Day 271 - 28 September 2021 reflections
Day 271, 28 September 2021
Nehemiah 11 - 13
Nehemiah 11
The Residents of Jerusalem
1 Ch 9:1-17
1 (Ne 11:18; Isa 48:2) Now the rulers of the people lived at Jerusalem,
so the rest of the people cast lots in order to bring one out of ten
to stay in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained
in other cities.
2 (Jdg 5:9) The people blessed all the men who volunteered to dwell
in Jerusalem.
3 (Ezr 2:43; 2:1) Now these are the leaders of the provinces
who lived in Jerusalem (though in the cities of Judah
every one lived on his own property within their cities):
Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants,
and the descendants of Solomon's servants.
4 (Ge 38:29) Some of the sons of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.
Those from Judah were:
Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah,
the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel-the descendants of Perez,
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah,
the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah,
the son of Shelah.
6 All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 486 valiant men.
7 These are the sons of Benjamin:
Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah,
the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel,
the son of Jeshaiah, 8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, totaling 928.
9 Joel, the son of Zikri, was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah
was second to him over the city.
10 Of the priests there were: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib and Jakin;
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok,
the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was a ruler of the house of God.
12 Their relatives performing the work of the house were 822 .
There was also Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah,
the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur,
the son of Malkijah,
13 plus his relatives who were chiefs of the fathers' houses were 242;
and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth,
the son of Immer,
14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, were 128. Their overseer
was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15 From the Levites there were:
Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah,
the son of Bunni;
16 plus Shabbethai and Jozabad, who as leaders of the Levites
had oversight of the outside work of the house of God.
17 (1Ch 9:15) Mattaniah the son of Mika, the son of Zabdi,
the son of Asaph, was the first to begin the thanksgiving at prayer,
Bakbukiah was the second out of his relatives, and then
Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18 (Ne 11:1; Rev 21:2) All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19 Moreover, the gatekeepers,
Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives who kept watch at the gates, were 172.
20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the LeÂvites were in
all the cities of Judah, every one tending to his own inheritance.
21 (Ne 3:26) But the temple servants lived in Ophel,
and Ziha and Gishpa were over them.
22 (Ne 12:42; 11:9) The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi
the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah,
the son of Mika. Some of the sons of Asaph were the singers
attending to the work of the house of God,
23(Ezr 6:8-9) for the king's regulation about them made their unity
a daily issue.
24 (Ge 38:30; 1Ch 18:17) Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah
the son of Judah, was the king's assistant
[Lit. at the king's hand.] in all matters concerning the people.
The Residents Outside Jerusalem
25 (Jos 14:15) For the villages located by their fields,
some of the people of Judah lived at Kiriath Arba and its villages,
others at Dibon and its villages, or at Jekabzeel and its villages,
26 as well as at Jeshua, at Moladah, and at Beth Pelet,
27 and at Hazar Shual, and at Beersheba and its villages,
28 (1Sa 27:6) and at Ziklag, at Mekonah and its villages,
29 and at En Rimmon, at Zorah, at Jarmuth,
30 (Jos 10:3; 15:8) Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, at Lachish
and its fields, and at Azekah and its villages. So they lived
from Beersheba as far as the Valley of Hinnom.
31 Some of the Benjamites settled from Geba onward,
at Mikmash, Aija, and Bethel and their villages,
32 (Jos 21:18; 1Sa 21:1) at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 (2Sa 4:3) Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 (1Sa 13:18) Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 (1Ch 8:12) Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12
The Priests and Levites
1 (Ezr 2:1-2; Ne 10:2-8) Now these are the priests and the LeÂvites
who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 (Lk 1:5) Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests
and of their relatives in the days of Joshua.
8 (Ne 11:17; 12:24) Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving songs,
in conjunction with his relatives.
9 There were also their relatives Bakbukiah and Unni,
positioned across from each other in the watches.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib,
Eliashib was the father of Joiada,
11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.
12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, these were the heads
of the fathers' houses:
of Seraiah, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra, Meshullam;
of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk, Jonathan;
of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 of Harim, Adna;
of Meraioth, Helkai;
16of Iddo, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah, Zikri;
of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah, Shammua;
of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu, Kallai;
of Amok, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22 The Levites, as well as the priests, were recorded as the chiefs
of the fathers' houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan,
and Jaddua during the reign of Darius the Persian.
23 The descendants of Levi who served as the chiefs of the fathers' house
were recorded in the book of the chronicles until the days of Johanan
the son of Eliashib.
24 (1Ch 25:1-26) The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah,
and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them,
to praise and to give thanks, section opposite section,
according to the commandment of David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon,
and Akkub were gatekeepers maintaining the guard duty at the storehouse
of the gates.
26 (Ne 8:9) These leaders served during the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua,
the son of Jozadak, during the days of Nehemiah the governor,
and during the days of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall
27 (1Ch 15:16; 15:28) At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
they sought to bring the Levites from all their places to Jerusalem
to celebrate the dedication appropriately with thanksgiving songs
and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 (1Ch 9:16; 2:54) The members of choirs had assembled
from the regions all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from Beth Gilgal, and from fields of Geba and Azmaveth,
because they had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.
30 (Ex 19:10; Job 1:5) Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves.
They also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 (Ne 2:13; 12:38) Then I led the commanders of Judah up to the top
of the wall and appointed two great thanksgiving choirs.
The first choir proceeded to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.
32 Behind them followed Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 with Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, SheÂmaiah, Jeremiah,
35 and some of the priests with trumpets-Zechariah, the son of Jonathan,
the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,
the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph,
36 (Ne 12:24; 1Ch 23:5) in conjunction with his relatives-Shemaiah,
Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani,
being accompanied with the musical instruments of David the man of God.
Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 (Ne 2:14; 3:26) At the Fountain Gate, directly across from them,
they ascended the steps of the City of David, following that sloped
section of the wall up to the house of David, then eastward
to the Water Gate.
38 (Ne 3:8; 3:11) The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left
where I followed them with the other half of the people on top of the wall,
from the Tower of the Furnaces to the Broad Wall,
39 (Ne 3:1; 3:3; 3:6) then from above the Ephraim Gate past the Old Gate,
the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred,
as far as the Sheep Gate, but they stood still at the Gate of the Guard.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, as did I
and the half of the officials with me,
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam,
and Ezer. The singers sang loudly. Jezrahiah was their director.
43 (Ps 92:4) On that day they offered great sacrifices
and rejoiced because God had given them great cause for rejoicing.
The wives and the children rejoiced, too.
From far away the joyful celebration of Jerusalem was heard.
Temple Responsibilities
44 (Ne 13:12-13) At that time men were appointed to govern
over the chambers for the treasures, for the contributions,
for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so that they might
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the legal portions
belonging to the priests and Levites. This was because the celebration
of Judah survived on the basis of the priests and the Levites
45 (1Ch 25:1-26) who, accompanied by the singers
and the gatekeepers, attentively preserved the practices
of their God and the practices of purification, according
to the commandment of David and of his son Solomon.
46 (2Ch 29:30) For in the former days of David and Asaph
there were leaders for the singers, the songs of praise,
and thanksgivings to God.
47 All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah
gave the singers and the gatekeepers their portions,
as specified daily. Likewise, they consecrated what was
due to the Levites, who then consecrated what was due
to the descendants of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
The Reforms of Nehemiah
1 (Dt 23:3-5; Ne 9:3) On that day they read aloud
from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.
In it there was found written that no Ammonite
or Moabite should ever enter the congregation of God,
2 (Dt 23:5) because they did not meet the children of Israel
with bread and water, but hired Balaam to curse them.
However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 (Ne 9:2; Ex 12:38) When they heard the Law, they separated
from Israel all the racially mixed.
4 (Ne 12:44; 2:10) Before this, Eliashib the priest,
who had been appointed to govern the chambers of the house
of our God, was related to Tobiah.
5 So, he had prepared a great chamber hall for him, where previously
they had stored the contributions, the frankincense, the vessels,
and the tithes of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, as required,
for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contribution
for the priests.
6 (Ne 5:14) But during this time I was not in Jerusalem,
since in the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon
I had gone to the king. At the conclusion of those days
I requested a leave of the king.
7 (Ne 13:5) When I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil
that Eliashib did for Tobiah by preparing him a chamber in the courts
of the house of God,
8 I was very grieved. So, from the chamber I threw all of the household
belongings of Tobiah outside.
9 (2Ch 29:5) Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers
so that I could return there the vessels of the house of God,
the contributions for the offerings, and the frankincense.
10 (Ne 10:37; Mal 3:8) When I perceived that the supplies
for the Levites had not been given and that the LeÂvites
and the singers doing the work had fled, everyone to his own field,
11 (Ne 10:39; 13:17) I confronted the officials and asked, "Why is
the house of God forsaken?" So I gathered them and stationed
them at their posts.
12 (Ne 10:37-39; 12:44) Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain,
the new wine, and the fresh oil to the storehouses.
13 (Ne 7:2; 12:44) Overseeing the replenishing of the storehouse,
I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe,
and Pedaiah from the Levites, and to assist them Hanan the son of Zakkur,
the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable,
and their task was to distribute to their relatives.
14 (Ne 5:19; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, concerning this. Do not blot out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its workings.
15 (Ne 10:31; Ex 34:21) In those days I saw in Judah some treading
winepresses on the Sabbath or hauling loads of grain or loading donkeys
with wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens in order to bring
them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, during the day
while they were selling the food goods, I warned them.
16 Men of Tyre also stayed there, having hauled in fish
and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath
to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 (Ne 13:11; 13:25) Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and asked them,
"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18 (Jer 17:21-23) Did not your fathers do likewise?
Did not our God bring all this evil against us and against this city?
Will you yet bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath?"
19 (Lev 23:32) As the gates of Jerusalem began to cast the evening shadow
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut,
and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.
Some of my servants I stationed at the gates so that there would be
no loads brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise
lodged outside Jerusalem.
21 So I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night next
to the wall? If you do so again, I will send you away by force."
From that time on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.
22 (Ne 12:30; 13:14) Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves
so that they could come and, as guardians of the gates,
sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to Your abundant mercy.
23 (Ne 10:30; Ezr 9:1-2) Moreover, in those days I also saw Jews
who had married the women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 Half of their children spoke in the language of Ashdod,
yet none of them could recognize the language of the Jews.
This was true language by language.
25 (Ezr 10:5; Ne 10:29-30) So I confronted them and cursed them.
Some of the men I beat. Others, I plucked out their hair.
Also, I made them swear an oath by God and said to them,
"You shall neither give your daughters to their sons,
nor marry their daughters to your sons or to yourselves.
26 (1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:12) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?
Yet among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God,
who made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women caused
even him to sin.
27 (Ezr 10:2) Should we then listen to you, the ones doing
all this great evil, who are behaving unfaithfully against our God
by bedding foreign women?"
28 (Ne 2:19; 2:10) Also, one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib
the high priest, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove
him away from me.
29 (Ne 6:14) Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood
and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 (Ne 10:30) Thus I purified them from everything foreign
and appointed work crews for the priests and the Levites, each to his task,
31 (Ne 10:34; 13:14) and I provided the wood offering, at the appointed times,
and the first fruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Psalm 126
A Song of Ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the captives of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Restore our captives, O Lord,
as the streams in the Negev.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) He who goes forth and weeps,
bearing precious seed to sow,
shall come home again with rejoicing,
bringing his grain sheaves with him.
2) Our Daily Bread for 28 September 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/09/28/flight-of-ichabod
Entitled Flight of Ichabod
1 Samuel 4:12–22
12 (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 1:2) There ran a man of Benjamin from the battle line,
and he came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn
and with dust upon his head.
13 (1Sa 1:9; 4:18) When he came, Eli was sitting on a seat by the wayside
watching. For his heart feared for the ark of God.
Now the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out.
14 When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said,
"What does the noise of this tumult mean?"
And the man hurriedly came and told Eli.
15 (1Sa 3:2) Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were dim,
so that he could not see.
16 (2Sa 1:4) The man said to Eli, "I am he that came out of the army,
and I fled today out of the battle line."
And he said, “What is the word, my son?â€
17 The messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines,
and there also has been a great slaughter among the people.
Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead.
And the ark of God is taken."
18 (1Sa 4:13) When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from off the seat
backward by the side of the gate. And his neck broke and he died,
for he was an old and heavy man. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant, about to give birth.
And when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken,
and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead,
she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.
20 (Ge 35:17-18) About the time of her death the women that stood
by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son."
But she did not answer or regard it.
21 (Ps 26:8; Jer 2:11) She named the child Ichabod, saying,
"The glory is departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken,
and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 She said, "The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken."
In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving tells of Ichabod Crane,
a schoolteacher who seeks to marry a beautiful young woman named Katrina.
Key to the story is a headless horseman who haunts the colonial countryside.
One night, Ichabod encounters a ghostly apparition on horseback
and flees the region in terror. It's clear to the reader that this "horseman"
is actually a rival suitor for Katrina, who then marries her.
Ichabod is a name first seen in the Bible, and it too has a gloomy backstory.
While at war with the Philistines, Israel carried the sacred
ark of the covenant into battle. Bad move. Israel's army was routed
and the ark captured. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of the high priest Eli,
were killed (1 Samuel 4:17). Eli too would die (v. 18). When the pregnant
wife of Phinehas heard the news, "she went into labor and gave birth,
but was overcome by her labor pains"(v. 19). With her last words
she named her son Ichabod (literally, "no glory"). "The Glory has departed
from Israel," she gasped (v. 22).
Thankfully, God was unfolding a much larger story. His glory would ultimately
be revealed in Jesus, who said of His disciples,
"I have given them the glory that you [the Father] gave me" (John 17:22).
No one knows where the ark is today, but no matter. Ichabod has fled.
Through Jesus, God has given us His very glory!
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What do you think it means for God to give us His glory?
How have you experienced it?
Dear Father, thank You for revealing Your glory through Jesus.
Make me mindful of Your presence throughout this day.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 3 - The Remedy
Acts 4:12
12 (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:36) "There is no salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved."
"You have cancer", the doctor told his patient. "We need to operate
- as soon as possible. It's the only remedy." The patient, not wanting
to undergo surgery unless it was absolutely necessary, sought out a second
opinion, then a third. When the third round of testing came up with the same
results, she returned to the doctor and submitted herself to the treatment.
Often the remedy for the problems in our lives seems worst than the problems
themselves. We don't want to endure the pain of self-examination, of honest
confrontation with our sin and selfishness. We'd rather live in "blissful
ignorance" than face up to ourselves.
But the Bible tells us there is only one remedy for sin: casting ourselves
upon the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. Submitting ourselves to God's
"treatment" for sin is not an easy matter or a simple decision. We have to
give up on ourselves, on our ownstrving for self-salvation. We have to come
to the agonising realisation of our sin, the depths to which we have fallen.
Acknowlegding sin is not a duty simply for "bad" people who have lived in
rebellion against God. "Good" people - Sunday-school kids, moral parents,
and sweet little grandmothers - may have more difficulty coming to Christ
than swindlers and prostitutes, precisely because their sin is not as
visible - sometimes it is even applauded by church and society.
"Good" or "bad", we all have the same problem: sin. And, because
of the Lord's grace, we all have the same remedy: salvation through Christ.
As we look to him, not to others, and see ourselves in light of his holiness,
we can glimpse the seriousness of our own resistance to him and call upon
his name.
Application
a) What other "remedies" have I tried to use in treating my sin?
b) Why is Jesus Christ the only source of salvation?
c) How can this verse help me to see the "salvation"
of Christ in the daily struggles of life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17
2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1–3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,
in silver and in gold.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 (Ge 36:6–7) But the land was not able to support them
both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.
14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) After Lot had departed from him,
the Lord said to Abram,
"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,
northward and southward and eastward and westward.
15 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you
and to your descendants forever.
16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) I will make your descendants like the dust
of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,
then your descendants could also be numbered.
17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across its length
and its width, for I will give it to you."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Generous Provision
Ps 145:13b-21
13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all people bless His holy name
forever and ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truto.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 28 of the Month
a) Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
(
John 5:24
24 (Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:14; Jn 3:36) "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever
hears My word and believes in Him who sent
Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation,
but has passed from death into life."
)
b) Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today . (
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and seek His will to be a reformer.
Pray to the Lord "Dear Father, thank You for revealing
Your glory through Jesus.
Make me mindful of Your presence throughout this day."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being the remedy to Sin and Salvation.
Pray to the Lord and trust in His promises .
Pray to the Lord and speak the righteouness of the Lord.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have God's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that Yahweh will expand His Kigdom among the million of Arab
and Persian refugees living in Turkey.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
Nehemiah 11 - 13
Nehemiah 11
The Residents of Jerusalem
1 Ch 9:1-17
1 (Ne 11:18; Isa 48:2) Now the rulers of the people lived at Jerusalem,
so the rest of the people cast lots in order to bring one out of ten
to stay in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained
in other cities.
2 (Jdg 5:9) The people blessed all the men who volunteered to dwell
in Jerusalem.
3 (Ezr 2:43; 2:1) Now these are the leaders of the provinces
who lived in Jerusalem (though in the cities of Judah
every one lived on his own property within their cities):
Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants,
and the descendants of Solomon's servants.
4 (Ge 38:29) Some of the sons of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.
Those from Judah were:
Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah,
the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel-the descendants of Perez,
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah,
the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah,
the son of Shelah.
6 All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 486 valiant men.
7 These are the sons of Benjamin:
Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah,
the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel,
the son of Jeshaiah, 8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, totaling 928.
9 Joel, the son of Zikri, was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah
was second to him over the city.
10 Of the priests there were: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib and Jakin;
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok,
the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was a ruler of the house of God.
12 Their relatives performing the work of the house were 822 .
There was also Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah,
the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur,
the son of Malkijah,
13 plus his relatives who were chiefs of the fathers' houses were 242;
and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth,
the son of Immer,
14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, were 128. Their overseer
was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15 From the Levites there were:
Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah,
the son of Bunni;
16 plus Shabbethai and Jozabad, who as leaders of the Levites
had oversight of the outside work of the house of God.
17 (1Ch 9:15) Mattaniah the son of Mika, the son of Zabdi,
the son of Asaph, was the first to begin the thanksgiving at prayer,
Bakbukiah was the second out of his relatives, and then
Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18 (Ne 11:1; Rev 21:2) All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19 Moreover, the gatekeepers,
Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives who kept watch at the gates, were 172.
20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the LeÂvites were in
all the cities of Judah, every one tending to his own inheritance.
21 (Ne 3:26) But the temple servants lived in Ophel,
and Ziha and Gishpa were over them.
22 (Ne 12:42; 11:9) The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi
the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah,
the son of Mika. Some of the sons of Asaph were the singers
attending to the work of the house of God,
23(Ezr 6:8-9) for the king's regulation about them made their unity
a daily issue.
24 (Ge 38:30; 1Ch 18:17) Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah
the son of Judah, was the king's assistant
[Lit. at the king's hand.] in all matters concerning the people.
The Residents Outside Jerusalem
25 (Jos 14:15) For the villages located by their fields,
some of the people of Judah lived at Kiriath Arba and its villages,
others at Dibon and its villages, or at Jekabzeel and its villages,
26 as well as at Jeshua, at Moladah, and at Beth Pelet,
27 and at Hazar Shual, and at Beersheba and its villages,
28 (1Sa 27:6) and at Ziklag, at Mekonah and its villages,
29 and at En Rimmon, at Zorah, at Jarmuth,
30 (Jos 10:3; 15:8) Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, at Lachish
and its fields, and at Azekah and its villages. So they lived
from Beersheba as far as the Valley of Hinnom.
31 Some of the Benjamites settled from Geba onward,
at Mikmash, Aija, and Bethel and their villages,
32 (Jos 21:18; 1Sa 21:1) at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 (2Sa 4:3) Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 (1Sa 13:18) Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 (1Ch 8:12) Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12
The Priests and Levites
1 (Ezr 2:1-2; Ne 10:2-8) Now these are the priests and the LeÂvites
who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 (Lk 1:5) Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests
and of their relatives in the days of Joshua.
8 (Ne 11:17; 12:24) Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving songs,
in conjunction with his relatives.
9 There were also their relatives Bakbukiah and Unni,
positioned across from each other in the watches.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib,
Eliashib was the father of Joiada,
11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.
12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, these were the heads
of the fathers' houses:
of Seraiah, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra, Meshullam;
of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk, Jonathan;
of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 of Harim, Adna;
of Meraioth, Helkai;
16of Iddo, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah, Zikri;
of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah, Shammua;
of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu, Kallai;
of Amok, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22 The Levites, as well as the priests, were recorded as the chiefs
of the fathers' houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan,
and Jaddua during the reign of Darius the Persian.
23 The descendants of Levi who served as the chiefs of the fathers' house
were recorded in the book of the chronicles until the days of Johanan
the son of Eliashib.
24 (1Ch 25:1-26) The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah,
and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them,
to praise and to give thanks, section opposite section,
according to the commandment of David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon,
and Akkub were gatekeepers maintaining the guard duty at the storehouse
of the gates.
26 (Ne 8:9) These leaders served during the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua,
the son of Jozadak, during the days of Nehemiah the governor,
and during the days of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall
27 (1Ch 15:16; 15:28) At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
they sought to bring the Levites from all their places to Jerusalem
to celebrate the dedication appropriately with thanksgiving songs
and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 (1Ch 9:16; 2:54) The members of choirs had assembled
from the regions all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from Beth Gilgal, and from fields of Geba and Azmaveth,
because they had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.
30 (Ex 19:10; Job 1:5) Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves.
They also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 (Ne 2:13; 12:38) Then I led the commanders of Judah up to the top
of the wall and appointed two great thanksgiving choirs.
The first choir proceeded to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.
32 Behind them followed Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 with Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, SheÂmaiah, Jeremiah,
35 and some of the priests with trumpets-Zechariah, the son of Jonathan,
the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,
the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph,
36 (Ne 12:24; 1Ch 23:5) in conjunction with his relatives-Shemaiah,
Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani,
being accompanied with the musical instruments of David the man of God.
Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 (Ne 2:14; 3:26) At the Fountain Gate, directly across from them,
they ascended the steps of the City of David, following that sloped
section of the wall up to the house of David, then eastward
to the Water Gate.
38 (Ne 3:8; 3:11) The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left
where I followed them with the other half of the people on top of the wall,
from the Tower of the Furnaces to the Broad Wall,
39 (Ne 3:1; 3:3; 3:6) then from above the Ephraim Gate past the Old Gate,
the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred,
as far as the Sheep Gate, but they stood still at the Gate of the Guard.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, as did I
and the half of the officials with me,
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam,
and Ezer. The singers sang loudly. Jezrahiah was their director.
43 (Ps 92:4) On that day they offered great sacrifices
and rejoiced because God had given them great cause for rejoicing.
The wives and the children rejoiced, too.
From far away the joyful celebration of Jerusalem was heard.
Temple Responsibilities
44 (Ne 13:12-13) At that time men were appointed to govern
over the chambers for the treasures, for the contributions,
for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so that they might
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the legal portions
belonging to the priests and Levites. This was because the celebration
of Judah survived on the basis of the priests and the Levites
45 (1Ch 25:1-26) who, accompanied by the singers
and the gatekeepers, attentively preserved the practices
of their God and the practices of purification, according
to the commandment of David and of his son Solomon.
46 (2Ch 29:30) For in the former days of David and Asaph
there were leaders for the singers, the songs of praise,
and thanksgivings to God.
47 All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah
gave the singers and the gatekeepers their portions,
as specified daily. Likewise, they consecrated what was
due to the Levites, who then consecrated what was due
to the descendants of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
The Reforms of Nehemiah
1 (Dt 23:3-5; Ne 9:3) On that day they read aloud
from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.
In it there was found written that no Ammonite
or Moabite should ever enter the congregation of God,
2 (Dt 23:5) because they did not meet the children of Israel
with bread and water, but hired Balaam to curse them.
However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 (Ne 9:2; Ex 12:38) When they heard the Law, they separated
from Israel all the racially mixed.
4 (Ne 12:44; 2:10) Before this, Eliashib the priest,
who had been appointed to govern the chambers of the house
of our God, was related to Tobiah.
5 So, he had prepared a great chamber hall for him, where previously
they had stored the contributions, the frankincense, the vessels,
and the tithes of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, as required,
for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contribution
for the priests.
6 (Ne 5:14) But during this time I was not in Jerusalem,
since in the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon
I had gone to the king. At the conclusion of those days
I requested a leave of the king.
7 (Ne 13:5) When I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil
that Eliashib did for Tobiah by preparing him a chamber in the courts
of the house of God,
8 I was very grieved. So, from the chamber I threw all of the household
belongings of Tobiah outside.
9 (2Ch 29:5) Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers
so that I could return there the vessels of the house of God,
the contributions for the offerings, and the frankincense.
10 (Ne 10:37; Mal 3:8) When I perceived that the supplies
for the Levites had not been given and that the LeÂvites
and the singers doing the work had fled, everyone to his own field,
11 (Ne 10:39; 13:17) I confronted the officials and asked, "Why is
the house of God forsaken?" So I gathered them and stationed
them at their posts.
12 (Ne 10:37-39; 12:44) Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain,
the new wine, and the fresh oil to the storehouses.
13 (Ne 7:2; 12:44) Overseeing the replenishing of the storehouse,
I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe,
and Pedaiah from the Levites, and to assist them Hanan the son of Zakkur,
the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable,
and their task was to distribute to their relatives.
14 (Ne 5:19; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, concerning this. Do not blot out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its workings.
15 (Ne 10:31; Ex 34:21) In those days I saw in Judah some treading
winepresses on the Sabbath or hauling loads of grain or loading donkeys
with wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens in order to bring
them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, during the day
while they were selling the food goods, I warned them.
16 Men of Tyre also stayed there, having hauled in fish
and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath
to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 (Ne 13:11; 13:25) Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and asked them,
"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18 (Jer 17:21-23) Did not your fathers do likewise?
Did not our God bring all this evil against us and against this city?
Will you yet bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath?"
19 (Lev 23:32) As the gates of Jerusalem began to cast the evening shadow
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut,
and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.
Some of my servants I stationed at the gates so that there would be
no loads brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise
lodged outside Jerusalem.
21 So I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night next
to the wall? If you do so again, I will send you away by force."
From that time on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.
22 (Ne 12:30; 13:14) Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves
so that they could come and, as guardians of the gates,
sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to Your abundant mercy.
23 (Ne 10:30; Ezr 9:1-2) Moreover, in those days I also saw Jews
who had married the women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 Half of their children spoke in the language of Ashdod,
yet none of them could recognize the language of the Jews.
This was true language by language.
25 (Ezr 10:5; Ne 10:29-30) So I confronted them and cursed them.
Some of the men I beat. Others, I plucked out their hair.
Also, I made them swear an oath by God and said to them,
"You shall neither give your daughters to their sons,
nor marry their daughters to your sons or to yourselves.
26 (1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:12) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?
Yet among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God,
who made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women caused
even him to sin.
27 (Ezr 10:2) Should we then listen to you, the ones doing
all this great evil, who are behaving unfaithfully against our God
by bedding foreign women?"
28 (Ne 2:19; 2:10) Also, one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib
the high priest, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove
him away from me.
29 (Ne 6:14) Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood
and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 (Ne 10:30) Thus I purified them from everything foreign
and appointed work crews for the priests and the Levites, each to his task,
31 (Ne 10:34; 13:14) and I provided the wood offering, at the appointed times,
and the first fruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Psalm 126
A Song of Ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the captives of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Restore our captives, O Lord,
as the streams in the Negev.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) He who goes forth and weeps,
bearing precious seed to sow,
shall come home again with rejoicing,
bringing his grain sheaves with him.
2) Our Daily Bread for 28 September 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/09/28/flight-of-ichabod
Entitled Flight of Ichabod
1 Samuel 4:12–22
12 (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 1:2) There ran a man of Benjamin from the battle line,
and he came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn
and with dust upon his head.
13 (1Sa 1:9; 4:18) When he came, Eli was sitting on a seat by the wayside
watching. For his heart feared for the ark of God.
Now the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out.
14 When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said,
"What does the noise of this tumult mean?"
And the man hurriedly came and told Eli.
15 (1Sa 3:2) Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were dim,
so that he could not see.
16 (2Sa 1:4) The man said to Eli, "I am he that came out of the army,
and I fled today out of the battle line."
And he said, “What is the word, my son?â€
17 The messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines,
and there also has been a great slaughter among the people.
Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead.
And the ark of God is taken."
18 (1Sa 4:13) When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from off the seat
backward by the side of the gate. And his neck broke and he died,
for he was an old and heavy man. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant, about to give birth.
And when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken,
and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead,
she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.
20 (Ge 35:17-18) About the time of her death the women that stood
by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son."
But she did not answer or regard it.
21 (Ps 26:8; Jer 2:11) She named the child Ichabod, saying,
"The glory is departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken,
and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 She said, "The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken."
In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving tells of Ichabod Crane,
a schoolteacher who seeks to marry a beautiful young woman named Katrina.
Key to the story is a headless horseman who haunts the colonial countryside.
One night, Ichabod encounters a ghostly apparition on horseback
and flees the region in terror. It's clear to the reader that this "horseman"
is actually a rival suitor for Katrina, who then marries her.
Ichabod is a name first seen in the Bible, and it too has a gloomy backstory.
While at war with the Philistines, Israel carried the sacred
ark of the covenant into battle. Bad move. Israel's army was routed
and the ark captured. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of the high priest Eli,
were killed (1 Samuel 4:17). Eli too would die (v. 18). When the pregnant
wife of Phinehas heard the news, "she went into labor and gave birth,
but was overcome by her labor pains"(v. 19). With her last words
she named her son Ichabod (literally, "no glory"). "The Glory has departed
from Israel," she gasped (v. 22).
Thankfully, God was unfolding a much larger story. His glory would ultimately
be revealed in Jesus, who said of His disciples,
"I have given them the glory that you [the Father] gave me" (John 17:22).
No one knows where the ark is today, but no matter. Ichabod has fled.
Through Jesus, God has given us His very glory!
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What do you think it means for God to give us His glory?
How have you experienced it?
Dear Father, thank You for revealing Your glory through Jesus.
Make me mindful of Your presence throughout this day.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 3 - The Remedy
Acts 4:12
12 (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:36) "There is no salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved."
"You have cancer", the doctor told his patient. "We need to operate
- as soon as possible. It's the only remedy." The patient, not wanting
to undergo surgery unless it was absolutely necessary, sought out a second
opinion, then a third. When the third round of testing came up with the same
results, she returned to the doctor and submitted herself to the treatment.
Often the remedy for the problems in our lives seems worst than the problems
themselves. We don't want to endure the pain of self-examination, of honest
confrontation with our sin and selfishness. We'd rather live in "blissful
ignorance" than face up to ourselves.
But the Bible tells us there is only one remedy for sin: casting ourselves
upon the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. Submitting ourselves to God's
"treatment" for sin is not an easy matter or a simple decision. We have to
give up on ourselves, on our ownstrving for self-salvation. We have to come
to the agonising realisation of our sin, the depths to which we have fallen.
Acknowlegding sin is not a duty simply for "bad" people who have lived in
rebellion against God. "Good" people - Sunday-school kids, moral parents,
and sweet little grandmothers - may have more difficulty coming to Christ
than swindlers and prostitutes, precisely because their sin is not as
visible - sometimes it is even applauded by church and society.
"Good" or "bad", we all have the same problem: sin. And, because
of the Lord's grace, we all have the same remedy: salvation through Christ.
As we look to him, not to others, and see ourselves in light of his holiness,
we can glimpse the seriousness of our own resistance to him and call upon
his name.
Application
a) What other "remedies" have I tried to use in treating my sin?
b) Why is Jesus Christ the only source of salvation?
c) How can this verse help me to see the "salvation"
of Christ in the daily struggles of life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17
2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1–3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,
in silver and in gold.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 (Ge 36:6–7) But the land was not able to support them
both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.
14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) After Lot had departed from him,
the Lord said to Abram,
"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,
northward and southward and eastward and westward.
15 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you
and to your descendants forever.
16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) I will make your descendants like the dust
of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,
then your descendants could also be numbered.
17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across its length
and its width, for I will give it to you."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Generous Provision
Ps 145:13b-21
13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all people bless His holy name
forever and ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truto.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 28 of the Month
a) Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
(
John 5:24
24 (Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:14; Jn 3:36) "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever
hears My word and believes in Him who sent
Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation,
but has passed from death into life."
)
b) Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today . (
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and seek His will to be a reformer.
Pray to the Lord "Dear Father, thank You for revealing
Your glory through Jesus.
Make me mindful of Your presence throughout this day."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being the remedy to Sin and Salvation.
Pray to the Lord and trust in His promises .
Pray to the Lord and speak the righteouness of the Lord.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have God's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that Yahweh will expand His Kigdom among the million of Arab
and Persian refugees living in Turkey.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.