observed the potter moulding clay vessels at his wheel. The first vessel was spoiled and therefore the potter simply remolded the clay into a good vessel (1-4). God then informed Jeremiah that he could do likewise with the children of Israel, referring to Judah. “Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel” (6). God will pluck up and break down and destroy the nation or kingdom that embraces and engages in evil and will not repent (7-10). God said, “Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds’ (11). However, the people refused to turn from their wickedness (12). God had chosen and made a covenant with them. He had provided, protected, and prospered them but they like Adam chose the path of defiance and disobedience resulting in alienation, shame, and disaster. The nations will marvel at their supreme stubbornness and folly (13-14). God declared, “But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway, 16 making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head. 17 Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity” (15-17). The people, including the priests and prophets (preacher) rather than repent, reviled and rejected the word of God spoken by Jeremiah (18). The prophet therefore prays to God to vindicate his ministry and the word he received and proclaimed from the LORD. Aware that his adversaries are conspiring to murder him, he cries to God, “Yet you, O LORD, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger” (19-23). I cannot help but draw parallels with the ultimate and supreme Prophet, the Word Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was despised and rejected by men and who from the Cross cried, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” The call to repent and believe continue in this day of grace.
Daniel 4 begins with King Nebuchadnezzar’s paeon of praise to the one, living, and true God. He declared, “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation” (1-3). There follows, Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream which left him disturbed and afraid (4-5). Unable to understand the meaning of the vision, he invited his wise men to interpret it for him, but his Babylonian enchanters, diviners, and sages again failed to grasp its meaning. And therefore, he summoned Daniel and said, “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation” (6-9). He then proceeded to relay his dream to Daniel of a great and beautiful fruitful tree that reached into the heavens and provided shelter and food for all the creatures nearby (10-12). However, order came from heaven to fell the tree but leave its stump in the ground bound with a band of iron and bronze (13-15). The tree was a metaphor for a great and proud ruler who would lose his mind, and ability to rule, and who would behave like a wild animal until he acknowledged that God the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the earth. The king asked Daniel to provide its interpretation (16-18). Detecting Daniel’s alarm at the meaning of the dream the king allayed his concerns. And Daniel proceeded to explain that the mighty tree was Nebuchadnezzar himself. He said, “it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth” (19-22). Daniel further explained that God had decreed that he would be driven temporarily insane and would dwell and feed among the animals in the wilderness until he acknowledged the sovereignty of the true God (23-26). “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (27). Nebuchadnezzar failed to humble himself before God and the dream came to pass within a year. While the king was walking on the roof of his royal palace and musing on his greatness, he said to himself, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”. And in that instant, he heard a voice from heaven declaring, “the kingdom has departed from you.” He was driven into the wilderness where he ate grass like an ox and his hair and nails grew long, matted, and unkept. He was like a wild animal! (28-33). And there he remained until the fulness of time appointed by God. At the end of that period, he lifted his eyes to heaven and his reason returned to him and he humbly and joyously praised God, “for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (34-35). His rule and regal splendour, majesty, and glory were restored, and his kingdom flourished (36). He declared, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (37).
To ponder: For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods (1Chron.16:25).
Bible Challenge: Day 572 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 19 & Daniel 5
In Jeremiah 19 God commands the prophet to purchase an earthenware flask from the potter and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom accompanied by leaders of the people and priests. There at the entry of the Potsherd Gate he is to proclaim to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 4 Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, 5 and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind— 6 therefore, behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.’ God is about to bring to nothing the plans and aspirations of Judah and Jerusalem who will fall to the sword of their invading enemies. Neighbouring nations will be shocked and horrified at the distress, devastation, and desolation visited on Judah and its capital city (1-9). Jeremiah is instructed to break the flask in sight of those who are with him to symbolise the coming destruction of Jerusalem with its royal palaces on account of the people’s murderous idolatry and iniquity (10-12). Just as they sacrificed their children, so they in turn will be the victims of destruction and death. Jeremiah then returned to the Holy City and before the House of God proclaimed, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words” (13-15).
In Daniel 5 King Belshazzar, the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, threw a great feast at which he ordered the use of the sacred vessels that had been plundered by his father from the House of God in Jerusalem to be used by the royal family and chosen members of the nobility (1-3). As they merrily ate fine food and drank the best of wines, a hand appeared and wrote on the wall of the king’s palace (4-5). Deeply alarmed and shocked, the king called for his Chaldean enchanters, diviners, and sages, to come interpret the message written on the wall. He offered the person that interpreted the writing great wealth and status in his kingdom (6-9). The queen appeared and suggested that Daniel, who had correctly interpreted the dreams of her husband’s father, should be summoned as he clearly possessed “an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems” (10-12). And so, Daniel was brought before the king, who acknowledging the Judean’s gifts and graces, offered to richly reward him if he could interpret the writing (13-16). While declining the king’s gratuities, Daniel interpreted the words for Belshazzar. He rehearsed the events surrounding God’s humbling of the king’s late father who had been compelled to confess that ‘the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will’ (17-21). He explained that Belshazzar had failed to heed the lesson of his father’s humbling. Rather, Daniel explained that the king had elevated himself over God and added, “And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honoured” (22-23). Daniel translated the words ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN’ inscribed on the wall. He told the king, “This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (24-28). Consequently, the king had Daniel clothed in purple and he placed a gold chain of office around his neck and issued a proclamation that he was to be given the third highest office in all of Babylon. That very night, however, Belshazzar was assassinated, and Darius the Mede gained possession and rule of Babylon (29-30).
To ponder! Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Cor.10:31).
Bible Challenge: Day 573 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 20 & Daniel 6
Jeremiah 20 records the response of Pashur the high priest to Jeremiah’s proclamation of imminent judgement and disaster upon Judah and Jerusalem. He had the prophet beaten and placed in stocks at the Benjamin Gate which was one of the entrances to the House of God (1-2). Undeterred, and on his release the following day, Jeremiah addressed the priest and said, “The LORD does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. 4 For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall strike them down with the sword” (3-4). Furthermore, he told him that the wealth and cherished treasures of the Holy City would be seized as plunder by the invading Babylonians (5). And Pashur and his fellow priests will similarly be taken into captivity where they shall die (6). There follows Jeremiah’s lament. He complains to God that he has become a laughingstock to the people. His warnings of coming catastrophe have not only been ignored but they have made him the object of ‘reproach and derision all day long’ (7-8). The prophet is conflicted. He is compelled to speak the word of God. God commands it and his conscious demands it (9) but he pays a heavy price in so doing. Even his close friends have turned their backs upon him and denounced and derided him. Many seek his destruction (9-10). Nevertheless, Jeremiah trusts in God to protect and provide for him. His enemies will not succeed but will be greatly shamed (11). He prays, “O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause” (12). He praises God who delivers the needy from the hand of evildoers (13). But like Job, he curses the day of his birth on account of the suffering, shame, and sorrow he has to endure as a prophet of woe (14-18).
Daniel 6 begins by explaining how Daniel continued in high office after Darius the Mede seized control of Babylon. Daniel was one of three highest ranking officials in the land overseeing the king’s administration and affairs (1-2). He possessed an excellent spirit and excelled through service to the royal house. This aroused the envy of other leading officials and governors when they discovered that Darius had a mind to make Daniel his leading minister over the kingdom. And so, they sought a reason to bring an accusation or complaint against him with a view to removing him from office (3-4). The conspirators said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God” (5). They persuaded the king to issue an edict to the effect that “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions” (6-9). Daniel responded by going to the upper chamber of his house where he opened the window and facing Jerusalem fell to his knees and prayed to God three times a day. He thanked God for his goodness and asked God for guidance and protection (10). After observing him at prayer, his enemies were quick to report his wilful transgression of the king’s edict to Darius (11-13). Darius was deeply distressed when he heard of Daniel’s defiance of the edict but greatly valuing his loyal service, he sought the means of sparing him capital punishment (14). However, Daniel’s enemies pressed the king to implement the law (15). And therefore, the king commanded Daniel to be arrested and cast into a den of lions. Darius addressed Daniel and said, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (16). Daniel was then thrown into the lions’ den which was sealed with a stone which carried the royal signet. Darius retired to his palace and spent a restless night without food or drink (17-18). At dawn he returned to the lions’ den and cried out in anguish to Daniel while fearing the worst. But to his surprise and shock Daniel responded, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm” (19-22). The king was exceedingly glad and relieved that Daniel was unscathed. He commanded Daniel’s malicious enemies and their families to be seized and cast into the lions’ den who were immediately mauled to death by the beasts (23-24). And he passed a decree to all the people near and far instructing them “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions” (25-27). Therefore, by God’s amazing grace, Daniel continued to prosper in the respective reigns of Darius the Mede and his successor, Cyrus the Persian (28).
To ponder! I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2Tim.4:1-5).
Bible Challenge: Day 574 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 21 & Daniel 7
Jeremiah 21 begins with King Zedekiah sending a priestly delegation comprising Pashhur and Zephaniah to Jeremiah. They asked the prophet whom they had previously ridiculed and reviled to intercede with God on behalf of Judah in the hope that he would intervene to repulse the invading Babylonian army. “Perhaps, they insisted, “the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us” (1-2). The prophet, however, dashed their hope of divine intervention and protection. And worse, Jeremiah made clear that God was with the Babylonians. They were his means of judgement upon an idolatrous and iniquitous people that wilfully, stubbornly, and repeatedly refused to repent (3-4). He told them that God said, “I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath” (5). God was going to strike down the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their wickedness (6). And King Zedekiah and other survivors of the coming pestilence, sword, and famine will be taken into captivity, some, like the king, in chains to be publicly humiliated and executed. King Nebuchadnezzar will show them no pity or compassion (7). Jeremiah instructed them to mercifully tell the people, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war” (8-9). God, they are to make clear, has set his face against Jerusalem for harm and not for good and therefore the King of Babylon will be permitted to destroy it (10). The prophet finally told the priestly ambassadors of the king of Judah, to inform their royal master to execute justice towards the victims of oppression and robbery before God’s wrath falls upon him and on his dynasty and kingdom. God declares, “I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds”. Devastation and desolation will follow.
Daniel 7 records the vision of four beasts that he was given during the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon (1). The first beast was like a lion with eagle’s wings which when plucked compelled the beast to stand upright like a man (2-4). The second was of a bear devouring its victim (5). The third was of a leopard with four wings and four heads. It was given dominion for a time (6). The fourth was ‘terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong.’ It had iron teeth and ten horns (7). As Daniel pondered the horns there emerged a little horn before which three other horns were plucked up by the roots. ‘And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things’ (8-9). Then, however, he beheld God, represented as ‘the Ancient of Days’. He noted that ‘his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire’ (9). He sat upon his judgement throne while thousands served him as he executed judgement (10). Dominion was taken from the beasts and the beast with the horn was destroyed and was to be burned in the flames of judgement (11-12). Then Daniel beheld the ascension and coronation of God’s Christ. He writes, ‘and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him’ (13). Note that Christ is appearing before God the Father where he receives all authority in heaven and earth. ‘And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed’ (14). Confused and perturbed, the vision is then graciously explained to Daniel. ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever’ (15-18). Puzzled by what he had seen of the fourth beast with the horns, Daniel was given an explanation that foretold future events (19-22). The fourth beast represented a kingdom or empire that conquered the nations. The ten horns symbolised ten rulers that would arise before another will emerge who was quite different and he would subjugate or conquer three other kings to gain dominion. He shall oppose God and persecute his people for a time. He shall impose his own laws and even the measurement of time (23-25). But he will be judged and destroyed by God. ‘And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him’ (26-27). Shocked and alarmed by the vision, Daniel nevertheless took the message to heart as given to him by God (28). He was here taught that God is sovereign. History is his story, and his plans and purposes will be fulfilled. Christ will triumph over all and his people have a glorious future.
To ponder! But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2Cor.2:14).
Bible Challenge: Day 575 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 22 & Daniel 8
In Jeremiah 22 God commands the prophet to proclaim his word to the king of Judah, his courtiers, and the people (1-2). He is to declare, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place” (3). Blessing will follow obedience, but desolation will come in the wake of defiance and disobedience (4-5). Despite God’s goodness in the elevation of the royal dynasty and the Holy City, if they fail to repent and believe they will be destroyed by the hand of foreign invaders. Surrounding nations will look on aghast and ask, “Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?” 9 And they will answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them”’ (6-9). People are not to weep for the dead but for the survivors that will be taken off into captivity never to behold the Promised Land again (10). One such person will be Shallum, the son of King Josiah (11-12). There follows a pronouncement of woe on those that prosper by unrighteousness and injustice. And who exploit and defraud others. By turning from godliness and goodness to dishonest gain, violence, and oppression, the like of Shallum appeared to flourish for a season, but he will not escape judgement (13-17). Similarly, Jeremiah foretold the death of Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah’s. No one would lament his death, but his body would be unceremoniously dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem (18-19). The people will deeply regret the evil that they did in forsaking God and his law of love, but it will be too late to spare them the devastation and desolation visited upon Jerusalem and Judah (20-23). Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, will also be taken into captivity, along with his mother. They will long to return to their native land but will never set foot upon it again (24-27). The chapter ends with a lament that none of his offspring shall succeed to the throne of David on account of their supreme folly (28-30).
Daniel 8 contains Daniel’s vision of the ram and the goat and its interpretation. The vision came to him in the third year of Belshazzar’s reign while he was at the citadel in Susa. It was located at the canal at Ulai. He saw a ram with two elongated horns, one slightly longer than the other. The ram was charging westwards, northwards, and southwards and he appeared all-powerful and invincible (1-4). As Daniel was reflecting upon the significance of the ram, a goat with a single mighty horn in the middle of his forehead appeared on the scene. He struck the ram and broke his horns rendering him helpless. ‘Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven’ (5-8). Then came a little horn which grew mightily southward and eastward and in the glorious land. It elevated itself to the host of heaven and to the stars but was thrown down to the ground. It became great on earth, received homage, and desecrated the worship of God (9-12). Daniel heard a servant of God ask another how long God would permit such an abomination to continue and was told “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state” (13-14). There follows the interpretation of the vision given to Daniel by the Angel Gabriel (15-17). The ram with the two horns represented Medes and Persia that supplanted Babylon. But they in turn would be conquered and displaced by Greece under the leadership of Alexander the Great. Four weaker kingdoms would emerge from the empire he established. Then shall appear a great and mighty ruler (Antiochus IV) who shall make war against the other kingdoms and even the Prince of princes (God), assuming divine titles and demanding the worship of the people. God, however, shall break him (18-26). ‘And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it’ (27).
To ponder! He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves (Ps.66:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 576 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 23 & Daniel 9
Jeremiah 23 records the prophecy of the ‘righteous Branch’ who is Christ. It begins with a pronouncement of woe on the shepherds (pastors) of God’s flock that scattered the sheep (the church) by their false teachings and practices and unwillingness to reprove and correct immorality (1-2). God himself will gather his scattered sheep (the remnant) from among the nations and appoint faithful ministers over them (3-4). He will raise up a righteous Branch in fulfilment of his covenant with David who will reign as king and establish justice and righteousness. He will save his people and be known as ‘The LORD is our righteousness’ (5-6). The prophet is foretelling the ministry of Jesus who saved his people by fulfilling all righteousness and dying on the cross for our sins. His perfect righteousness is imputed to all that receive and rest in him by faith. Just as God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, so he will rescue and restore them from among the nations (7-8). There follows a condemnation of the ungodly and evil priests and prophets. God says, “their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the LORD” (9-12). They have made themselves like Sodom and Gomorrah in the eyes of God and have subsequently brought judgement upon themselves (13-15). God tells the people through Jeremiah not to hear and heed such prophets and priests. Rather they must remain faithful to the word of God to avoid disaster. The false prophets of Jeremiah’s day had not been sent by God. Neither did they declare God’s word (16-22). Therein is their ultimate folly. They spoke and acted as if God was deaf and blind to them and impotent to judge! That God had not immediately judged their false words and ways they had foolishly taken for divine approval or indifference. However, they have embraced the zeitgeist and degraded God’s church by their lies, idolatry and iniquity. They have desecrated and defamed the name of God and corrupted the people they were called to serve by encouraging them to accept the culture of the world around them with its worship of Baal. They have fed the people with straw rather than wheat! “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another” (23-32). They regarded God’s word as burdensome. It did not correspond to their own notions of religiosity and the prevailing culture. However, because they have perverted the words of the LORD, God will bring everlasting reproach and shame upon them (33-40).
Daniel 9 records Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of the remnant in the reign of Darius the Mede. Reading of God’s promise of restoration after seventy years from the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah he humbly sought the LORD in prayer and pleaded that God’s people may return to the Promised Land (1-3). He invoked the name of God and began his prayer by confessing the church’s sin. He acknowledged “we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” (4-5). They had refused to hear and heed God’s word and had turned their backs upon their glorious heritage. And in so doing they had broken God’s covenant with them. And they had brought shame and woe upon themselves (6-8). He recognised, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets” (9-10). They had brought calamity and ruination upon themselves by refusing to trust and obey the word of God. And they had rejected all calls to repent and believe (11-15). Daniel however, believing in the grace and mercy of God trusted God to restore his repentant people for the glory of his name. Recognising their helplessness and only hope in God, he earnestly cried to God, “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name” (16-19). In response, Gabriel appeared to Daniel in a vision to assure him that his prayer had been heard by God. He told Daniel that God greatly loved him and that he would be given special insight and understanding (20-23). He revealed a specified time allotted for the restoration of God’s people and the rebuilding of the House of God in Jerusalem. God will establish everlasting righteousness for his people. He will sign and seal a new covenant with them. However, the ultimate restoration will come about in stages and will involve God’s Prince and Christ, who will judge the world in perfect justice, destroy the desolator (the Evil One) (24-27).
To ponder! Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev.19:11-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 577 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 24 & Daniel 10
Jeremiah 24 reveals a vision given to the prophet after Jeconiah, the son of King Jehoiakim, was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, along with his officials, craftsmen, and metal workers. Jeremiah received a vision from God of two baskets of figs before the Temple of the LORD (1). God asked the prophet what he saw, and Jeremiah explained that he saw one basket of very good figs and another of very bad ones that could not be eaten (2-3). Then God gave the meaning of the vision. God explained, “Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart” (4-7). By contrast, the bad figs symbolised Zedekiah, the king of Judah, his corrupt officials and others that survived the initial invasion and who either stayed in the land of Judah or fled to Egypt. They will not escape judgement. They will be rejected and reproached by the people of the surrounding nations and will be struck down by sword, famine, or disease until they are destroyed (8-10).
Daniel 10 records the word of God that came to Daniel during the third year of the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia (1). Daniel mourned and fasted for three weeks and on the 24th day of the first month while standing on the bank of the River Tigris he beheld ‘a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist’ (2-5). The man’s body was like beryl and his face shone like lightning and eyes like blazing torches. His arms and legs gleamed like polished bronze and his words thundered (6). While Daniel alone saw the vision in detail, those who were with him fled in terror from the presence of the heavenly or holy visitor (7). Daniel's strength gave way and he fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground (8-9). A hand reached out to him and assured him that he was greatly loved and had been chosen to receive and communicate God’s word (10-11). The angelic visitor said, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words” (12). God’s messenger explained how he had prevailed in a spiritual conflict with the help of Michael (the archangel) over the prince of the kingdom of Persia and he had come to make known what was to happen to the remnant in the days yet to come (13-14). Daniel remained prostrate and could not speak until one in the likeness of the children of man touched his lips. Daniel replied, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me” (15-17). Again, the angelic messenger laid his hand on Daniel and strengthened him (18). And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” He assured Daniel that the spiritual fight must go on. The angelic messenger would continue in battle against not only the prince of Persia but afterward he will contend with the prince of Greece who will come. “But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince” (19-21).
To ponder! For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph.6:12).
Bible Challenge: Day 578 (Thursday
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 25 & Daniel 11
In Jeremiah 25 the word of God came to the prophet during the fourth year of the reign of King Jehoiakim regarding the people of Judah which he communicated to all the people (1-2). Jeremiah had faithfully proclaimed God’s word to them for twenty-three years but tragically they had refused to hear and heed him (3-4). God had repeatedly called to his visible church, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. 6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm’ (5-6). Yet they would not listen (7). Consequently, the army of Nebuchadnezzar would invade and bring destruction upon the nation and its capital, Jerusalem (8-10). ‘This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste’ (11-12). God would fulfil all that he had revealed and foretold through Jeremiah (13-14). The prophet was commanded to take the cup of the wine of God’s wrath and declare God’s judgement upon his people to the nations. They will subsequently be his instrument of judgement upon his Old Testament church but they in turn will face judgement (15-16). This he did and there follows a list of the nations that were involved in the reproach, condemnation, and ruination of the children of Israel (17-26). Judah and Jerusalem must drink the cup of God’s wrath (27-29). Jeremiah is to pronounce doom not only to Judah but to the nations that persecuted his people and continued in wickedness (30-32). “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth!” God’s enemies will not be mourned (33). The pastors of Judah will cry out to God for relief and rescue to no avail because the day of mercy has ended, and judgement is upon them. “For the LORD is laying waste their pasture, and the peaceful folds are devastated because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 38 Like a lion he has left his lair, for their land has become a waste because of the sword of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger” (34-38).
Daniel 11 continues with the explanation of the vision given to Daniel in the reign of King Darius the Mede regarding future kingdoms and empires and their relation to Israel. The overall point that is being reinforced is that God is sovereign and that his plans and purpose will prevail. Ultimately all things are working for the good of those that love him. Through Darius’ conquest of the Chaldeans (Babylonians), the remnant will return to the Promised Land. Of his four Persian successors, the last will accumulate great wealth. He will wage war against Greece from where a mighty ruler in the person of Alexander the Great will emerge who will conquer the Persian Empire and take possession of the lands of Israel and Judah’s former enemies as prophesied (1-4). Greek language and culture will predominate for centuries and will be the medium through which God’s word is later spread among the nations via the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament scriptures, and more importantly with the addition of the New Testament scriptures to complete the biblical canon. Alexander’s empire was divided into four by his generals after his death and there followed conflict and alliances as these rulers and their successors sought to extend their territory and grip on power. Mention of a royal daughter is likely a reference to Bernice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt in whose reign the Septuagint translation began. She was later assassinated and avenged by her brother who killed Seleucus Callinicus, the king of the north. His sons amassed great armies and Antiochus III invaded Egypt in revenge. He also invaded Judea – ‘the glorious land with destruction in his hand’ (1-16). One of his son’s moreover plundered the Temple in Jerusalem of its sacred treasures (17-20). He was followed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ‘a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given.’ He gained support by constant intrigues and flattery. Forced out of Egypt by the Romans, he persecuted the Jewish people and desecrated the Temple provoking the successful Maccabean revolt led by Mattathias and Judas Maccabeus, ‘the prince of the covenant’ (21-35). You may wish to read the Books of Maccabees which are to be found in Bibles containing the Apocrypha for historical reference. These books were incorporated into the Septuagint but were not part of the Hebrew canon of scripture and for that reason, they are ordinarily excluded from Protestant Bibles, unlike Catholic and Orthodox ones. The final section of the chapter, verses 36-45, are difficult to interpret. Some think they refer to Antiochus and his demise. However, I personally think the Roman Empire and the Caesars are here foretold. The Caesars demanded to be worshipped as gods. They would conquer Israel and all the nations surrounding it by their charioteers and fierce armies. They would crucify God’s Christ to appease the mob and retain the Pax Romano, who would victoriously and gloriously rise again to rule the heavens and the earth. They will destroy the Holy City in AD 70. And yet before their fall they will bow the knee to Jesus. Some commentators go beyond that period and here find reference to the Antichrist and the end time of history as we understand it. The main point however is that God’s will be ultimately done. He will fulfil his promises to his people. Through his Christ he will triumph over the nations and empires of the world that come and go. He will lead his people in triumphal procession to glory.
To ponder! Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (Jn.18:36).
Bible Challenge: Day 579 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 26 & Daniel 12
In Jeremiah 26 the prophet is commanded to proclaim the word of God to the people in the court of the Temple at Jerusalem. If they heard and heeded his words to turn from their evil ways in repentance and faith, then they would be spared the disaster that was coming upon them. However, if they stubbornly refused, God declared, “then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth’” (1-6). Jeremiah did as God commanded and enraged at his preaching, the prophets, priests, and people seized him, saying, “you shall die!” (7-9). They reported Jeremiah to the king’s officials and demanded he be put to death for preaching against the Holy City (10-11). Jeremiah defended himself against his accusers telling the court that he was simply obeying God. He urged all to mend their ways and trust and obey God. Only by doing so would God relent of the disaster that was imminent. He explained that “if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears” (12-15). The officials and the people to the consternation of the false prophets and priests sided with Jeremiah and certain elders of the assembly reminded the court that of a similar prophecy spoken by Micah in the reign of Hezekiah. They therefore asked, “Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favour of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves” (16-19). The same leaders nevertheless acknowledged that in the reign of Jehoiakim, Uriah was forced to flee to Egypt after prophesying against Jerusalem. On the kings order he was pursued, captured, and brought back to the Holy City to be executed (20-23). The chapter concludes, ‘But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death’ (24). God was with his prophet.
Daniel 12 brings the book to a conclusion with a prophecy of the end times. Its focus is hence eschatological as it anticipates the Parousia or Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgement. God will provide spiritual strength and protection to his people, but they will not be spared a time of trial, trouble, and tribulation. However, all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be saved (1). Then shall come the general resurrection when all the dead shall rise, some to everlasting life in the presence of God and some to everlasting shame and contempt who will be cast away from his presence. The righteousness of the faithful shall shine brightly and perfectly for evermore (2-3). Daniel is therefore told to ‘shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (4). In his vision he saw another two figures on opposite sides of a stream. And a man clothed in linen raised his hand heavenward ‘and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished’ (5-7). Daniel, not understanding the import of the vision asked God “what shall be the outcome of these things?” And he was told that God’s word would come to pass in the fulness of time. And that ‘Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand’ (8-10). He is furthermore informed, ‘And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days’ (11). Here emphasising that God is in control and his plans and purposes are not only preordained but will be brought to pass. Daniel is told, “But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days” (13). And what was true of Daniel is true of all God’s people. We are called to walk and work by faith, trusting and obeying God. Persevering by grace and knowing that we not only have a wonderful heritage but we have an even more glorious inheritance awaiting us in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.
To ponder! But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain (1Cor.15:57-58).
Bible Challenge: Day 580 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 27 & 28
If you have stayed the course and are still with me on our Daily Bible Reading Challenge, then I want to congratulate you. We are nearing the completion of the Bible. We have the remainder of Jeremiah, Lamentations and Ezekiel to finish the challenge. We will work our way consecutively through the remaining chapters from here on in. I hope and pray that you have found it richly rewarding.
Jeremiah 27 takes place in the reign of Zedekiah. God commanded Jeremiah to wear straps and yoke-bars to symbolise subservience. And he was told to go to the ambassadors of the kings of Edom, Moab, Tyre, and Sidon who were in the Holy City and pass on God’s revelation for their royal masters (1-4). They were reminded of God’s sovereignty. God said, “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me” (5). They were informed by God that he was giving the land of Judah and the surrounding nations into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. He and his sons were to reign over them for a time (6-7). They were told that those nations that did not submit to the Babylonian yoke would consequently suffer from sword, famine, and disease (. Their prophets, sages, and diviners will tell them otherwise, but they must not listen. Because only those that submit to the yoke of Babylon will be spared to dwell and serve in their lands (9-11). Zedekiah of Judah was told the same thing lest he and his people perish (12-13). They too must ignore the advice and pleadings of their false prophets whom God had not sent or given revelation to (14-15). Therefore, Jeremiah did as he was commanded. He urged the faithful to earnestly intercede for the sake of Jerusalem. Only by submitting to Babylon could the city, the Temple and its remaining treasures be spared as in the day when Nebuchadnezzar took Jeconiah and leading members of the nobility captive (16-21). Nevertheless, God declared, “They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the LORD. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place” (20).
In Jeremiah 28 the Prophet Hananiah spoke to Jeremiah in the House of the LORD and in the presence of the priests (1). He claimed to speak on God’s behalf and declared “I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the LORD, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon” (2-4). Jeremiah responded with an ‘amen’, hoping and praying that Hananiah’s words were indeed from God and that God would graciously restore the exiles and the sacred vessels from the Temple (5-6). However, he offered a word of caution, reminding the prophet and priests, “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet” (7-9). Hananiah then took the yoke-bars from Jeremiah’s neck and broke them in the sight of all, reiterating that God would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar within two years (10-11). Later the word of God came to Jeremiah. He was instructed to go to Hananiah and say, “You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron. 14 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put upon the neck of all these nations an iron yoke to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him, for I have given to him even the beasts of the field’” (12-14). Jeremiah further denounced Hananiah as a false prophet and told him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the LORD’” (15-16). Hananiah died just as Jeremiah had prophesied (17).
To ponder! Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1Jn.4:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 581 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 29 & 30
Jeremiah 29 records the prophet’s letter carried by messengers to elders, priests, and people taken by Nebuchadnezzar into captivity in Babylon (1-4). Jeremiah told them to build houses and plant gardens with vegetables for food. They must continue to marry and produce children to preserve their Jewish heritage and inheritance (5-6). They must be good citizens and work and pray for the benefit of the kingdom and community in which they live. By these means they will be treated well (7). Moreover, they must not again allow themselves to be deceived by prophets and diviners like they did while they lived in Jerusalem and Judah (8-9). Then follows God’s wonderful promise of restoration and his assurance of a glorious future. “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (10-11). In those days, God’s church will enjoy communion with God and will seek him with all their heart. God will gather his people from among the nations and unite them in the faith (12-14). By contrast those that continued in denial and defiance of God’s word would perish by sword, famine, and disease as God had warned through his prophet (15-19). Moreover, God will punish those prophets, like Ahab and Zedekiah who proclaimed lies to the people and acted wickedly (20-23). The letter concludes with a denunciation of the prophet Shemaiah who had decried and sought to discredit the words of Jeremiah. God declared, and therefore, “thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the LORD, for he has spoken rebellion against the LORD’” (24-32).
Jeremiah 30 continues with the theme of the restoration of Israel and Judah. Jeremiah is instructed to write a book as an indelible record of God’s grace and mercy towards his church (1-3). God is going to save his people out of their deep discomfort and distress (4-7). God will break the bonds of their slavery and liberate them to love and serve him and one another (8-9). “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid” (10). God is with his people whom he will discipline for their blessing (11). There is no hope of remedy, restoration, and renewal but from God who must forgive, cleanse, and heal his people (12-17). ““Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be. 19 Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honoured, and they shall not be small” (18-19). They shall truly be the children of God. They will exercise wisdom, enjoy godly rule, and walk before God in the beauty of holiness. “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God” (20-22). God, by way of contrast, will punish oppressors and pour out his wrath on the wicked (23-24).
To ponder! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Ps.124:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 582 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 31 & 32
In Jeremiah 31 God reminds the children of Israel of their special status as his church. They are the recipients of God’s saving grace and faithfulness. He assures them that he has loved them with an everlasting love (1-3). God will rebuild them and make them strong in the faith. They will enjoy the fruits of their labours in a flourishing environment. They shall rejoice in God and praise him. The watchmen will gladly say, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God’” (4-6). God will gather his penitent and needy people from among the nations and restore their fortunes. The prodigal children’s weeping and mourning shall be turned to gladness and dancing (7-9). God will shepherd his people whom he has ransomed and redeemed (10-11). “They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more” (12). Young men and women will rejoice once again in the land of their forebears (13). “I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD” (14). God has heard the voice of Rachel weeping for her scattered and absent children. And he will restore them from the land of the enemy (15-16). He has heard their grieving. He will have mercy upon them and restore them. He will give them hope and a future (17-20). God, therefore, bids them to return home (21). He asks them, “How long will you waver, O faithless daughter?” (22). Once again, the Israel of God will exclaim, “‘The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!’ (23). God will revive and replenish his people who will once again dwell in unity (24-25). Just as God abased them because of their ungodliness and unrighteousness, so he will exalt them once again (26-30. There follows God’s revelation of the New Covenant. God is going to make a new covenant with his people which will be different from the one he made with them when he rescued them from slavery in Egypt (31-32). In it, God says, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (33-34). The Almighty maker of heaven and earth will fulfil his promise. Great is his faithfulness. His true church is sacred to him and will be established forevermore (35-40).
In Jeremiah 32 we find the prophet in prison in Jerusalem for doing God’s will by informing King Zedekiah that he would be taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and would stand before him face to face in a foreign land as a prisoner. While Jeremiah was in a prison cell, the Holy City was under siege by the Babylonian army (1-5). On God’s instruction, Jeremiah persuaded his uncle, Hanamel, to permit him to purchase his field at Anathoth “for the right of possession and redemption is yours” (6-8). The transaction was signed and sealed or completed before witnesses and the prophet charged Baruch, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land’ (9-15). The action was an act of faith in God’s promise to restore his people to the Promised Land. Then Jeremiah prayed to Almighty God acknowledging that, “Nothing is too hard for you” (16-17). Trusting in God’s steadfast love and goodness to his church in the past, and relying on his omnipotence and omniscience in the present, he expressed his faith in God to restore his people in the fulness of time. And so, despite the invasion and subsequent siege of the Holy City he could say, “Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans’” (18-25). God reaffirmed that he was giving Jerusalem into the hands of the Chaldeans under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. They shall burn it to the ground. But they were the mere instrument of divine judgement upon the Judah and its capital for the people’s idolatry and iniquity (26-32). They had forsaken God for abominations and refused to repent of their sin (33-35). They will therefore be punished but God will mercifully and graciously “bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (36-38). God will reunite his people and make an everlasting covenant with them. He will bless them and take delight in them (39-41). Just as God brought disaster upon them so he will restore his peoples fortunes. They shall re-purchase and re-occupy the Promised Land (42-44).
To ponder! for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Mt.26:28).
Bible Challenge: Day 583 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 33 & 34
In Jeremiah 33 the word of God again came to the prophet while he was still incarcerated (1). God told him, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (2-3). In vain do the people fight to defend the Holy City against the Babylonians because God has hidden his face from them because ‘of all their evil’ (4-5). However, God will again “bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them an abundance of prosperity and security” (6). He declares, “I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first” (7). Salvation is of God’s amazing grace! God says, “I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me” ( . God will restore the broken relationship resultant on his people’s sinful folly. And he adds, “And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it” (9). From destruction and desolation, God will rebuild and re-establish his people in the Holy City and give cause for restored relationships and rejoicing (10-11). Therefore, “‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.” Other parts of the Holy Land will similarly prosper once again (12-13). God will fulfil his promise to the houses of Israel and Judah. He will bring to pass his covenant with David, whose son and Lord (Christ) will execute justice and establish righteousness (14-15). “In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness’” (16). God’s Christ will be Prophet, Priest, and King. He will establish his kingdom and will ever live to make intercession for his people as the one and only Mediator between God and men (17-19). God’s covenant will not and cannot be broken. His will be done, and he will establish his church as a kingdom and priests to worship and serve him forever (19-22). While the nations claimed that God had forsaken his people forever, and would not fulfil his covenant with them, God says, “I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them” (23-26).
In Jeremiah 34 the prophet is commanded by God to inform King Zedekiah that God is giving the city into the hands of the Babylonians. And they shall burn Jerusalem to the ground (1-2). He is to say, ‘You shall not escape from his hand but shall surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You shall see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face. And you shall go to Babylon’ (3). And yet Zedekiah will be spared the sword and shall die peacefully in a foreign land. And his passing will be mourned by the remnant (4-5). Jeremiah further explained to the king that the only fortified cities that would not be destroyed and left desolate by the Babylonians were Lachish and Azekah (6-7). Zedekiah was commanded to make a proclamation of liberty in which Hebrew slaves were to be set free and never enslaved again. And the king and his subjects obeyed God’s command (8-10). However, afterward they reneged on the edict and subjugated their former slaves once more (11). And so God again spoke and said, “I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, 14 ‘At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him free from your service.’ But your fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me” (12-14). God acknowledged their recent repentance and obedience but they have tragically again defied him, profaned his name, and enslaved their brothers and sisters (15-16). And therefore, God says, “I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth” (17). God will severely punish the transgressors (18-20). Zedekiah and his officials will be taken captive and the cities of Judah will be left desolate without inhabitants (21-22).
To ponder! We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb.6:19).
Bible Challenge: Day 584 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 35 & 36
Jeremiah 35 records the revelation that the prophet received during the days of Jehoiakim. God commanded Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites to a specified chamber within the Temple at Jerusalem (1-2). And so, the prophet complied, and they gathered in the room of Maaseiah, the keeper of the threshold (3-4). He then set wine before the Rechabites, but they refused to drink it because “Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever” (5-6). They further explained how they had come to live a nomadic existence. They had kept the word of the forebear, Jonadab. They abstained from wine and did not dwell in houses but lived in tents. They had no vineyard, field, or seed (7-10). They had however been compelled to seek refuge in Jerusalem when the Babylonians invaded and ravaged the land (11). Then God instructed Jeremiah to ask the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem why they would not receive God’s instruction or hear and heed his words (12-13). God acknowledged how the sons of Rechab had kept their father’s command. However, the vast majority of God’s people have wilfully failed to do likewise by keeping the faith, despite God sending prophet after prophet, that said ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers’ (14-15). Therefore, disaster was coming upon Jerusalem and Judah for their stubborn disobedience and defiance (16-17). By contrast, God declared through his prophet, “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me” (18).
Jeremiah 36 continues in the reign of Jehoiakim (1). The prophet is commanded to “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin” (2-3). Jeremiah consequently called Baruch who wrote down the word of God as revealed through the prophet (4). Due to a prohibition against Jeremiah entering the Temple, the prophet commanded Baruch to go in his stead on a fast day and proclaim God’s word to the people in the hope that they would finally repent of their sins and seek God’s mercy (5-7). And Baruch did as Jeremiah commanded him (. He read the words to the people in the chamber of Gemariah, the Temple secretary, which was situated at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD’s House (9-10). Micaiah reported the matter to the king’s secretary and leading officials (11-13). They sent a messenger to summon Baruch who read the words to the king’s courtiers (14-15). Concerned, they told him that they had to inform the king. Moreover, they enquired as to how he had come to possess the scroll. And the officials told him, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are” (16-19). Depositing the scroll with the king’s secretary, they reported to Jehoiakim (20). While Jehudi read the words of the scroll to the king in his winter palace, the king took a knife and against the wise advice of his officials, he cut away sentences from the scroll and threw them into a fire pot that sat before him until the whole document was incinerated (21-23, 25). He was unmoved by what he had heard and would not listen to counsel. He ordered the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah ‘but the LORD hid them’ (24, 26). God told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write on it the words that had been on the one burned by the king (27-28). Jeremiah was further told to confront Jehoiakim who had said, “Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?” (29). The prophet was commanded to communicate not only the coming disaster upon Judah and Jerusalem but Jehoiakim’s ignominious death along with his immediate heirs (30-31). Jeremiah again had Baruch record God’s word on a scroll for posterity’s sake (32).
To ponder! Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel (Isa.5:24).
Bible Challenge: Day 585 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 37 & 38
Jeremiah 37 begins by reminding the reader that Zedekiah reigned in place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim by the enablement and sufferance of Nebuchadnezzar. Neither he nor his officials would hear and heed the word of God spoken by Jeremiah (1-2). He sent representatives to the prophet asking him to intercede with God for them. They said, “Please pray for us to the LORD our God.” At that point Jeremiah had not been imprisoned, Egypt had marshalled her army to press northward, and the Babylonians that had been besieging Jerusalem retreated (4-5). God told the prophet to inform the king, “Behold, Pharaoh's army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire” (6-8). However, they were not to deceive themselves into thinking that God had answered their prayers because the Babylonians were not only going to return but they were going to destroy the Holy City (9-10). Jeremiah was afterward seized leaving the capital at the Benjamin Gate and was falsely accused of deserting to the retreating Babylonians (11-13). Despite his pleas of innocence, he was arraigned before the king’s officials then beaten and incarcerated in the home of Jonathan, the king’s secretary, whose house had been transformed into a prison (14-15). After Jeremiah had been in a dungeon for many days, Zedekiah sent for him and asked him, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon” (16-17). The prophet asked what wrong he had done that was deserving of such ill and unjust treatment? And further enquired after the false prophets who had told the king that Babylon would not succeed in its conquest of Judah and Jerusalem? (18-19). Jeremiah pleaded with the king to listen to his words as coming from God. He further implored Zedekiah to release him from prison. And so, Zedekiah ‘committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard’ (20-21).
In Jeremiah 38 certain officials of King Zedekiah, namely, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal, and Pashhur, reacted furiously to the warning given by Jeremiah that those that stayed in Jerusalem would perish by either sword, famine, or pestilence (1-2). The prophet nevertheless made clear that the city would be conquered by the king of Babylon (3). And in response the officials demanded that Jeremiah be put to death because his words weakened the resolve of the soldiers whose task it was to defend the capital. They further falsely claimed that the prophet was seeking the harm rather than the welfare of her citizens (4). Zedekiah consented and Jeremiah was cast into the waterless and muddy cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, whose home was in the court of the guard where Jeremiah was detained (5-6). There he was to be left to starve to death. Ebed-melech, a trusted Ethiopian eunuch who served the royal house intervened with the king and said, “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city” (7-9). Zedekiah ordered Ebed-melech to take a guard and lift the prophet out of the cistern which he did, and Jeremiah remained in confinement at the court of the guard (10-13). Next, Zedekiah summoned Jeremiah and asked for his counsel giving the prophet an assurance that he would not put him to death if what he had to say was contrary to what he wanted to hear (14-16). Jeremiah told the king that if he surrendered to the officials of Babylon, his life would be spared, his dynasty would be preserved, and the Holy City would not be destroyed by fire (17-18). The king confided to the prophet of his fear of betrayal by those who had deserted to the Babylonians. But again, the prophet assured him that his life would be spared if he trusted and obeyed the word of God (19-20). Jeremiah then relayed a grave vision given to him by God of what would happen to the royal household and city if he refused to listen (21-23). Zedekiah commanded Jeremiah to keep their conversation secret on the pain of death (24-26). While the king’s officials later interrogated Jeremiah, he kept the king’s confidence (27). And he ‘remained in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken’ (28).
To ponder! Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. (Psalm 37:5).
The intervention of Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, on the prophet’s behalf, reminded me of the German General that intervened on behalf of the Rev Donald Caskie during WW2. Caskie who was the minister of the Scots Kirk in Paris had stayed behind to pastor his flock after Hitler’s army had swiftly subjugated France. He helped with the escape routes for British soldiers and others that had been trapped in France after Dunkirk until being betrayed to the Nazis. He was imprisoned in a Gestapo police cell where afraid that he would confess the names of others under their brutal and inhumane torture methods he contemplated taking his own life. However, the word of God came to him: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour” (Isa.43:1-3). Caskie etched these very words into his prison cell wall. And unbeknown to him a non-Nazi German General on hearing that the minister was in the said jail intervened on his behalf, and Caskie was spared torture and was transferred to a prisoner-of-war camp. While there he acted as chaplain to his fellow prisoners. One day a new prisoner was brought into the camp in a terribly beaten and bloodied state. Caskie went to him and asked what had happened to him. The man explained that he had been captured by the Nazis and had been taken to a Gestapo cell where he had been beaten. Fearful of divulging secrets and of further torture he had decided that suicide was his only option until he looked up at his cell wall and saw the words of Isaiah 43:1-3 etched into the plaster. He said to Caskie, “if I ever find out who wrote those words I would love to meet him and shake his hand.” Caskie extended his hand….
Bible Challenge: Day 586 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 39 & 40
Jeremiah 39 records the fall of Jerusalem. After a lengthy siege the Babylonian army eventually breached the city walls and unleashed its murderous intent (1-2). The Babylonian officials and officers took counsel in the Middle Gate (3). Zedekiah and his guard managed to make their escape by night by way of the king’s garden and a gate that faced Arabah (4). Nevertheless, they were pursued by the enemy who caught up with them and captured Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. He was taken alive to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There Zedekiah’s sons were ruthlessly and cruelly slaughtered in his sight along with his surviving courtiers that had also been captured (5-6). Then Zedekiah had his eyes put out and was bound in chains and taken to Babylon (7). Meanwhile, the Babylonians (Chaldeans) burned down the king’s house in Jerusalem, along with the house of the people and broke down the great perimeter wall of the Holy City. Those that survived the Babylonian attack were taken captive into Babylon. Nebuzaradan, the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s fighting force left some poor people with vineyards and fields (8-10). Nebuchadnezzar commanded his captain to take Jeremiah and “look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you” (11-12). And so, the prophet was released from the court of the guard. He was entrusted to Gedaliah that he should take him home where he would live among Judah’s conquerors and the poor left in the land (13-14). While Jeremiah had been in the court of the guard, God had told him to go to Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, and say, “Behold, I will fulfil my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day” (16). God assured the Ethiopian, who had courageously intervened with the king on Jeremiah’s behalf, that his life would be spared (17). “For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’”
In Jeremiah 40 God revealed his will to Jeremiah after he had been released from his captivity in the court of the guard. Bound in chains for Babylon along with other survivors, he was confronted by Nebuzaradan and given a choice (1). The captain acknowledged that God had given Judah and Jerusalem into the hands of the Babylonians because of their great and grave sin (2). He removed the manacles and chains from the prophet and let him choose whether to accompany him to Babylon where he was assured that he would be treated favourably or stay behind amid the ruins (2-4). He added, “If you remain, then return to Gedaliah.., whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” Jeremiah was given provisions and chose to stay with Gedaliah and live among those left in the land (5-6). The leaders of those that had survived the Babylonian invasion and who had not been taken captive to Babylon represented the poorest of the people of God (7-8). They appeared before Gedaliah at Mizpah and were told, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you” (9). He would represent the people before their Babylonian overlords. He encouraged the survivors to gather provisions and stores and dwell in the cities. Those Judeans that had fled the country and had found refuge in Moab, Ammon, and Edom also returned to Judah and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance (10-12). However, Johanan and other leaders discovered and revealed a plot to assassinate Gedaliah that had been orchestrated by Baalis the king of the Ammonites and was to be executed by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. The governor, however, did not believe them. Fearing grave reprisals for the remnant if Ishmael should succeed in his murderous mission, Johanan later secured a private audience with the governor and pleaded with him for permission to strike down Ishmael. But Gedaliah responded, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael” (13-16).
To ponder! Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 3 For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel! (Ps.125).
Bible Challenge: Day 587 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 41 & 42
Jeremiah 41 records the assassination of Gedaliah. Just as Johanan had warned, Ishmael with ten chosen men visited Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were given an audience with the governor and while they were eating together, Ishmael and his men murdered Gedaliah (1-2). They further put to the sword all who were present including fellow Judeans (3). The following day when eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria to worship, Ishmael feigning grief also slaughtered seventy of them and cast their bodies into a cistern (4-7). The remaining ten managed to persuade Ishmael to spare their lives in exchange for stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey that they had hidden in fields (. Ishmael took captive the king’s daughters and the remaining people who had been left at Mizpah and made for Ammon (9-10). When word reached Johanan and those with him, they took up arms against Ishmael and located him at the pool of Gibeon (11-12). The people that Ishmael had taken captive rejoiced at the sight of their rescuers (13-14). Abandoning their captives, Ishmael, and his men, rather than engage in battle made their escape to Ammon (15). Johanan, his men, and those that he had saved from Ishmael made for Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem with the intention of making for Egypt because they were afraid of Babylonian reprisals (16-18).
In Jeremiah 42 Johanan, Jezaniah, and the people consulted the prophet. They said, “Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us – that the LORD your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do” (1-3). Jeremiah consented and sought God’s guidance on their behalf (4). Johanan and the people vowed to trust and obey God’s word whether good or bad (5-6). After ten days, Jeremiah summoned Johanan, along with all the leaders and the people and gave them God’s response (7-8). He said, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you” (9-10). Furthermore, God told them, “Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land” (11-12). However, God also warned the remnant in the land that if they should disobey his word and choose to flee for refuge to Egypt they would die by the sword, famine, and disease (13-17). They would, like the former inhabitants of Jerusalem, incur God’s righteous wrath and become “an execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt” (18). The prophet urged the remnant of Judah to hear and heed God’s word and resist the temptation to make for Egypt lest they die (19-22).
To ponder! The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe (Pro.29:25).
Bible Challenge: Day 588 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 43 & 44
Jeremiah 43 records the tragic response of Azariah, Johanan, and other insolent men. Determined to go to Egypt, they accused Jeremiah of lying to them saying that the word he had spoken to them was not from God (1-2). They further accused the prophet of betrayal and of being an agent of the Babylonians (3). And so, Johanan and the people refused to trust and obey the word of God. Rather they all made for Egypt and arrived at Tahpanhes where the word of God again came to the prophet (4-8). God told Jeremiah to “Take in your hands large stones and hide them in the mortar in the pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, 10 and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them” (9-10). Nebuchadnezzar’s mighty Babylonian army will invade Egypt and bring disaster and destruction upon the people, the land, their cities, palaces, and temples, including the remnant of Judah who would die by sword, famine, and pestilence as God had warned and as Jeremiah had prophesied (11-13).
Jeremiah 44 begins with the prophet communicating God’s word to the Judeans that had fled to Egypt despite God’s warning against such a course of action. God made clear to them through Jeremiah that disaster and desolation had been visited upon Jerusalem and Judah because of their defiance and disobedience to God. They had served other gods and had wilfully committed evil (1-3). God had persistently called them to repent via his prophets, but they arrogantly and conceitedly refused to listen and therefore brought judgement upon themselves (4-6). And still they had failed to learn the lessons not only of their past but from their immediate history. Like a dog that returns to its vomit, they were repeating the same grave folly. God, therefore, declared, “They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers” (7-10). Therefore, just as God had warned they would be consumed by sword, famine, and disease in Egypt. Jeremiah proclaimed that “none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives” (11-14). The people, however, were deaf to the words of the prophet. And were determined to cling to and serve their idols, foolishly thinking that their false gods had served them well in the past and would do so again (15-17). Remarkably, they would offer sacrifices to the queen of heaven and bow before her image (18-19). In response, Jeremiah was insistent that it was because of such abominations that calamity had come upon them (20-22). He made clear, “It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day” (23). And the prophet proceeded to pronounce God’s judgement upon them. They would not return from Egypt. Rather disaster was coming upon them. “All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them. 28 And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs” (24-28). Pharaoh Hophra and his nation would soon be invaded and conquered. Not only would the Egyptians fall to the invading army, but tragically, the remnant of Judah would also perish at their hands or in the resulting famine (29-30).
To ponder! For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence (Isa.3:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 589 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 45 & 46
Jeremiah 45 records the word of God that the prophet received and spoke to Baruch in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim of Judah’s reign (1). God addressed Baruch who was experiencing a deep sense of despair and distress. He had said, “Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest” (2-3). God explained through Jeremiah that he was breaking down what he had built up and was plucking up what he had planted in the Promised Land (4). Baruch was told to curb his ambition and not to seek great things for himself because God was about to bring ‘disaster upon all flesh’. Nevertheless, Baruch was graciously given God’s assurance, “But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go” (5).
Jeremiah 46 records God’s word concerning the fall of Pharaoh Neco’s Egypt (1). Verses two through twelve have reference to Egypt’s military defeat and destruction by the army of Nebuchadnezzar in the fourth year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah (2). Despite the provenance, prosperity, prestige, and power of the pharaohs and the prowess of their soldiers, horsemen, charioteers, and archers they will receive a fatal blow. The Babylonians conquerors are moreover merely instruments of God’s judgement because “That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes” (10). God further declared, “Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you. The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together” (11-12). God communicated through Jeremiah how Nebuchadnezzar would strike down and devour the Egyptians (13-15). His army would outnumber and overwhelm all Egyptian opposition. Their rich rulers will seek to flee the oppressor, hired mercenaries will abandon the field of battle, her forces will be destroyed, and the land will be left desolate (16-23). “The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north” (24). God will bring “punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward, Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the LORD” (25-26). By contrast, God will save his people. He will deliver them out of the land of captivity and bring them back into the Promised Land where they will enjoy ‘quiet and ease’ and they shall fear no more (27). The prophet exclaimed, “Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished” (28).
To ponder! The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Pro.16:33).
Bible Challenge: Day 590 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 47 & 48
Jeremiah 47 records God’s word of judgement upon the Philistine cities that was given through the prophet ‘before Pharaoh struck down Gaza’ (1). The Philistines would be overwhelmed by Pharaoh’s invading army which advanced north to support the failing Assyrian Empire and halt the growing threat from the Babylonians. The picture that is painted by Jeremiah is one of sudden calamity and confusion. The inhabitants of the Philistine cities of Tyre, Sidon, Caphtor, Gaza, and Ashkelon will be struck down while fleeing in terror. “At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, 4 because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines…” Their defences will prove altogether inadequate. They will be helpless against superior forces. Grief-struck survivors will be confronted with destruction and desolation. And yet the LORD has appointed that day of judgement against the enemies of his people. Egypt is merely his instrument of vengeance which in turn will themselves be judged (1-7).
Jeremiah 48 concerns God’s judgement upon the mountainous nation of Moab which like the Philistine cities will be brought to disaster, destruction, and desolation. Mount Nebo was the place from where Moses once surveyed the Promised Land. Woe is coming upon the nation and the ‘renown of Moab’ will be no more (1-5). Her leaders and people had arrogantly boasted in their works and treasures, but they will be abased. Those that survive the sword of the invading army will be taken captive into exile as slaves. For ‘The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken (6-9). Moab had never been conquered but had become corpulent, complacent, and over-confident. She will be taken by surprise and brought to shame. Her young men will fall to the invader’s sword, but this is ultimately the judgement of God, the LORD of hosts (10-15). The rule and reign of their kings will end, and their glory laid waste (16-20). Her cities will fall and be brought to ruin. “The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, declares the LORD” (21-25). They had made themselves enemies of God and his people and had boasted in their defensive strength and impregnability, but they will be held in derision (26-32). God declares, “Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab; I have made the wine cease from the winepresses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; the shouting is not the shout of joy” (33). The whole nation will become desolate. Their idols will be helpless and will offer no comfort. And their riches will perish (34-36). All will wail, weep, and mourn their great and grave loss. “So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him” (37-39). Its cities will be conquered, and its strongholds seized. There will be no escape for those that magnified and elevated themselves above God in the day of his vengeance. God says, “Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity” (40-47). And yet just as God promised to preserve and restore a remnant of Israel and Judah, so he will graciously restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days (48).
To ponder! before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness (Ps.96:13).
Bible Challenge: Day 591 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 49 & 50
Jeremiah 49 continues the theme of God’s judgement against the nations surrounding Judah. Firstly, through his prophet, God declares the coming destruction of Ammon. Her people will be dispossessed, and the country left desolate (1-2). “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom [their god] shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials” (3). Like Moab, Ammon had tragically not only trusted in its false god but it had boasted in its prosperity. However, her people will become fugitives. And yet, God will preserve a remnant and restore them in the future (4-6). God will similarly judge Edom whose people boasted in their wisdom and took great confidence in the security of their mountainous homeland. There will be no hiding and protection from God’s righteous wrath against the wicked. Though God will spare the widows and fatherless who trust in him (7-11). Yet all will suffer because of the destruction and desolation coming upon the nation (12-14). The summons has been sent to the instruments of God’s judgement to rise up against Edom. The pride of their heart has deceived them. “Though you make your nest as high as the eagle's, I will bring you down from there, declares the LORD” (15-16). Just like Sodom and Gomorrah, Edom’s sudden destruction will be a byword for calamity and catastrophe. God has ordained it, and no one can stay his hand (17-19). Jeremiah, therefore, calls the people to hear God’s word (20-22). Concerning Damascus, the prophet also foretold its coming destruction. Her defences will be penetrated, her defenders will be slain, and her people will flee in terror (23-27). Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor will unexpectedly meet a like fate at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Her people will be slaughtered or will flee in terror and her possessions will be plundered. They will be left a wasteland (28-33). The word of God furthermore came to Jeremiah concerning Elam early in the reign of Zedekiah (34). “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven.” God will scatter the Elamites among the nations. He will bring disaster upon their nation in punishment for their wickedness. However, he will restore their fortunes in the latter days (35-39).
Jeremiah 50 provides a prophetic record of God’s judgement upon Babylon (1). “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.’” The mighty Babylonian empire will be conquered and supplanted by the Medo-Persians (3). In that day the people of God lamenting their great loss shall be reunited and will seek permission to return to the Promised Land. They shall say, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten’ (4-5). God’s church are likened to lost sheep. Scattered by false doctrine and sinful practices they had forgotten their fold and had been easy prey to their enemies (6-7). They are warned to be ready to flee from Babylon which will be invaded by skilled warriors that will plunder and spoil the nation (8-10). The fall and ruination of that once mighty and opulent kingdom will shock and horrify her neighbours (11-14). However, ‘this is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done. 16 Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; because of the sword of the oppressor, every one shall turn to his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land’ (15-16). Just as God punished Assyria for its treatment of Israel, so he will judge Babylon for what it did to Judah and Jerusalem. And God will ‘restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. 20 In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant’ (17-20). Babylon will be caught in a trap set by God and will be punished for its opposition to the LORD (21-24). Destruction and desolation will be visited not only on her people and cities but also upon her granaries and livestock (25-27). And God’s people will return to Zion to declare the vengeance of God (28). The Medo-Persian archers will triumph over Babylon’s army. A proud and once seemingly invincible force will be swept away (29-32). They had oppressed the people of God but their ‘Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon’ (33-34). Not only will the armies of Babylon fall to the bow and sword of their enemy, but their gods will fail them miserably (35-38). They shall be judged and punished like Sodom and Gomorrah. They shall be helpless against the tsunami of destruction coming upon them that will leave their land desolate (39-43). Like a lion that stalked its prey, their enemy will suddenly rush upon them. God will appoint another ruler in the stead of the king of Babylon and the nations shall marvel and tremble (44-46).
To ponder! After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living” (Rev.18:1-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 592 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 51 & 52
Jeremiah 51 records Babylon’s complete destruction. Her once invincible army will be decimated. No mercy will be shown by their cruel and callous invaders (1-3). They shall be slain in their city streets. God will punish them for their sin by the hand of the Medo-Persians. By contrast, he will preserve the remnant of Israel and Judah (4-6). Babylon will drink the cup of God’s wrath, while the children of Israel will praise God and say, “The LORD has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God” (10). God has stirred up the warrior spirit of the Medes to be his means of judgement (11). God has decreed the demise of Babylon. Their watchmen and their wealth will not and cannot stay his hand (12-14). God is sovereign. He made the earth by the word of his power. He is all-wise and all-knowing, unlike the idols of Babylon which are worthless delusions (15-18). He is the God of Jacob, who will fulfil his promises to his people (19). And he has decreed the destruction of Babylon (20-23). He declares, “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the LORD” (24). Just as the Babylonians brought destruction and desolation upon other nations, so God will do likewise to them (25-26). The nations will gladly join the rulers of the Medes in the assault on Babylon. They will overwhelm the Babylonian defences and burn down her cities leaving them without inhabitants (27-32). “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come” (33). God will avenge the blood of his saints and the desecration and destruction that was visited upon Jerusalem and Judah by Nebuchadnezzar (34-44). God therefore bids his people to prepare for flight and tells them not to be fearful (45-46). Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel and few, if any, will mourn her loss. Her mighty walls and strong towers will be reduced to rubble and her magnificent and beautiful buildings will be burned down (47-58). This prophecy was passed on by Jeremiah and written down in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign. The prophet commanded Seraiah to proclaim this revelation to the remnant of God’s people in Babylon to bolster their faith and ghope. When he was finished reading the prophecy, he was told to attach a stone and cast the book into the Euphrates River and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted’ (59-64).
Jeremiah 52 focuses on the reign of Zedekiah who was eleven years of age when he became king. He did evil in the sight of God and was ruling when God cast Jerusalem and Judah out of his presence and into captivity (1-3). Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon which in God’s providence would be the instrument of judgement upon a defiant and disobedient people. And so, in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s rule, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the Holy City resulting in a severe famine for its inhabitants (4-6). Finally, the Babylonians breached the city’s impressive defences, causing Zedekiah and members of the royal family to make their escape. However, they were captured on the plains of Jericho. Brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, Zedekiah’s sons were executed in his sight before the king’s eyes were put out. He was manacled and taken back to Babylon where he lived out his life in prison (6-11). On gaining entrance to Jerusalem, Nebuzaradan, captain of Nebuchadnezzar’s guard, burned to the ground the Temple, the Royal Palace, and many other prominent buildings. Furthermore, his army broke down the perimeter wall of the great city and enslaved her citizens, taking them captive back to Babylon. He left the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and ploughmen (12-16). The bronze pillars and the intricate and decorative fixtures of the House of God were smashed, and its sacred vessels and treasures were taken as booty back to Babylon (17-23). The chief priests and officers were captured and summarily executed by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (24-27). In the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, 4600 Judeans were taken into the land of captivity (28-30). In the thirty-seventh year of their exile, King Evil-merodach of Babylon released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison and welcomed him into fellowship. Jehoiachin dined regularly at the king’s table and enjoyed an allowance from the ruler of Babylon until his death (31-34). Here ends the Book of Jeremiah.
To ponder! Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth” (Rev.18:21-24).
Bible Challenge: Day 593 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Lamentations 1 & 2
Lamentations 1 records Jeremiah’s lament over the fall of Jerusalem and Judah. The prophet gazes on the destruction and desolation left by the Babylonians and reflects sorrowfully on what has become of God’s people. His sense of abandonment and grief is palpable. He likens the Holy City to a widow and former princess who is now enslaved (1). She weeps bitterly for her loss but finds no comforters or relief. Her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies (2). Judah has been taken into exile. There is no more worship at the House of God in the Holy City. Her gates and streets no longer swarm with joyous crowds gathering to keep the great religious festivals that marked the Old Testament liturgical calendar (3-4). Her enemies prosper at her expense, but it is the LORD who has afflicted her because of her great and grave sins. ‘Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore, she became filthy; all who honoured her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away’ (5-8). She cries out to God for mercy. The enemy has triumphed, and the Holy Place has been desecrated and destroyed (9-10). Famished survivors search for and trade their treasurers for scraps of food. They mourn before onlookers in their deep distress and sorrow. They comprehend that they are the recipients of God’s righteous wrath. They had rejected repeated calls to repent and rather wallowed in the mire of idolatry and immorality and must now face the consequences of their folly. For the Lord has rejected them (11-15). Jeremiah weeps and wails because of the catastrophe that has befallen God’s church. He says, “Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her; the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbours should be his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them” (16-17). They rebelled against God. They refused to hear and heed his word and they have either perished, been taken into captivity, or been reduced to penury (18-19). The prophet speaks on behalf of the people and confesses his sinful rebellion and grieves not only for the children of Jacob but also that the enemy gloats at their destruction (20-21). He cries, “Let all their evildoing come before you, and deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions; for my groans are many, and my heart is faint” (22).
In Lamentations 2 Jeremiah continues to express his deep distress and sorrow at the fall of Zion (1). He rightly sees God’s righteous judgement in the destruction and desolation of Judah and Jerusalem (2). He has “swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; in his wrath, he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonour the kingdom and its rulers.” The fierce and merciless Babylonian invaders were but God’s instruments of wrath against a people who had rebelled and rejected his covenant and commandments (3-4). And so, the Lord has become like an enemy to the children of Israel. He has abased an arrogant and conceited people, including or especially, her religious and royal leaders, and has turned the land flowing with milk and honey into a wasteland. And just as he banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, he expelled the remnant from the Promised Land to the land of exile and captivity. He has ‘multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation’ (5-6). The Lord has disowned their feigned and corrupt worship and delivered the Holy City with its Temple and Palaces into the hands of the enemy to lay waste (7-8). All lies in ruins. Her rulers are gone. Her prophets receive no word and have fallen silent. Her elders sit in sackcloth and ashes and mourn their loss. Her women weep and wail. Children and babies faint for lack of nourishment and their mothers are helpless. Jeremiah can do nothing but weep and cry to God (9-12). He feels powerless. He can offer no comfort to a people who fully indulged the fallen nature, distorted God’s truth, and deceived themselves, and who wilfully and stubbornly continued in their idolatry, iniquity, and infamy (13-14). It is hardly surprising that ‘All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” (15). Their enemies deride and despise them and rejoice at their fall from grace (16-17). Jeremiah urges the survivors to cry out to God for mercy and respite. “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street” (18-19). They must confess their complicity in the catastrophe that has been visited upon them on the day of the anger of the LORD (20-22). Ichabod is not only written over the Temple but over the Holy City and country.
To ponder! And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured” (1Sam.4:21-22).
Bible Challenge: Day 594 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Lamentations 3 & 4
In Lamentations 3 Jeremiah personifies the remnant left among the ruins and desolation of Jerusalem and Judah. He expresses the depths of his distress and despair. His tribulations continue. He feels bitter and broken. God appears distant. His prayers appear to go unanswered. Darkness engulfs him. He is derided by the enemies of Israel. He is desperately depressed. His soul is bereft of peace. He has forgotten what happiness is and “so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD” (1-18). And yet just as a shaft of light can penetrate deep darkness, he continues to cry to and have hope in God (19-21). He declares, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (22-23). He seeks the LORD who is his portion. He is determined to wait on God to act for his salvation (24-26). He looks to God to raise him from his present hellish suffering. God, he is sure, will not cast him off forever but will show compassion and steadfast love towards him (27-33). He trusts in the justice of God and exclaims, “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! 41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven” (33-41). He confesses the transgressions and rebellion of God’s people and recognises God’s hand in what has befallen the church (42-47). His eyes flowed with rivers of tears and continued to do so until God showed them pity and lifted him and others from the pit of despair (48-56). “You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ 58 “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life” (57-58). He trusts God to rescue him from and judge his enemies (59-66).
In Lamentations 4 Jeremiah surveys the ruins of the Holy City. He observes how the “holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street” (1). The survivors among God’s people are parched and famished for lack of food. Their children are malnourished and starving in the wake of the invasion and resultant destruction and pillage (2-4). Those who beforehand had lived in comparative luxury have lost everything they possessed and wander among the ruination. The prophet likens Jerusalem to the uninhabitable Sodom after its destruction (5-6). Her princes have been reduced to paupers. Better off, he concludes, were those who perished by the Babylonian sword than the survivors (7-9). He even suggests that women had been reduced to eating their own children to prevent starvation. A once sophisticated people have resorted to savagery in their craving to survive. They rejected God’s grace and mercy and became the recipients of his wrath. Jerusalem had once appeared impregnable and secure and yet it has been reduced to rubble (11-12). Their corrupt and false prophets and priests had misled them and now like a leper they stagger and shuffle amid the devastation crying out “Away! Unclean! They must now be fugitives and wanderers among the nations (13-15). ‘The LORD himself has scattered them; he will regard them no more; no honour was shown to the priests, no favour to the elders’ and the people were left helpless (17). The enemy pursued them into the wilderness where they were captured and taken into captivity (18-20). The Edomites rejoiced in their fall. However, the punishment of the daughter of Zion for her iniquity is accomplished and God will restore his remnant in the fulness of time. God, however, will punish the Edomites in his time (21-22).
To ponder! Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! 17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Ps.80:14-19).
Bible Challenge: Day 595 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Lamentations 5 & Ezekiel 1
In Lamentations 5 Jeremiah intercedes for the remnant of God’s people and prays that God would remember them in their extremity. Disgrace has befallen them. He likens the people to orphans and the fatherless. They are being exploited and oppressed for basic commodities by their callous conquerors. In desperation, they have begged food from Egypt and Assyria (1-6). He cries, ‘Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities’ (7). Slaves exploit and oppress them, and they are powerless to resist. They are easy prey to marauding and murdering gangs in the wilderness. They are exposed to the elements. Women are being raped, princes tortured, elders are shown no respect or consideration, and the young enslaved (8-13). Old customs and practices have ceased. The people are miserable and mournful (14-15). They cry out, “The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! 17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, 18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it” (16-18). Yet, the look to the sovereign God who is from everlasting to everlasting the same. They earnestly pray for restoration and renewal. “Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us” (19-22).
Ezekiel 1 begins in the thirtieth year of Israel’s captivity. While among the exiles by the Chebar canal Ezekiel received a series of visions from God (1-3). The prophet saw a stormy wind coming from the north and a great bright cloud with flashes of fire-like gleaming metal (4). And amid it he observed four living creatures that each had four faces and four wings (6). Their legs were straight, and the sole of their feet were like a calf’s foot (7). They had human hands and each exhibited faces of a human, lion, ox, and eagle (8-10). Their wings propelled them and ‘Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went’ (11-12). They darted back and forth and flashed like lightening (13-14). Ezekiel saw that each creature had a wheel that gleamed like beryl. Each wheel had a wheel within it that enabled it to turn in any direction. And the creatures moved as led by the spirit (15-21). The prophet observed an awe-inspiring crystal above the creatures. As they flapped their wings, they sounded like a mighty rushing water or a vast army of the Almighty. And when they stood still, they lowered their wings (22-25). Over the expanse of their heads, Ezekiel saw what looked like a throne made of sapphire and one seated upon it that looked human. He had the appearance of gleaming metal and fire which spoke of his divine majesty, power, and glory, and he had a rainbow all around him (26-28). ‘Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.’ The prophet is hereby given a glimpse of God on his throne as the pre-incarnate Christ who has the heavenly host at his service. The vision is given to inspire confidence and trust in the message he will receive to communicate to the remnant.
To ponder! After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal (Rev.4:1-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 596 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 2 & 3
In Ezekiel 2 God told the prophet to stand upright and when he did so, he received the Spirit of God (1-2). God said to him, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day” (3). In this Ezekiel was a type of which Christ is the antitype in all his glorious perfection. He is the Son of Man, the Word made flesh, who came in the fulness of time to call the rebellious to repent and to save them from their rebellious natures through his life, death, and resurrection. God told Ezekiel that the descendants of the remnant that had been forcibly taken into captivity were similarly impudent and stubborn. God was sending his prophet to them to command them to repent. “I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them” (4-5). God told Ezekiel not to be afraid despite the vituperatively cutting and stinging responses he was sure to receive from rebellious people who heard him proclaim God’s word (6-7). Ezekiel is to eschew the rebellious ways of the children of Israel and rather he is to trust and obey God. The prophet looked and he saw a hand stretched out to him with a scroll of a book in it. “And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe” (8-10).
In Ezekiel 3 the prophet is commanded by God to eat the scroll he has received and go proclaim its contents to the house of Israel (1-3). Ezekiel did so, and declared, ‘Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.’ He was then instructed to go speak God’s word to the church in the language of the people – “not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I sent you to such, they would listen to you” (4-6). Lamentably, however, Ezekiel like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others before him will encounter defiant and disobedient people who will refuse to hear and heed God’s word (7). God will give his prophet the confidence, conviction, and courage to stand his ground and preach the word to a rebellious people (8-9). God again said, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear” (10-11). Then the Spirit lifted up the prophet and in a vision he saw an earthquake and heard a mighty voice saying, “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” (12). Then he saw again the living creature and the Spirit moved him. He felt uneasy and yet the hand of God was strong upon him. And he came to the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar Canal and there he sat overwhelmed among them for seven days (13-15). There God appointed him a watchman for the house of Israel. He was to warn the people, ‘you shall surely die’ if they refused to repent. If he did so and they did not turn from their wicked ways, then he would not be culpable for their refusal. Rather, he had fulfilled his duty as called and commissioned by God. However, if he refused to do so, he would be guilty of complicity and would be held accountable (16-19). God declared, “if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” Then Ezekiel was sent to a valley where again he encountered the glory of God (22-23). He was told to lock himself in his house where he would be bound, so that he could not go out and confront the people. He would there be prevented from proclaiming God’s word to the rebellious for a time (24-26). Nevertheless, God will speak to him and will again open his mouth to enable him to declare, “‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house” (27).
To ponder! And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Lk.5:31-32).
Bible Challenge: Day 597 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 4 & 5
In Ezekiel 4 the prophet is told by God to take a brick and engrave on it the Holy City with siege works and battering rams around it (1-2). He is to take an iron griddle and press it against the siege and city. ‘This is a sign for the house of Israel’ (3). Then he is to set up the house of Israel on his left side in the place of punishment for a period of 390 days. Afterwards, on his right side, he is to likewise for the house of Judah. God instructs Ezekiel, ‘Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. 7 And you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm bared, and you shall prophesy against the city.’ The prophet must remain until he has completed these symbolic actions (4-8). Then he is to take and combine specific ingredients in a single vessel and make bread from them to sustain him while he lies on his side for 390 days (9). God informs him how much food and drink he is to consume daily (10-11). He is also to eat barley cake which is to be publicly baked in human excrement. For as God explains, “Thus shall the people of Israel eat their bread unclean, among the nations where I will drive them” (12-13). Ezekiel protested, claiming that by such an action he would defile himself, and God told him to use cow dung rather than human excrement in the figurative action (14-15). And God said, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay. 17 I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment” (16-17).
In Ezekiel 5 God instructs the prophet to take a sharp sword and with it, he is to cut off his hair and beard. He is then to weigh and divide his hair using balances. A third part is to be burned amid the city when the days of the siege are over. Another third he is to take and strike with his sword around the city, and the third part he is to scatter to the wind. And from these, he is to bind some to the skirts of his robe and others he is to take and cast into fire. And God told him, “From there a fire will come out into all the house of Israel” (1-4). God then explained the meaning of the highly symbolic action. Jerusalem, he had favoured above all other cities and nations, but she had rebelled against his covenant and commandments (5-6). Consequently, she must incur God’s judgement in the sight of the nations for her abominable idolatry and immorality (7-9). Some shall perish at the hands of the invading army, others will consume one another, and yet others will be scattered to the winds (10). Because they have desecrated God’s worship and indulged in depravity, and refused to repent, God will not spare them or show pity upon them in judgement (11). They have rejected his grace and now must face his justice! As a result, two-thirds of the inhabitants shall die by the sword, famine, or disease, while a third will escape to be taken into captivity (12). Such is the righteous wrath of God which they will be compelled to acknowledge in their extremity (13). Their city and nation will be left desolate and the people a reproach to the surrounding nations that will be shocked and horrified at the calamity and catastrophe visited upon Jerusalem and Judah. God will judge the wicked, even those that feign to take his name in vain. God told Ezekiel, “I am the LORD; I have spoken” (14-17).
To ponder! The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy (2Chron.36:15-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 598 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 6 & 7
There are few words of comfort and consolation in Ezekiel 6 and 7 which foretell a day of judgement upon the Old Testament church for forsaking God and giving full expression to the fallen nature in ungodliness and unrighteousness. In Ezekiel 6 the prophet is commanded to prophesy against the land of Israel for its idolatry (1-4). He is to declare on God’s behalf, “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols.” Israel’s dead will lie around her broken altars. Her cities will similarly be destroyed, and the land will be left desolate. “And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD” (5-7). Some will survive to be carried off into captivity or scattered among the nations. And this Ezekiel was to assure them was the consequence of their unrepented of spiritual adultery and evil actions. “And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them” (8-10). The prophet was instructed to clap his hands and stamp his foot and declare the fall of the house of Israel by sword, famine, and pestilence (11). God will pour out his righteous wrath upon that evil generation. He will lay waste the kingdom and only then will the remnant acknowledge that he is the sovereign God, the LORD (12-14).
In Ezekiel 7 the prophet is to pronounce the end of Israel’s wilful and wicked defiance and disobedience towards God. For they are about to face the punishment for their abominations and for breaking God’s covenant with them (1-4). Disaster and doom are imminent. A day of tumult is fast approaching when God’s wrath will be manifest against them. In that day he will show them no compassion. They have rejected his grace and mercy and now must face his justice and judgement (5-9). Tragically, Ezekiel is to declare, “Your doom has come; the rod has blossomed; pride has budded” (10). Rich and poor alike will die. Their possessions will be plundered. They shall not return to their former homes, careers, and vocations (11-13). The trumpet has been blown. Those caught out in the open will be slain by the invaders’ swords. Others seeking refuge in the cities will succumb to disease and famine. Survivors will flee to the mountains in terror and trepidation (14-16). They shall weep and mourn in deep distress. Their strength will be spent, and they will be left powerless. Their gold and silver will do them no good. They will go hungry. Their idols will offer them no comfort. Indeed, they will finally acknowledge the folly of their idolatry. They will be easy prey to foreigners who will desecrate and despoil God’s House (18-22). Ezekiel is told to forge a chain to symbolise the enslavement of the survivors. Their possessions will be taken from them. They will be stripped of their pride. Disaster has come upon them. Then they will seek a word from God while ‘the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.’ The king will mourn, the prince despair, and the people will be paralysed by fear in the terrible day of judgement (23-27).
To ponder! Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1Thes.5:1-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 599 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 8 & 9
In Ezekiel 8 the prophet records a vision he received in the sixth year of captivity while he sat at home in Babylon with certain elders of Judah. He writes, ‘the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there’ (1). Again, he is given a sight of the pre-incarnate Christ who appeared burning bright like gleaming metal (2), anticipating the glory he would reveal on the Mount of Transfiguration. Christ stretched out his hand and took Ezekiel by a lock of his head and the Spirit enabled the prophet to behold Jerusalem and the entrance to the inner court of the Temple that faced north (3). “And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley” (4). Ezekiel was instructed to look north of the altar gate to the image of jealousy. And he was asked if he saw the abominations that the house of Israel was committing in the sanctuary of God? (5-6). The prophet was then transported to the entrance of the court and shown a hole in the wall. He was commanded to dig the wall and he did so and found an entrance (7-8). He entered to see the idolatrous distortions and desecrations of the worship of God and the loathsome imagery engraved on the walls. (9-10). He saw seventy elders of the house of Israel with Jazaniah among them. Each had a censer in his hand and the smoke of incense clouded the place (11). God asked him if he saw what the elders were doing in the dark and explained how they foolishly believed that God not only took no notice of their sacrilegious worship but also believed that God had completely forsaken the land. God warned the prophet that he would yet see worse abominations (12-13). Then taking Ezekiel by the north gate, the prophet was shown women weeping before a false god called Tammuz. And yet again he was told that he would see worse things than that (14-15). And so, he was taken into the inner court of the house of the LORD. And there between the porch and the altar, he saw twenty-five men with their backs to the Temple worshipping the sun toward the east (16). God asked him, “Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them” (17-18)
Ezekiel 9 continues the theme of judgement upon Jerusalem for its idolatry and iniquity found in the previous chapter. The prophet heard a loud voice saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And he witnessed six men armed with swords coming from the north and a man in linen with a writing case at his waist that stood next to the bronze altar (1-2). Seven being the number of fulness, the six swordsmen powerfully imply that a remnant will be shown mercy to survive the coming slaughter from the north from where the Babylonian army will come. The man in line is the pre-incarnate Christ, and the judgement symbolises the final judgement when he will separate the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats. God spoke to the man with the writing desk, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it” (3-4). The faithful, in other words, are shown mercy. Of others, the man was told, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity” (5). Young and old, male and female alike who did not have the said mark would be killed in the invasion. And judgement was to begin in the house of God with the elders of the people (6). Those that had corruptly served the Temple would be put to death therein. Ezekiel, in response to the vision, prostrated himself and cried to God, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?” (7-8). God replied by telling the prophet that the guilt of Israel and Judah was exceedingly great. And added, “The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice.” The priests, princes and people had ignored and rejected God’s word, and had rebelled against him, and therefore they will be shown no mercy in the coming judgement. God said, “I will bring their deeds upon their heads” (9-10). The man clothed in linen returned and affirmed to God that he had carried out his commission of mercy (11).
To ponder! Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (Rev.1:12-18).
, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols.” Israel’s dead will lie around her broken altars. Her cities will similarly be destroyed, and the land will be left desolate. “And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD” (5-7). Some will survive to be carried off into captivity or scattered among the nations. And this Ezekiel was to assure them was the consequence of their unrepented of spiritual adultery and evil actions. “And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them” (8-10). The prophet was instructed to clap his hands and stamp his foot and declare the fall of the house of Israel by sword, famine, and pestilence (11). God will pour out his righteous wrath upon that evil generation. He will lay waste the kingdom and only then will the remnant acknowledge that he is the sovereign God, the LORD (12-14).
In Ezekiel 7 the prophet is to pronounce the end of Israel’s wilful and wicked defiance and disobedience towards God. For they are about to face the punishment for their abominations and for breaking God’s covenant with them (1-4). Disaster and doom are imminent. A day of tumult is fast approaching when God’s wrath will be manifest against them. In that day he will show them no compassion. They have rejected his grace and mercy and now must face his justice and judgement (5-9). Tragically, Ezekiel is to declare, “Your doom has come; the rod has blossomed; pride has budded” (10). Rich and poor alike will die. Their possessions will be plundered. They shall not return to their former homes, careers, and vocations (11-13). The trumpet has been blown. Those caught out in the open will be slain by the invaders’ swords. Others seeking refuge in the cities will succumb to disease and famine. Survivors will flee to the mountains in terror and trepidation (14-16). They shall weep and mourn in deep distress. Their strength will be spent, and they will be left powerless. Their gold and silver will do them no good. They will go hungry. Their idols will offer them no comfort. Indeed, they will finally acknowledge the folly of their idolatry. They will be easy prey to foreigners who will desecrate and despoil God’s House (18-22). Ezekiel is told to forge a chain to symbolise the enslavement of the survivors. Their possessions will be taken from them. They will be stripped of their pride. Disaster has come upon them. Then they will seek a word from God while ‘the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.’ The king will mourn, the prince despair, and the people will be paralysed by fear in the terrible day of judgement (23-27).
To ponder! Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1Thes.5:1-11).
Bible Challenge: Day 600 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 10 & 11
In Ezekiel 10 the prophet sees the throne of God which had the appearance of sapphire with cherubim (angels) in attendance. And he heard the voice of God (the Father) saying to the man clothed in linen (the Son), “Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city” symbolising the judgement of Jerusalem (1-2). Ezekiel saw the glory of the LORD and the house of God filled with the cloud of his presence. He heard the flapping wings of the cherubim and again heard the voice of God saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim” (3-6). He observed a cherub stretch out what appeared to be a human hand and place fire into the hands of the man clothed in linen (7-9). Furthermore, the prophet saw the four wheels beside the cherubim which sparkled like beryl. There was a wheel within each wheel enabling them to move with ease in any direction implying there would be no escape from the judgement of God. And he heard them referred to as the ‘whirling wheels’. He noted that each had the face of a cherub, a man, a lion, and an eagle (9-14). These were the living creatures that Ezekiel had observed by the Chebar Canal. The cherubim and the wheels moved together with consummate ease with the spirit of the living creatures (15-17). They stood at the east entrance of the house of God with God over them in total command (18-22).
In Ezekiel 11 the Spirit transported Ezekiel to the east gate of the house of God. There he saw twenty-five men including Jaazaniah and Pelatiah whom he refers to as princes of the people (1). God said to the prophet, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat’ (2-3). Therefore, Ezekiel is to prophesy against them. Ezekiel is given God’s word of imminent judgement to communicate to the wicked leaders and the people. God is about to bring the sword of justice upon them (4-8). They will be given into the hands of foreigners to execute judgement upon them. They shall be slain by the sword at the border of the land. God declared, “This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the LORD. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you” (9-12). And thus, while Ezekiel was proclaiming God’s revelation, Pelatiah died. The prophet fell to his knees and cried to God, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?” And God responded by informing him that while the remnant was scattered among the nations, God had been a sanctuary to them and would restore them to the Promised Land. He assured Ezekiel, ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel’ (13-17). In that day, the people will detest and destroy their former idols and turn away from their iniquity. God ‘will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them’ (18). God says, “I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (19-20). However, those who continue to covet abominable and detestable things will bring judgement upon themselves (21). At that, the cherubim lifted their wings and the glory of God stood above the mountain on the east side of the city and the Spirit transported Ezekiel back to Babylon, the land of captivity, and he told his fellow exiles what he had seen and heard in the vision (22-25).
To ponder! Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God (1Pt.1:22-23).
Bible Challenge: Day 601 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 12 & 13
In Ezekiel 12 the prophet is commanded to dwell amid a people ‘who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house’ (1-2). Ezekiel is told to prepare himself an exile’s baggage and enact going into exile in the sight of the people. Moreover, he was to dig through a wall and bring his baggage in and out through it. “You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel” (3-6). The prophet did as he was commanded by God (7). The following morning God asked Ezekiel if the people had enquired what he had been doing? He was told to tell the people, “This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it’ (8-10). And he was to explain, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity’ (11). The prince shall make his escape through a hole in the wall and shall conceal his face so as not to reveal his identity (12). However, he shall be caught and taken into captivity in Babylon where he shall die (12-13). Moreover, most of the prince’s confidantes, servants, and soldiers will be scattered and will fall to the sword, famine, or disease (14-16). Then Ezekiel was told, “eat your bread with quaking and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay.” Their land will be stripped bare and their cities laid waste because of their wickedness (17-20). God then asked Ezekiel about a proverbial saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? And commanded him to tell the people ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel’ (21-23). Rather, he was to say, ‘The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel’ (24). God will speak and will be evident to all that he is faithful in fulfilling his word (25). Ezekiel was to assure the children of Israel that God’s word would not be delayed but would soon come to pass (26-28).
In Ezekiel 13 Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against the prophets in Israel who communicated from their own hearts rather than the word of God (1-2). Ezekiel was to pronounce woe upon those who followed their own spirits but had not been given revelation from God. They are likened to ‘jackals among ruins’ that preyed on the spiritually dead, unwary, and uninformed (3-5). They have not been sent by God and consequently, their visions were false, and their divinations were lies (6-7). Therefore, God will judge them. They will be excluded from the council of his people, their names shall be expunged from the register of the house of Israel, and they shall not enter the Promised Land (8-9). They have misled the remnant saying, ‘Peace, where there is no peace’ and they have covered up and ignored the sins of the people rather than reprove and correct them. However, their folly will be exposed in God’s judgement upon them (10-16). Ezekiel is also commanded to prophesy against certain women who sewed superstitious wristbands and made veils for others in their hunt for souls. The prophet is to say to such women, “Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? 19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies (17-19). God will tear the magic bands off their arms and remove their veils. He will liberate the vulnerable and gullible that such women preyed upon (20-21). They have disheartened God’s people and encouraged wickedness rather than calling upon the wicked to repent. Therefore, they will no longer be permitted to spread falsehoods or practice their divination. God has spoken and his will be done (22-23).
To ponder! Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1Jn.4:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 602 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14 & 15
In Ezekiel 14 the prophet was in the company of a group of elders when the word of God came to him, informing him that these men were wilful idolaters at heart. God told Ezekiel to warn them that they were estranged from God because of their idols and iniquity (1-5). God instructed his prophet to call the house of Israel to repent and turn away from their idols and abominations. All who consulted the prophet but who continued in idolatry would face expulsion from the presence of God and would be excommunicated from the church (6-8). Furthermore, prophets that were deceived and who in turn deceived the people were to be severely punished so that the people of God may no longer be led astray to defile themselves by their sins, “but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord GOD” (9-11). Ezekiel was then told by God that if the land acted faithlessly towards God, then he would bring famine upon it afflicting man and beat alike. Such sin was so serious, God informed his prophet, that not even the presence and pleading of such righteous men as Noah, Daniel, or Job could prevent God’s judgement of famine, sword, or disease falling upon a faithless people (12-20). God asks, “How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!” (21). Yet, God will mercifully spare some sons and daughters who will offer consolation to God’s people who will comprehend the hand of God in judgement and mercy (22-23).
In Ezekiel 15 God asks the prophet, “how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?” He makes clear that it is not good for crafting fittings and furnishings. And it is quickly consumed by fire. The purpose of the vine is to bear fruit but alas God’s symbolic vine which are the inhabitants of Jerusalem have been faithless and fruitless. Therefore, God declares, “Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (1-6). God is about to set his face against them in judgement and consume them in his righteous wrath for their idolatry and iniquity. He will make their land desolate because of their faithlessness (7-8).
To ponder! “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (Jn.15:1-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 603 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 16 & 17
In Ezekiel 16 God again commands his prophet to make known to Jerusalem the reasons for the grave judgement that is about to fall upon the city (1-2). Beginning with her heathen history God had cast out the Canaanites to make way for his people (3-5). God nourished and nurtured Jerusalem and it grew and flourished (6-7). Then came the age of her maturity and love. God cleansed, adored, and adorned her with fine jewellery and wedding garments, symbolising the riches of his grace and divine favour. He made a covenant with the Holy City. This, after all, was the place where he chose to dwell amid his people. “You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14 And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendour that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD” (8-14). Alas, however, Jerusalem sold her soul and indulged in spiritual adultery. She wilfully embraced foreign idols, engaged in abominations, and even sacrificed her children to satisfy her evil desires (15-22). She proudly exalted herself, embraced foreign deities, and entered alliances with God’s enemies (23-29). Rejecting her husband, she willingly sought out and entertained numerous other suitors in adulterous affairs (30-34). Therefore, God says, “Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whorings with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them, 37 therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. 38 And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy” (35-38). The very nations that Jerusalem coveted will overthrow, plunder, destroy, and leave her ruined because of her great sins (39-43). She has behaved much worse than her mother, Canaan, and her sisters Samaria and Sodom. “So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous” (44-52). God will restore the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria while Jerusalem bears the penalty of her lewdness and abominations (53-58). And yet, God will mercifully remember his original covenant with Jerusalem and will establish an everlasting covenant with her. She will receive back her sisters as daughters. And she will once again acknowledge and love the LORD who will make atonement for all her sins (59-63).
In Ezekiel 17 God tells Ezekiel to “propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel” (1-2). He is to describe to the people a great and colourful eagle with a large wingspan and long powerful pinions that came to Lebanon and perched on top of a cedar tree (3). The eagle took a cutting from the tree and carried it to a city full of merchants. He took seeds of the land and planted them in fertile soil next to abundant waters and the seed germinated and sprouted and became a low-spreading vine that produced branches and put out boughs (4-6). Then the prophet spoke of another great eagle and the vine had its root toward him. It too was planted in a fertile and well-irrigated soul that it ‘might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine’ (7-8). The prophet is to ask the people, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots. 10 Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed where it sprouted?” (9-10). God then commanded Ezekiel to explain the meaning of the riddle or parable. The vine is the rebellious house of Israel. A remnant was carried off into Babylon along with their king and princes (11-12). A covenant was made with one of the royal princes who was compelled to humble himself before God. However, he later rejected God’s word and openly rebelled by seeking assistance and an alliance with Egypt. God, therefore, asks via his prophet, “Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?” (13-15). Egypt will not and cannot help him. Rather they themselves will fall to the mighty army of Babylon. And the king of Judah will be put to death in Babylon for breaking God’s covenant (16-18). God will judge the king for his treachery and treason. His troops will fall to the swords of foreign invaders, and the survivors will be scattered to the wind (19-21). God is the one who will take a sprig from the lofty cedar and plant it on a high mountain (Jerusalem - Zion). There it will grow, flourish and be fruitful again. And the birds of the air will take shelter under its branches. God will ‘bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it” (22-24).
To ponder! For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! (Isa.5:7).
Bible Challenge: Day 604 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18 & 19
In Ezekiel 18 God asks the prophet why he kept repeating the proverb, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? (1-2). God prohibits its further use because the ‘the soul who sins shall die’ (3-4). Rather the righteous will live by walking by faith and keeping God’s commandments and statutes, and by adhering to his law of love (5-9). The guilty, by contrast, will be punished for their own defiant and disobedient sinfulness (10-13). God poses a further question to the prophet about a son who observes the sins of his father but who does not follow his example. Rather, he eschews his father’s wilful immorality and iniquity (14-18). That son will live while the father will die because of his transgressions. God declares, “The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (19-20). However, if a wicked person repents then he or she will not die but live. Their sins will be forgiven (21-22).
God says, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die” (23-24). God is good and his ways are just. And yet the house of Israel foolishly questioned God’s rules for healthy and wholesome living. And they foolishly thought themselves justvin doing so! (25-29). God will judge all. He therefore bids sinners repent and turn from their transgressions. He graciously declares, “Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live” (30-32).
In Ezekiel 19 the prophet is called to lament for the princes of Israel. He is told to ask the question that if their mother was a lioness who raised her cubs? One of them was a prolific hunter that devoured men (1-3). He gained notoriety among the nations but was captured and taken in chains and hooks to the land of Egypt. The lioness waited in vain for his return and lost all hope. And so, she nurtured another of her cubs and he became a powerful young lion (4-5). He too quickly learned how to catch prey and soon was devouring men and seizing their widows. ‘He laid waste their cities, and the land was appalled and all who were in it at the sound of his roaring’ (6-7). The nations conspired against him. They captured him and took him captive to the King of Babylon, so that his voice was no longer heard in Israel (8-9). Changing the metaphor, God then addressed his people through Ezekiel and declared that their mother was like a vineyard planted by streams of water. She flourished and was fruitful. Her strong stems became like ruler’s sceptres. However, the vine was plucked up in fury and it withered and died. Fire consumed its strong stems. Such was the lot of God’s people. Now they find themselves planted in a harsh and unforgiving environment likened to a barren and parched wilderness. “And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots, has consumed its fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no sceptre for ruling” (10-14).
To ponder! O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Ps.63:1).
Bible Challenge: Day 605 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 20 & 21
In Ezekiel 20 the prophet is consulted by several elders to whom he revealed God’s word (1). Ezekiel informs them that it is because of Israel’s ‘abominations’ that they find themselves in captivity (2-4). He reminds the elders of their unique history and of how God graciously and gloriously came to the rescue of the children of Israel in Egypt and delivered them from the land of slavery and guided them to a land flowing with milk and honey via the wilderness (5-6). God commanded them to ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’ But alas, they failed to hear and heed God (7-8). God gave them his statutes and rules which included Sabbath observance so that they could worship and know God, but they greatly profaned his Holy Day 9-13). God punished and disciplined his foolishly defiant and disobedient people in the wilderness and yet continued to show them grace and mercy (14-17). God told them, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, 20 and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God’ (18-20). But lamentably they continued to reject God’s word and rebelled against his laws bringing judgement upon themselves (21-26). Ezekiel therefore explained to the elders that sat before him how their forebears had blasphemed and acted treacherously towards God by embracing idolatry and iniquity (27-29). He asks them if they too will indulge in the same idolatrous and murderous folly (30-32). God is going to deliver the remnant of his people. He will restore them to the Promised Land with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. He will make a new covenant with them and remove rebels from among them (33-38). The children of Israel must choose idols or God. They cannot have both (39). God will again be worshipped on his Holy Mountain. His people shall turn from their sin and willingly and lovingly serve him (40-44). However, God will judge the wicked (45-49).
Ezekiel 21 is a prophecy of doom against Jerusalem. Verses 45-49 in chapter 20 essentially introduce the theme. Ezekiel is to preach against the land of Israel upon which the sword of God’s justice will fall (1-5). The prophet will weep and mourn for the people of God, ‘Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord GOD’ (6-7). The sword has been polished and sharpened for judgement (8-10). The Old Testament church has despised and rejected God’s discipline designed to make them repent and now must face his righteous judgement upon their wickedness (11-13). The prophet is to clap his hands three times to signal God’s punishment on his people (14-17). Babylon will be God’s instrument in the fall of Jerusalem and the nation. The king of Babylon will wrongly attribute the success of his conquest to his false gods (18-23). God, however, is punishing the transgressions of the children of Israel. High priest and king alike will be stripped of their power and prestige. God declares, ‘Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted’ (24-26). Ruination is coming upon the nation and its capital (27). Ezekiel is also to prophesy judgement against the Ammonites who derided God’s people and delighted in their ignominious fall (28-29). God will bring destruction upon them also, and they shall be remembered no more (30-32).
To ponder! “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isa.58:13-14).
Bible Challenge: Day 606 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 22 & 23
In Ezekiel 22 God asks the prophet to judge and pronounce against the Holy City for all her ‘abominations’ (1-2). Murder, idolatry, and injustice were among her crimes. She had defiled and desecrated herself. Consequently, she will bear the reproach and mockery of the nations (3-5). Her rulers have been violent and bloodthirsty, parents have been treated with disrespect, and the fatherless, widow, and sojourner have been callously met with contempt (6-7). The people have profaned the Sabbath Day and treated sacred worship with indifference (8 ). They slander, bribe, and extort one another with utter disregard for God’s moral law. They indulge in sexual immorality to satisfy their insatiable lusts (9-12). Therefore, they have brought judgement upon themselves. Their narcissism and bravado will not save them. Many will die and others will be scattered among the nations for their ungodliness and unrighteousness (13-16). Ezekiel again received God’s revelation informing him that the house of Israel had become dross in God’s sight and would be consumed in the fiery crucible of God’s righteous wrath (17-22). The guilty will find no relief in that day of indignation. Their corrupt prophets have lied to them and exploited them for social respectability and material gain. Their priests have despoiled and desecrated sacred worship and disregarded God’s appointed Sabbaths (23-26). Her princes are likened to ravenous wolves and her prophets (preachers) falsely claiming to speak for God have excused and whitewashed the grave sins of the prosperous and powerful (27-28). Like their leaders, the populous practice extortion and robbery and there are none that confront and seek to correct the evil (29-30). “Therefore”, God says, “I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD” (31).
Ezekiel 23 records a parable of two sisters that God revealed to the prophet (1-2). The elder sister was called Oholah and the younger, Oholibah, corresponds to Samaria and Jerusalem. The sisters prostituted themselves to Egypt in their youth (3-4). Lusting after worldly prestige and prosperity, Oholah later gave herself to the choicest men of Assyria and defiled herself with idolatry (5-8). Therefore, God delivered her into the hands of her Assyrian lovers who stripped her bare and put her children to the sword (9-10). Thus was the fate of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Oholibah, rather than learning from the ignominious fall of her elder sister, not only continued in ‘her lust and in her whoring’ but doubled down in it and did even worse (11). She foolishly courted her sister’s lovers and then when she saw the ascendent prowess and power of the Babylonians (Chaldeans) she lusted after them. She seduced them and gave herself freely to them, but they defiled, despoiled, and disrespected her (12-17). Yet she continued to prostitute herself in idolatry and iniquity so that God turned in disgust from her (18-21). God said, “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side” (22). Her enemies will invade from the north and surround her. They shall disfigure her, seize her children, consume many by fire, and strip her of her fine clothes and beautiful jewels leaving her ruined (23-27). She abandoned God and his ways for idols and has brought judgement upon herself. She has exposed and brought shame upon herself. God declares, “You have gone the way of your sister; therefore, I will give her cup into your hand” (28-31). Having forgotten and forsaken God, she has brought misery and woe upon herself. She will therefore drain the cup of derision, degradation, and desolation (32-35). Ezekiel is to declare the sisters’ adulterous and murderous abominations (36-37). They have defiled and desecrated God’s sanctuary and Sabbath. They have sacrificed their children to foreign deities and prostituted themselves to the nations for material wealth and worldly honour (38-42). God however has saw and exposed their adulterous, lewd, and murderous behaviour and will make them an object of terror and plunder (43-46). They shall pay a heavy penalty for their sinful and unrepented idolatry and immorality (47-49).
To ponder! O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help (Hos.13:9).
Bible Challenge: Day 607 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 24 & 25
Ezekiel 24 records the king of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem which is described as God’s ‘rebellious house’ (1-3). God instructs Ezekiel to enact a parable. He is to set up a pot and boil choice pieces of meat and bones as a symbol of the fiery judgement that is to come upon Jerusalem (3-5). In the providence of God, Babylon is but his instrument of judgement, although the Babylonians are acting in accord with their wicked schemes of conquest and enrichment. They too will be judged in God’s time for their sin. God declares, “Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice” (6). Jerusalem has shed the blood of God’s people, many in sacrificial rituals to the idols of the surrounding nations. She has provoked God to righteous wrath and brought great and grave woe upon herself. She has rejected his grace and mercy and now must face his just condemnation and punishment. God’s fiery indignation and judgement against her idolatry and immorality will consume her (7-13). He insists, “I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD” (14). God then informs Ezekiel that his wife (the delight of his eyes) is about to suddenly die. He is not to weep or mourn her passing but rather sigh quietly. He is told to bind on his turban and put on his shoes. He must not cover his lips or sit and eat bread with others. And he did as God commanded (15-18). And when the people asked him to explain his actions, he proclaimed God’s word to them. He made clear that God was going to profane the sanctuary, and the pride of their power and the delight of their eyes, and the yearning of their souls, in the slaughter of their sons and daughters by the hands of the Babylonians. They shall not cover their lips nor eat the bread of men in that day. They shall be cut down and left to decompose in their turbans and shoes with no one to weep and mourn their passing. There will be no funeral rites for the dead (19-24). On that day, Ezekiel will be informed of the grave fall of Jerusalem by a fugitive. God further told the prophet, “On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD” (25-27).
Ezekiel 25 records prophecies of woe against Ammon, Moab and Seir, Edom, and Philistia. Because Ammon ridiculed, reviled, and rejoiced at the fall of Israel and Judah, and its capital where God had dwelt amid his people, they themselves will be conquered by a powerful nation from their east. They will be dispossessed and plundered, and they will perish by the sword. God declared, “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD” (1-7). Moab and Seir will similarly face judgement for their opposition to Judah and their mockery against her in the time of her fall. They too will be conquered by people from the east referring to nomadic Arab tribes (8-11). Edom also will be punished for acting ‘revengefully against the house of Judah and for taking vengeance on them in their extremity (12). From Teman to Dedan their people will fall to the sword of foreign invaders and their land will be left desolate. God declared, “and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord GOD” (13-14). The Philistines will similarly perish for seeking the destruction of God’s people in their ‘never-ending enmity’ (15). God will judge and destroy them, along with the Cherethites and the rest of the occupants of their land on the Mediterranean coast (16-17).
To ponder! Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom.12:19-21).
Bible Challenge: Day 608 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 26 & 27
Ezekiel 26 records God’s judgement against Tyre for her response to Jerusalem’s destruction (1-2). Tyre will similarly face murderous and marauding invaders. They will put her people to the sword, destroy her fine buildings, and plunder her possessions (3-6). God will use King Nebuchadnezzar and his powerful Babylonian army against Tyre as his instrument of divine vengeance. He will lay siege to the city. His battering rams will knock down her defensive gates, and his horsemen, charioteers, and soldiers will inflict death, destruction, and desolation. They will loot the city. God adds, “And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more. 14 I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the LORD; I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD” (7-14). The decisive fall of Tyre will strike fear and foreboding into the surrounding nations and their rulers who will not only lament but prepare for flight (15-17). They will marvel at renowned Tyre’s ignominious destruction, and cry ‘and the coastlands that are on the sea are dismayed at your passing’ (18). God declares “then I will make you go down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you to dwell in the world below, among ruins from of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set beauty in the land of the living. 21 I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord GOD” (19-21).
In Ezekiel 27 God therefore commands Ezekiel to raise a lamentation over the merchant city-state of Tyre (1-2). She had boasted in her beauty. She had flourished due to her location on the Mediterranean coast where she had a large fleet of merchant and cargo ships. She imported raw materials from the surrounding nations and exported finished goods (3-4). She made planks from fir trees from Senir, masts from cedars from Lebanon, oars from oak from Bashan, and decks of pine acquired in Cyprus which were inlaid with ivory. She manufactured embroidered linen from Egypt and purchased expensive blue and purple dyes. She used immigrant labour, skilled craftsmen, and mariners from various locations (5-9). Her army was bolstered by mercenaries from Persia, Lud, and Put as well as from Arvad, Helech, and Gamad (10-11). She traded in silver, iron, tin, and lead with Tarshish on the Spanish coast (12). She traded slaves along with other commodities with Javan, Tubal, and Meshech (13). She purchased horses, war horses, and mules from Beth-togarmah. And received ivory and ebony in payment from Dedan. She similarly traded for jewels and luxury items with Syria (14-16). Judah and Israel, as well as Damascus, Helbon, Sahar and others, traded with Tyre in foodstuffs, wines, livestock and manufactures. “The ships of Tarshish travelled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas” (17-25). However, a storm will wreak her fleet at sea and with it the means of her prestige, prosperity, and power (26-29). There will be great distress and despair at her fall (30-33). The prophet concludes his lamentation concerning Tyre, “Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you. 35 All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. 36 The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more for ever’” (34-36).
To ponder! Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Lk.10:13-16).
Bible Challenge: Day 609 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 28 & 29
In Ezekiel 28 God instructs Ezekiel to confront and condemn the prince of Tyre on God’s behalf. The ruler of Tyre was full of pride and had declared himself a god. While a man of wisdom, understanding, and great wealth he was but a fallen creature despite his foolish boasts (1-5). God was about to judge him and show him that he was not God. His prosperous and prestigious city will soon be invaded by ruthless foreigners who will bring death and destruction upon him and all that he treasured (6-10). Then follows a lament over the said king of Tyre who is described as a ‘signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty’ (11-12). He had lived in a veritable Eden adorned with precious jewels set amid engravings of gold (13). Likened to or possessed by Satan, he is described as a fallen angel who had been anointed by God and placed in a position of privilege and honour. He has rebelled against God and embraced unrighteousness (14-15). Corruption and violence now characterise his behaviour. Tragically, he proudly and foolishly believed that he was above and beyond the reach of justice (16-17). God, however, is about to expose his iniquity and abase him. Just like the Evil One, he will come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever (18-19). Ezekiel is also to prophesy against Sidon. God will judge her and manifest his glory therein. Her people will either be killed by the sword of an enemy or will succumb to disease (20-23). “And for the house of Israel there shall be no more a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbours who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD” (24). God will gather his people that were scattered among the nations and shall restore them to the Promised Land. There they shall dwell securely and flourish by God’s grace. God declares, “Then they will know that I am the LORD their God” (25-26).
Ezekiel 29 records the prophecy of judgement against Egypt that Ezekiel received on the twelfth day or the tenth month in the tenth year of his exile (1-2). Pharaoh is likened to the great dragon (the Evil One] that claimed dominion over the region of the Nile and her tributaries (3). Just as he enslaved others, so God is going to capture and cast him and those dependent upon him into the wilderness where they will be prey for others (3-5). The Egyptians will be compelled to acknowledge that the LORD is God because of their treatment of God’s people (6-7). ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast, 9 and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD’ (8-9). Pharaoh’s boasts of divinity and dominion will be exposed as a sham when his kingdom is laid waste and becomes a desolation for a generation (10-12). After forty years have passed God will again gather the scattered Egyptians and restore their fortunes in the land of Pathros (13-14). However, they will never again enjoy the power, prestige, and prosperity that former pharaohs enjoyed in the region (15). Furthermore, God’s word declared, “And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD” (16). In the twenty-seventh year of Ezekiel’s exile, he received a word from God concerning Nebuchadnezzar whose army had struck Tyre but had not been rewarded with plunder for their conquest (17-18). And so, God will reward the king of Babylon and his army with the great wealth of Egypt (19). God said, “I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he laboured, because they worked for me, declares the Lord GOD. 21 “On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD” (20-21).
To ponder! “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit (Isa.14:12-15).
Bible Challenge: Day 610 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 30 & 31
Ezekiel 30 records a lament for Egypt. Judgement is coming upon her. It will be a day of clouds and a time of doom for the nations that relied upon her (1-3). “A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down” (4). Cush, Put, Lud, Arabia, and Libya will similarly fall to the sword of Egypt’s enemy (5-6). Their cities will be destroyed, and the land will be left desolate. In that day they will know that the LORD is God (7-8). Messengers will bring word to Cush of Egypt’s fall who will strike fear and foreboding among her inhabitants (9). Nebuchadnezzar will be God’s instrument of judgement upon Egypt. He will not only ruthlessly slaughter her people, but he will strip the land of its wealth. The Nile will dry up and foreigners will take possession of the land (10-12). The idols of Egypt will be destroyed, and the royal dynasty will come to an end. Pathros will be left ruined. Zoan, Thebes, and Pelusium will be burned to the ground (13-15). The men of Memphis, On, Pi-beseth, and Tehaphnehes shall fall to the sword, and their women will be taken into captivity (16-18). In the eleventh year, God told Ezekiel, “I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword” (19-21). God has punished Egypt by the hand of the Babylonians. He will scatter their survivors among the nations (22-26).
Ezekiel 31 records the word of God that came to Ezekiel concerning Pharaoh and his subjects (1-2). Pharaoh’s greatness had been proverbial. Like a mighty cedar in Lebanon, he had ruled over his people and enjoyed an extensive sphere of influence throughout the known world. He had flourished for a considerable period. He had grown in status and stature and had built a prosperous, prestigious, and powerful dynasty and kingdom (3-4). “So it towered high
above all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches long from abundant water in its shoots. 6 All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches, all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations” (5-6). The beauty and greatness of Egypt under the Pharaohs were unmatched (7-8). And God declared, “I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God” (9). However, due to their pride and wickedness, God was going to give them into the hands of ruthless invaders who would cut it down and tear it apart. Death and destruction were coming to Pharaoh and Egypt (10-14). Mourning and gloom followed the destruction and desolation of Egypt among its survivors and the satellite kingdoms that had prospered in her glow (15-17). God asked, “Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. “This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD” (18).
To ponder! The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him (Ps.92:12-15).
Bible Challenge: Day 611 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 32 & 33
Ezekiel 32 records the prophecy Ezekiel received from God in the twelfth month of the twelfth year of his exile and contains a lamentation over Pharaoh, king of Egypt (1-2). The mighty Pharaoh likened himself to a lion, the king of the beasts. He was proud and thought himself invincible. God, however, likens him to a dragon of the sea that burst forth out of the rivers, disturbing their tranquillity and fouling their purity (2). While the dragon reminds us of the Evil One who is destined for the pit and lowest hell, the prophet may have in mind the Nile crocodile. God is about to catch and entangle him in a net and he will be left easy prey for the scavengers of the field (3-7). He will be killed, and his carcass will be stripped bare. In other words, his person, dynasty, and kingdom will be destroyed and left desolate. “All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord GOD” (. The nations will shake and quake with fear on account of Pharaoh and Egypt’s decisive fall at the ruthless hand of the Babylonians (9-12). They shall cruelly strike down man and beast alike and will despoil and destroy the kingdom (13-15). Women will weep and wail and chant their lament over the slain of Egypt and the ruination of a long-established culture and kingdom (16-21). Pharaoh and his people will join the dead ranks of former regional powers and empires that fell to the sword of the Babylonians: Assyria (22-23), Elam (24-25), Meshech-Tubal (26-28), Edom (29), and the princes of the north and Sidonians (30). Pharaoh and his people shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised (31-32).
In Ezekiel 33 God instructs the prophet to confront his people concerning the watchman (1-2). The watchman is the prophet or preacher who is likened to a sentry guard whose duty is to sound the alarm at the approach of danger. Therefore, if the watchman “sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head” (3-4). However, if the watchman sees the judgement of God about to fall upon the nation and fails to blow the trumpet or sound the alarm then he will be held accountable by God for the blood of those slain (5-6). God has appointed Ezekiel watchman over the house of Israel, and he must warn the people of the seriousness of their sin and call and compel them to repent (7-8). God says, “if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul” (9). Ezekiel is commanded to confront the children of Israel anent their sin and say, “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (10-11). The former righteousness of those that sin will not atone for their sins, but the wickedness of sinners will be forgiven when they repent and believe (12-13). The prophet is to make clear that repentance necessitates not only confession of sin but a turning from it to do good by keeping God’s law of love (14-16). God is perfectly just and will judge each person according to his ways (17-20). In the twelfth year of exile, a fugitive from Jerusalem informed Ezekiel that the city had been struck down. God revealed his will to the prophet and unmuted his mouth (21-22). The people as descendants of Abraham claimed a right to the Promised Land but Ezekiel is to confront their immorality and lack of faith. He is to ask them, “You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbour's wife; shall you then possess the land? (23-26). The remnant still in the land of Israel will fall to the sword or die of disease on account of their stubborn and wilful refusal to repent and believe. God says, “Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed” (27-29). Those who consulted Ezekiel in exile were yet little better. They acknowledged, consulted, and respected Ezekiel as God’s prophet but they continued in greed and lust. They needed a new heart and a right Spirit (30-33).
To ponder! You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits (Mt.7:16-20).
Bible Challenge: Day 612 (Wednesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 34 & 35
In Ezekiel 34 God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the shepherds (pastors) of Israel. They have fed themselves at the expense of the sheep committed to their charge (1-2). God says, “You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep” (3). Consequently, the flock are spiritually emaciated and sick. Some have strayed from the fold and are lost. They are easy prey for predators. The shepherds had treated them harshly and did not care to search for those scattered near and far (4-6). Therefore, God declares, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them (7-10). God will search out and rescue his sheep. In other words, he will gather his people scattered among the nations and restore them to the Promised Land (11-13). He will feed them on rich pasture. They will lie down in peace and security, and God will prosper them. He will heal the sick and bind up the wounds of the injured. He will nurse and nourish the weak back to health and establish justice (14-16). God will moreover judge against believers and unbelievers (17-19). He will also judge among his people and establish one shepherd over them who is none other than the Good Shepherd who will lay down his life and take it up again for his sheep. He shall lead his flock to green pastures and still waters and restore their souls (20-23). “And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken” (24). God will make a covenant of peace with his people and protect and prosper them (25-26). They shall be faithful and fruitful and enjoy stability and security. God declares, “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD. 31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD” (27-31).
In Ezekiel 35 God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against Mount Seir which God had in the past given as a possession to Esau. God will judge them and leave their cities desolate and their land a wasteland (1-4). The people of Mount Seir incurred God’s righteous wrath because they had “cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment” (5). Therefore, God will pursue and punish them (6). Her people will fall to the sword of justice and her cities and land will not be reoccupied (7-9). They had hated God’s people and had set their sights on possessing Israel and Judah and had incurred God’s anger (10-12). The omniscient and omnipresent God had listened to their reviling against his church and took notice of their plans to usurp them 13-14). He heard their foolish boasts and made pronouncement against them. “As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD” (15).
To ponder! My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand (Jn.10:27-28).
Bible Challenge: Day 613 (Thursday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 36 & 37
In Ezekiel 36 the prophet is commanded to communicate God’s word to the leaders of Israel. Their enemies have conquered and took possession of the Promised Land. They made the remnant the focus of their gloating and evil gossip (1-3). However, God is about to ensure that their enemies themselves suffer reproach in readiness for the restoration of his chosen people to the land (4-7). God says, “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home” (. God will manifest his amazing grace by replanting his people in the land of Israel/Judah. He will multiply the people who will reoccupy their former cities and the waste places (9-11). God will prosper ad protect them (13-15). God explained to Ezekiel how the children of God had brought judgement upon themselves by their sinful idolatry and iniquities (16-18). Even scattered among the nations they had borne witness to their ungodliness and unrighteousness. Yet, God continued to have concern for his holy name (20-21). It is for the sake of his name that he rescued the remnant and will restore them to the land of promise (22-24). God says, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (25-27). They shall dwell in the land and walk with God who will provide for their needs. The people of God will once again repent and believe by God ‘s grace, love, and mercy (28-32). God will wash and cleanse his people of their sins. Their land will blossom and bloom in fellowship with God and they will become a beacon of light in a dark world (33-36). And the Israel of God will love God, keep his commandments, and worship him in the beauty of holiness (37-38).
In Ezekiel 37 God provided Ezekiel with a vision of a valley full of very dry bones (1-2). He asked the prophet, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And Ezekiel answered, “O Lord GOD, you know” (3). God commanded Ezekiel to preach to the bones saying, “Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD” (4-6). Ezekiel did as instructed, and he heard and observed the bones coming together and flesh covering them (7-8). God told him to prophesy again for breath to enter them and he did so, and he observed them coming to life and standing before him like an exceedingly great army (9-10). God then explained to the prophet that “these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel” (11-12). Then they will truly know that God is with them to revive, reform, and restore them (13). “And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD” (14). Then Ezekiel was told to take a stick and write on it Judah, then another stick and write on it Joseph (Ephraim – Israel) and join them together. This was to symbolise the reunification of God’s people (15-19). They shall no longer be two divided kingdoms but one. They shall love God and one another. And God will be their God and they his people (20-23). And the Shepherd King shall reign over them, and they shall keep God’s commandments. They shall flourish as the recipients of God’s covenant of peace and worship God in spirit and in truth. And God grants assurance that “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore” (24-28).
To ponder! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Ps.23:5-6).
Bible Challenge: Day 614 (Friday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 38 & 39
Ezekiel 38 prophesies God’s judgement against Gog, Magog, and the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal. Enemies of God’s people, their armies will pose a considerable threat to Israel. However, in his providence, God will ensnare them and liberate his people from their malicious menace (1-6). They and those that will enter a military alliance with them will gather their forces against Israel in vain (7-10). They will plan evil and wickedly to invade to murder the defenseless and loot and plunder the land, but they will not succeed (11-13). Israel will dwell securely because God is their rock of defense. And he will vindicate his holiness before their eyes (14-16). The invading horde will provoke God to wrath and the land will quake at God’s presence (17-20). God declares, “I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man's sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur” (21-22). God will manifest his greatness and glory and they will know that he is the LORD (23).
Ezekiel 39 continues the prophecy against Gog. Providence will lead them to destruction. They shall fall on the mountains of Israel and be food for scavengers (1-5). God will send fire on Magog and on their satellite nations on the Mediterranean coast (6). God says, “And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel” (7). God will do this, and his people will burn the vast armoury of weaponry left behind by their enemies for the space of seven years (8-9). Furthermore, the children of Israel will reacquisition what was stolen from them (10). It will take seven months to bury Gog and all his multitude in Israel to cleanse the land (11-16). Beforehand, the birds and the beasts will feast on the great and the mighty fallen on the mountains of Israel (17-20). God will set his glory among the nations. Israel will have assurance that God is with them and for them. They went into captivity because of their sin but God has mercifully and graciously restored them to the Promised Land (21-24). “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations” (25-27). The people will acknowledge and trust in God who will pour out his Spirit upon them (28-29).
To ponder! When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad (Ps.126:1-3).
Bible Challenge: Day 615 (Saturday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 40 & 41
Ezekiel 40 records a vision that Ezekiel received from God in the 25th year of exile. God showed the prophet the Holy City and a man whose appearance was like bronze, and he possessed a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he stood in the gateway (1-3). Ezekiel is to hear and heed what he is told and shown and communicate it to the house of Israel (4). There follows the measurements of the reconstructed Temple of God which symbolised the church of Christ. Beginning at the east gate to the outer court, the prophet is shown its vestibules, inner chambers, and windows (5-16). From there he is shown the measurements and given descriptions of the architectural features of the outer court (17-19), the north gate (20-23), the south gate (24-27), and the inner court (28-31). Ezekiel was again shown the east and north gates and was given their parallel measurements (32-37). He was led into a chamber where the burnt offering was to be washed in preparation for sacrifice as a sin and guilt offering (38-39). He witnessed the various tables with their hooks to which the sacrificial offerings were to be presented (40-43). From there he was shown two chambers for the priests in charge of the Temple and for those in charge of the altar. The latter were the descendants of Zadok of the tribe of Levi who alone were given permission to approach God at the altar of sacrifice (44-47). Then finally, he was shown the vestibule of the Temple and learned its various measurements (48-49).
Ezekiel 41 continues with the vision of the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem that was given to Ezekiel while in exile in Babylon. He was led down the nave to the Most Holy Place. The design, dimensions and measurements are provided for the parts and the whole. Decorative palm trees and angelic cherubs were carved on the walls and doors. These were symbols of life and prosperity in communion with God. Like the original Temple commissioned by King Solomon, they typified Eden and the heavenly courts. Ezekiel as a priest was able to follow his glorious host (the pre-incarnate Christ) into the inner sanctuary but he was unable to go into the Holy of Holies as only the High Priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement.
To ponder! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” 8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good (Ps.122:6-9).
Bible Challenge: Day 616 (Sunday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42 & 43
Ezekiel 42 continues the vision of the reconstructed or symbolic Temple given to Ezekiel in exile to instil faith and hope in the prophet and God’s people. He was shown the outer court with its chambers, galleries, and pillars and was given its dimensions (1-8). He describes its walls and passages (10-12). His holy guide pointed to the holy chambers, “where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings.” He was shown the route by which the priests will enter and leave the holy place. And where they will change into their holy garments, symbolising the righteousness of Christ, before standing in the presence of God (13-14). After measuring the interior of the Temple area, Ezekiel’s holy guide led him out via the east gate in the east wall. He proceeded to measure all around the inner building which was 500 cubits on each side. The holy place was separated from the common area by a wall (15-20).
Ezekiel 43 continues where chapter 42 left off and begins, “Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory” (1-2). The vision of God was like the one that Ezekiel had seen by the Chebar Canal. The prophet prostrated himself, and the glory of God entered the Temple. The Spirit of God transported Ezekiel to the inner court and the glory of God filled the holy place (3-5). Ezekiel heard a voice saying, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever” (6-7). No longer shall God’s people defile his holy name and desecrate his sacred place (7-9). Ezekiel is commanded to convey the vision and its message to the people of God so that they may repent and believe and keep the law of the temple (10-12). The prophet was then shown the altar with its exact dimensions and measurements (13-17). And then shown its ordinances with instructions for the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok to offer the designated animal sacrifices to God, typifying the supreme sacrifice of the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (18-27).
To ponder! Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! …But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (Ps.115:1, 18)
Bible Challenge: Day 617 (Monday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 44 & 45
In Ezekiel 44 the prophet is led to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faced east. It was closed and he was told that it must remain so because it is the gate of the LORD. Only the prince was permitted to sit in it and eat bread before God (1-3). From there he was directed via the north gate to the front of the temple where he beheld the glory of the LORD. Ezekiel prostrated himself and God said to him, “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I shall tell you concerning all the statutes of the temple of the LORD and all its laws. And mark well the entrance to the temple and all the exits from the sanctuary” (4-5). Ezekiel was to warn the rebellious house of Israel to turn from its sinful idolatry and iniquity. They had played fast and loose with the worship of God and must amend their ways. They were to exclude non-Israelites from the temple and thereby from the Old Testament sacraments, as well as those of their own number who lived contrary to God’s covenant and commandments which indicated they were uncircumcised in heart and flesh (6-9). Apostate priests shall be punished. They shall be excluded from the service of the altar and not permitted to touch the sacred things but rather they would bear their shame and the abominations that they have committed (10-14). There follow instructions for the Levitical priests on how they shall dress, approach God, and minister in the sanctuary (15-19). The priests were to trim rather than shave their heads. They were not permitted to drink wine in the interior court (20-21). They were not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a foreigner (22). They were to teach God’s people the difference between holy and common, clean and unclean (23). They were to act as judges in disputes and keep God’s laws, statutes, appointed feasts, and Sabbaths (24). They must not defile themselves by going near a corpse and must follow cleansing rites set down in God’s Levitical law (25-27). They were not to receive any territorial inheritance, but God had made rich provision for them. Finally, they were to refrain from certain foodstuffs (28-31).
Ezekiel 45 contains instructions for the division of the land. A holy portion is to be reserved for the temple and sanctuary and as the location for the priests that serve the temple to dwell in (1-5). “Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall assign for the property of the city an area 5,000 cubits broad and 25,000 cubits long. It shall belong to the whole house of Israel” (6). Then follows the allotment of an area on the east and west sides of the holy district that was to be apportioned to the prince (king) who shall treat the people justly (7-8). The princes of Israel are to eschew violence, oppression, and corruption. Rather they are to uphold justice and righteousness (9-12). There then follows detailed instructions concerning what the prince is to give to God for the offerings made in the temple (13-17). Therein he is to set an example for others to follow. Instructions follow for sin offerings that pointed to the atonement of the Saviour’s blood (18-20). Finally, detailed directions are given for the commemoration and celebration of the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. The prince shall provide a young bull for a sin offering and a further seven young bulls and seven young rams without blemish as wells as a goat offering daily for the seven consecutive days of the festival. He shall also provide grain and oil to accompany the sacrificial offerings (21-25).
To ponder! Freely you have received, freely give (Mt.10:8).
Bible Challenge: Day 618 (Tuesday)
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 46, 47, & 48
Ezekiel 46 continues instructions concerning the worship of the temple. The gateway of the inner court was to remain closed every day except for the Sabbath Day and when there was a new moon (1). Instructions were given on the route to be taken into the place of worship by the prince. The priests were to prepare the sacrificial offerings at a designated place (2). Similarly, the people (laity) had to worship in a specified location (3). There follow detailed instructions on the offerings to be made by the prince (4-8). When the people came before the LORD on the appointed feast days those that entered by the north gate had to leave by the south gate and vice versa. And the prince was to be in their company as a member of the church, the people of God, the company of the faithful (9-11). When the prince made a voluntary burnt or peace offering the gate that faces to the east was to be opened for him as on the Sabbath Day (12). Then further instructions follow on daily offerings (13-15), and on inheritance laws anent the prince. It was stipulated that “the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property” (16-18). Ezekiel was then taken to the place where the priests were to boil the trespass and sin offerings (19-21). The chapter closes with the prophet led into the outer courts to the kitchens where the sacrifices of the people were to be boiled (21-24).
In Ezekiel 47 the prophet is brought back to the door of the temple where he observes water flowing from the threshold in an easterly direction. And leaving by the north gate he similarly saw water south of the altar and trickling out on the south side (1-2). Ezekiel’s holy guide measured the water which got increasingly deep until it was deep enough to swim in. It was like a river (3-6). He then led the prophet to the bank of the river and trees flourished on either side (7). He explained the route the river meandered to the sea and how it supported and teemed with life (8-11). “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing” (12). Here is a beautiful picture of how God’s church relies upon his grace! Afterward, God told Ezekiel that the river was the boundary by which he would divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel (13-14). Additional territorial boundaries are then articulated (15-20). The chapter concludes with God telling the prophet, “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD” (21-23). God will restore and prosper his people in the Promised Land.
To ponder! You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy (Ps.65:9-13).
Ezekiel 48 records the names of the tribes of the children of Israel and their allocation of territory in the land flowing with milk and honey (1-7). Adjoining Judah is to be set apart a holy portion for the sanctuary (temple) and for the priesthood (8-11). “And it shall belong to them as a special portion from the holy portion of the land, a most holy place, adjoining the territory of the Levites. 13 And alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an allotment 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in breadth. The whole length shall be 25,000 cubits and the breadth 20,000. 14 They shall not sell or exchange any of it. They shall not alienate this choice portion of the land, for it is holy to the LORD (12-14). Provision of common land was also made for the use of the inhabitants of Jerusalem on which they would grow foodstuffs (15-20). Then follow the portions allotted to the prince and royal dynasty (21-22) and the remainder of the tribes that comprised the Old Testament church (23-29). The Book of Ezekiel ends with the names and measurements of the gates leading into the Holy City. They were named after the twelve tribes of Israel. And “The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There” (30-35). God dwells in amid his people. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
To ponder! And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev.21:2-4).
Here ends our Daily Bible Reading Challenge. Congratulations and thank you for staying the course. May our great and gracious God bless his word to us. May it be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path always.
…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (Jn.20:31). Amen.
