Day 202 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 21 July 2023 reflections
Day 202, 21 July 2023
1) Isaiah 28, 29, 30
Isaiah 28
Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah
1 (Hos 7:5; Isa 28:3-4) Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,
whose glorious beauty is a fading flower
which is at the head of the fertile valley
of those who are overcome with wine!
2 (Isa 30:30; Eze 13:11) See, the Lord has a mighty and strong one,
as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm,
as a flood of mighty overflowing waters,
He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.
3 (Isa 26:6) The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
is trodden under foot;
4 (Mic 7:1; Na 3:12) and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is at the head of the fertile valley,
shall be like a first-ripe fig before the summer,
which when one sees, while it is yet in his hand,
he eats it up.
5 (Isa 62:3; 41:16) In that day the Lord of Hosts
shall become a crown of glory
and a diadem of beauty
to the remnant of His people,
6 (1Ki 3:28; Jn 5:30) a spirit of justice
for him who sits in judgment,
and strength
to those who turn away the battle at the gate.
7 (Ps 107:27; Pr 20:1) But they also have erred through wine
and stagger from strong drink;
the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink,
they are confused by wine,
they stagger from strong drink;
they err while having visions,
they stumble when rendering judgment.
8 (Jer 48:26) For all the tables are full of vomit
and filthiness so that there is no clean place.
9 (Ps 131:2; Jer 6:10) "To whom shall He teach knowledge,
and to whom shall He interpret the message?
Those just weaned from the milk
and drawn from the breasts?
10 For He says,
'Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.'"
11 (1Co 14:21) For with stammering lips and foreign tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 (Mt 11:28-29; Isa 30:15) He who said to them,
"This is the rest. Give rest to the weary,"
and, "This is repose,"
yet they would not listen.
13 (Mt 21:44) So the word of the Lord will be to them,
"Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little,"
that they might go and fall backward,
be broken, snared, and taken captive.
14 (Isa 1:10; 28:22) Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, Oscoffers,
who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 (Isa 8:7-8; Da 11:22) because you have said,
"We have made a covenant with death,
and with hell we are in agreement.
The overflowing scourge shall not come to us
when it passes through,
for we have made lies our refuge
and under falsehood we have hid ourselves."
A Cornerstone in Zion
16 (Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42; Ro 9:33) Therefore, thus says the Lord God:
See, I lay in Zion a stone,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, firmly placed;
he who believes shall not act hastily.
17 (2Ki 21:13; Isa 28:2) I shall make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plummet;
then the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies
and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 (Isa 7:7; 28:15) Your covenant with death shall be annulled,
and your agreement with hell shall not stand;
when the overflowing scourge passes through,
then you shall be trodden down by it.
19 As often as it passes through, it shall seize you;
for morning by morning it shall pass through,
anytime by day or night.
It shall be terror only
to understand the report.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out,
and the covering is too small to wrap oneself in it.
21 (Jos 10:10; 10:12) For the Lord shall rise up as at Mount Perazim,
He shall be wrathful as in the Valley of Gibeon
to do His work, His unusual work,
and bring to pass His task, His exceptional task.
22 (Isa 10:22-23 ) Now therefore, do not continue as mockers,
lest your bonds be made stronger;
for I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts
of determined destruction upon the whole earth.
23 Give ear and hear my voice;
listen and hear my speech.
24 Does the plowman plow all day to sow?
Does he continually turn and break the clods of his ground?
25 Does he not level its surface
and sow dill and scatter the cumin
and plant wheat in rows,
barley in its place
and the rye within its area?
26 For his God instructs
and teaches him appropriately.
27 (Am 1:3) For the dill is not threshed with a threshing instrument,
nor is a cartwheel driven over the cumin;
but the dill is beaten out with a staff,
and the cumin with a rod.
28 Grain for bread is crushed;
so he does not continue to thresh it forever,
nor break it with the wheel of his cart,
nor crush it with his horsemen.
29 (Isa 9:6; Ro 11:33) This also comes from the Lord of Hosts,
who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.
[1] Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious
beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them
that are overcome with wine!
[2] Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of
hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall
cast down to the earth with the hand.
[3] The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
[4] And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall
be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he
that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
[5] In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a
diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
[6] And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for
strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
[7] But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out
of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they
are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they
err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
[8] For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no
place clean.
[9] Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
[10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,
line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
[11] For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
[12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to
rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
[13] But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a
little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared,
and taken.
[14] Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this
people which is in Jerusalem.
[15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell
are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it
shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves:
[16] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a
foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure
foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
[17] Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet:
and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
overflow the hiding place.
[18] And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement
with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
then ye shall be trodden down by it.
[19] From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by
morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation
only to understand the report.
[20] For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and
the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
[21] For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in
the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring
to pass his act, his strange act.
[22] Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I
have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon
the whole earth.
[23] Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
[24] Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods
of his ground?
[25] When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the
fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the
appointed barley and rie in their place?
[26] For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
[27] For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither
is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out
with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
[28] Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor
break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
[29] This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in
counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 29
Woe to the City of David
1 (2Sa 5:9 ) Woe to Ariel, to Ariel,
the city where David lived!
Add year to year,
observe your feasts on schedule.
2 Yet I will distress Ariel,
and she shall be a city of lamenting and sorrow,
and she shall be as an Ariel to me.
3 (Lk 19:43-44; Eze 21:22) I will encamp against you all around,
and will lay siege against you with a mound,
and I will raise forts against you.
4 (Isa 8:19) You shall be brought down, and shall speak from the ground,
and from the dust where you are prostrate your speech shall come;
your voice shall also be as that of a ghost from the ground;
and your speech shall whisper from the dust.
5 (1Th 5:3; Isa 17:13-14 ) Moreover the multitude of your enemies shall
become like fine dust,
and the multitude of the ruthless ones as chaff which blows away;
and it shall happen in an instant, suddenly.
6 (Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8) You shall be punished from the Lord of Hosts
with thunder and earthquake and loud noise,
with storm and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.
7 (Job 20:8; Ps 73:20) The multitude of all the nations
who fight against Ariel,
even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her,
shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and he eats;
but when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied;
or as when a thirsty man dreams, and he is drinking;
but when he awakens, he is faint, and his thirst is not quenched;
so shall the multitude of all the nations be
who fight against Mount Zion.
9 (Isa 51:21-22; 19:14) Be delayed and wait,
blind yourselves and be blind.
They are drunk, but not with wine.
They stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 (Ro 11:8; Ps 69:23) For the Lord has poured out
on you the spirit of deep sleep
and has closed your eyes, the prophets;
and He has covered your heads, the seers.
11 (Isa 8:16; Da 12:4) The whole vision will be to you as the words
of a book that is sealed, which when they deliver it to one who is learned,
saying, "Read this, please," he shall say, "I cannot, for it is sealed."
12 Then the book shall be delivered to him who is not learned, saying,
"Read this, please." And he shall say, "I cannot read."
13 (Col 2:22) Therefore, the Lord said:
Because this people draw near with their mouths
and honor Me with their lips,
but have removed their hearts far fromMe,
and their fear toward Me
is tradition by the precept of men,
14 (Hab 1:5; Jer 49:7; Isa 6:9-10) therefore I will once again do
a marvelous work among this people,
even a marvelous work and a wonder;
for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.
15 (Isa 30:1; Eze 8:12) Woe to those who deeply
hide their counsel from the Lord
and whose works are done in the dark, and they say,
"Who sees us?" and "Who knows us?"
16 Surely you turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the potter's clay?
Shall what is made say to its maker,
"He did not make me"?
Or shall the thing formed say to him who formed it,
"He has no understanding"?
17 (Isa 32:15) Is it not yet a very little while before Lebanon
shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be counted as a forest?
18 (Isa 35:5; Mt 11:5; Mk 7:37) And on that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and the eyes of the blind shall see
out of obscurity and darkness.
19 (Jas 2:5; Isa 61:1; Mt 5:5) The meek also shall increase
their joy in the Lord,
and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 (Mic 2:1; Isa 29:5) For the ruthless shall come to nothing,
and the scorner will be consumed,
and all who are intent on doing iniquity shall be cut off-
21 (Am 5:10-12) those who cause a man to be indicted by a word,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and turn aside the righteous with meaningless arguments.
22 (Isa 51:2; 45:17)Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham,
concerning the house of Jacob:
Jacob shall not now be ashamed,
nor shall his face now turn pale;
23 (Isa 8:13; 19:25) but when he sees his children,
the work of My hands, in his midst,
they shall sanctify My name
and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and fear the God of Israel.
24 (Isa 28:7) Those also who err in spirit shall know the truth,
and those who murmured shall accept instruction.
Isaiah 29
[1] Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year;
let them kill sacrifices.
[2] Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and
it shall be unto me as Ariel.
[3] And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against
thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
[4] And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and
thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one
that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper
out of the dust.
[5] Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and
the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea,
it shall be at an instant suddenly.
[6] Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with
earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of
devouring fire.
[7] And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all
that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as
a dream of a night vision.
[8] It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth;
but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth,
and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his
soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight
against mount Zion.
[9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but
not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
[10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and
hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he
covered.
[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray
thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read
this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with
their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart
far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
[14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this
people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise
men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and
their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
[16] Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the
potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?
or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
[17] Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a
fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
[18] And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes
of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
[19] The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among
men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
[20] For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed,
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
[21] That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that
reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
[22] Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the
house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now
wax pale.
[23] But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of
him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and
shall fear the God of Israel.
[24] They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they
that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Isaiah 30
The Warning of Judah
1 (Isa 1:2; 29:15) Woe to the rebellious children,
says the Lord,
who take counsel, but not from Me,
and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,
in order to add sin to sin;
2 (Nu 27:21; Isa 36:6) they walk down to Egypt
and have not asked from My mouth,
to strengthen themselves in the safety of Pharaoh
and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 (Isa 20:5) Therefore the safety of Pharaoh shall be your shame
and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your humiliation.
4 (Isa 19:11; Jer 43:7) For their princes were at Zoan,
and their ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 (Jer 2:36; Isa 30:7) They all will be ashamed
of a people who cannot profit them,
who are not a help or profit,
but a shame and also a reproach.
6 (Dt 8:15; Isa 46:1-2; Jer 11:4) The burden of the beasts of the Negev.
Through a land of trouble and anguish,
from which comes the lioness and lion,
the viper and fiery flying serpent,
they will carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people who shall not profit them.
7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.
Therefore, I have called her,
"Rahab who has been exterminated."
8 (Isa 8:1; Hab 2:2) Now go, write it before them on a tablet,
and note it in a book,
that it may serve in the time to come
as a witness forever;
9 (Isa 30:1 ) for this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children who refuse to listen to the law of the Lord;
10 (Am 7:13; Jer 11:21) they say to the seers,
"You must not see visions,"
and to the prophets,
"You must not prophesy to us right things;
speak to us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.
11 Get out of the way,
turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more
about the Holy One of Israel."
12 (Isa 5:24) Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel:
Because you despise this word
and trust in oppression and perverseness,
and rely on them,
13 (1Ki 20:30; Ps 62:3) therefore this iniquity shall be to you
as a breach ready to fall, swelling up in a high wall,
whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant.
14 (Ps 2:9; Jer 19:10-11) He shall break it as the breaking of the potter's
vessel that is broken in pieces;
He shall not spare so that there shall not be found in the breaking of it
a shard to take fire from the hearth
or with which to take water out of a cistern.
15 (Isa 32:17; 7:4) For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
Yet you were not willing,
16 (Isa 31:1; 31:3) and you said, "No, for we will flee on horses";
therefore you shall flee.
"And we will ride on swift horses";
therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17 (Lev 26:8; 26:36) One thousand shall flee
at the threat of one man;
at the threat of five
you shall flee
until you are left
as a flag on the top of a mountain
and as a banner on a hill.
God's Promise to Zion
18( Isa 25:9; 2Pe 3:9) Therefore, the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
and therefore, He waits on high to have mercy on you;
for the Lord is a God of justice;
how blessed are all who long for Him.
19 (Ps 50:15; Isa 58:9) O people in Zion, inhabitants in Jerusalem,
you shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound
of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 (1Ki 22:27; Ps 74:9) Though the Lord has given you the bread of adversity
and the water of affliction, yet He, your Teacher,
will no longer hide Himself,
but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 (Ps 25:8-9; Isa 35:8-9) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand
and when you turn to the left.
22 (Jdg 17:3-4; Isa 46:6) You shall defile also your graven images
overlaid with silver, and your molded images ornamented with gold.
You shall scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!"
23 (Isa 32:20; Ps 65:9-13) Then He shall give you rain for the seed which you
shall sow in the ground and bread of the increase of the earth.
And it shall be rich and plentiful.
On that day your cattle shall feed in large pastures.
24 (Ge 45:6) The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that work the ground
shall eat cured fodder, which has been winnowed with the shovel and fork.
25 (Isa 35:6-7; 43:19-20) There shall be on every high mountain
and on every high hill rivers and streams of waters in the day
of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26 (Isa 60:19-20; Dt 32:39) Moreover the light of the moon shall be
as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,
as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds
up the breach of His people and heals the wound from His blow.
Judgment on Assyria
27 See, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
burning with His anger, and its burden is heavy;
His lips are full of indignation,
and His tongue as a devouring fire.
28 (Isa 8:8; 11:4) And His breath is as an overflowing stream
which reaches to the middle of the neck,
to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity;
and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people,
causing them to err.
29 (Ps 42:4; Isa 2:3) You shall have songs,
as in the night when a festival is kept,
and gladness of heart,
as when one goes with a flute
to come into the mountain of the Lord,
to the Mighty One of Israel.
30 (Ps 18:13-14; Jos 10:11) The Lord shall cause His glorious voice
to be heard,
and shall show the descending of His arm
with the indignation of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire,
with scattering, and cloudburst, and hailstones.
31 (Isa 9:4; 10:5) For through the voice of the Lord the Assyrian
shall be beaten down
when He strikes with a rod.
32 (Isa 11:15; 2:19) And every blow of the rod of punishment
which the Lord shall lay on him
shall be with tambourines and harps;
and in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them.
33 (2Ki 23:10; Ge 19:24; Jer 19:6) For Topheth has been long prepared,
indeed, for the king it has been prepared.
He has made it deep and large,
a pile of fire with much wood;
the breath of the Lord,
like a stream of brimstone,
kindles it.
Isaiah 30
[1] Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they
may add sin to sin:
[2] That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to
strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow
of Egypt!
[3] Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in
the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
[4] For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
[5] They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an
help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
[6] The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and
anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying
serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and
their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not
profit them.
[7] For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have
I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
[8] Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it
may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
[9] That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not
hear the law of the LORD:
[10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto
us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
[11] Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One
of Israel to cease from before us.
[12] Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this
word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
[13] Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall,
swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
[14] And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is
broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in
the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water
withal out of the pit.
[15] For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and
rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your
strength: and ye would not.
[16] But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee:
and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be
swift.
[17] One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five
shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and
as an ensign on an hill.
[18] And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and
therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD
is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
[19] For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no
more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he
shall hear it, he will answer thee.
[20] And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of
affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more,
but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
[21] And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way,
walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
[22] Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and
the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a
menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
[23] Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground
withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and
plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
[24] The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat
clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.
[25] And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill,
rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the
towers fall.
[26] Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and
the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the
day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the
stroke of their wound.
[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger,
and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his
tongue as a devouring fire:
[28] And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of
the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a
bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
[29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept;
and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the
mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
[30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew
the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with
the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
[31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down,
which smote with a rod.
[32] And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD
shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of
shaking will he fight with it.
[33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he
hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the
breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
2) Our Daily Bread for 21 July 2023 titled Room for Silence
1 Kings 19:9-14
9 (Ex 33:21-22; 1Ki 19:13) He came to a cave and camped there,
and the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him,
"Why are you here, Elijah?"
10 (1Ki 18:4; 18:22; Nu 25:13) And he said, "I have been very zealous
for the Lord, Lord of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken
Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets
with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."
11 (Ex 24:12; Eze 1:4) He said, "Go and stand on the mountain
before the Lord."
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind split
the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake came,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 (Job 4:16; Zec 4:6) And after the earthquake, a fire came, but the Lord
was not in the fire, and after the fire, a still, small voice.
13 (1Ki 19:9) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak
and went out and stood in the entrance to the cave.
And a voice came to him and said, "Why are you here, Elijah?"
14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts,
because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down
Your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left,
and they seek to take my life."
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but
the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
If you like peace and quiet, there's a room in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that
you'll love. It absorbs 99.99 percent of all sound! The world-famous anechoic
(echo-free) chamber of the Orfield Laboratories has been called the "quietest
place on earth." People who want to experience this soundless space are
required to sit down to avoid getting disoriented by the lack of noise, and no
one has ever been able to spend more than forty-five minutes in the room.
Few of us need that much silence. Yet we do sometimes long for a little quiet
in a loud and busy world. Even the news we watch and the social media we
ingest bring a kind of clamorous "noise" that competes for our attention.
So much of it is infused with words and images that stir up negative emotions.
Immersing ourselves in it can easily drown out the voice of God.
When the prophet Elijah went to meet God on the mountain of Horeb, he didn't
find Him in the loud, destructive wind or in the earthquake or in the fire
(1 Kings 19:11-12). It wasn't until Elijah heard a "gentle whisper" that he
covered his face and ventured out of the cave to meet
with "the Lord God Almighty" (vv. 12-14).
Your spirit may well be craving quiet but-even more so-it may be yearning to
hear the voice of God. Find room for silence in your life so you'll never
miss God’s "gentle whisper" (v. 12).
By: Cindy Hess Kasper
Reflect & Pray
What are some ways God communes with His children?
Why is it vital to regularly communicate with Him?
Loving Father, quiet my heart and mind so I'm ready to meet with You today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 6 - Through The Fire
Is 43:2
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you. And through the rivers,they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
2 When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
In the Book of Daniel, 3 young men provide one of the world's best-known
Bible stories. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three of the finest young
men of Israel, were taken into capitivity to Babylon. There King
Nebuchadnezzar, filled with his own importance, commanded that
everyone bow down and worship his image.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship anyone
except the One True god, they were cast into Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace of fire.
Is 43:2 brings their experience into focus for us. There the Lord says,
"When you pass through the fire ... when you walk through the water ..."
Not if, but when. If we are committed to serving and honouring the Lord,
at some point we will be faced with "passing through the fire" for hm.
We may not face a physical furnace, but we may face the fires of
persecution, anger, hostility or suffering. And God says:
"I will be with you."
When the three young Israelites stepped into the king's furnace, all
the people looked and saw, not three, but four men in the fire, their
bonds burned away, walking freely among the flames. They did not
escape the fate decreed for them. But the Lord was with them in
the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the flood
and the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the
flood and fire tht life brings to us. The promise of god remains:
"I will be with you; the waters will not overflow, nor will the
flames burn you."
Application
a) What kinds of "fires" and "Floods" have I experienced?
b) How was I aware of the Lord's presence with me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Haggai 2:7-9
7 (1Ki 8:11; Isa 60:7) And I will shake all the nations,
and they will come with the wealth of all nations,
and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts.
8 (Isa 60:17) The silver is mine, and the gold is Mine,
says the Lord of Hosts.
9 (Isa 9:6-7) The glory of this latter house will be greater
than the former, says the Lord of Hosts. And in this place
I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts.
7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory,
saith the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater
than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place
will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
James 1:12-18
Trial and Temptation
12 (Jas 2:5; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8) Blessed is the man who endures temptation,
for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life,
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God,"
for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone.
14 But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15 (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14) Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin;
and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
16 (Jas 1:19; 2:5) Do not err, my beloved brothers.
17 (Mal 3:6; Nu 23:19; Jn 3:27) Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no change or shadow of turning.
18 (1Pe 1:23; Jn 1:13; Rev 14:4) Of His own will He brought us forth with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,
and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
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 "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.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- 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!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
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, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
21st Day of the Month
a) Pray for the leaders our educational system, that they would
have wisdom and make God honouring decisions
(
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make
supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life
in all godliness and honesty,
)
b) Pray that those who serve in law enforcement will have the resources
they need and the vigilance their work requires.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a pray of intercession for your nation.
Pray to the Lord: "Loving Father, quiet my heart and mind so I'm
ready to meet with You today. "
Pray to the Lord and pray to know that the Lord will guide you through all
your troubles.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember everything belongs to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to give the Lord every temptation you have.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- 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!
Pray for the leaders our educational system, that they would
have wisdom and make God honouring decisions
Pray that those who serve in law enforcement will have the resources
they need and the vigilance their work requires.
Pray that Christians in Jordan will receive approval to open church facilities
and meet without surveillance .
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.
1) Isaiah 28, 29, 30
Isaiah 28
Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah
1 (Hos 7:5; Isa 28:3-4) Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,
whose glorious beauty is a fading flower
which is at the head of the fertile valley
of those who are overcome with wine!
2 (Isa 30:30; Eze 13:11) See, the Lord has a mighty and strong one,
as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm,
as a flood of mighty overflowing waters,
He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.
3 (Isa 26:6) The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
is trodden under foot;
4 (Mic 7:1; Na 3:12) and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is at the head of the fertile valley,
shall be like a first-ripe fig before the summer,
which when one sees, while it is yet in his hand,
he eats it up.
5 (Isa 62:3; 41:16) In that day the Lord of Hosts
shall become a crown of glory
and a diadem of beauty
to the remnant of His people,
6 (1Ki 3:28; Jn 5:30) a spirit of justice
for him who sits in judgment,
and strength
to those who turn away the battle at the gate.
7 (Ps 107:27; Pr 20:1) But they also have erred through wine
and stagger from strong drink;
the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink,
they are confused by wine,
they stagger from strong drink;
they err while having visions,
they stumble when rendering judgment.
8 (Jer 48:26) For all the tables are full of vomit
and filthiness so that there is no clean place.
9 (Ps 131:2; Jer 6:10) "To whom shall He teach knowledge,
and to whom shall He interpret the message?
Those just weaned from the milk
and drawn from the breasts?
10 For He says,
'Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.'"
11 (1Co 14:21) For with stammering lips and foreign tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 (Mt 11:28-29; Isa 30:15) He who said to them,
"This is the rest. Give rest to the weary,"
and, "This is repose,"
yet they would not listen.
13 (Mt 21:44) So the word of the Lord will be to them,
"Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little,"
that they might go and fall backward,
be broken, snared, and taken captive.
14 (Isa 1:10; 28:22) Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, Oscoffers,
who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 (Isa 8:7-8; Da 11:22) because you have said,
"We have made a covenant with death,
and with hell we are in agreement.
The overflowing scourge shall not come to us
when it passes through,
for we have made lies our refuge
and under falsehood we have hid ourselves."
A Cornerstone in Zion
16 (Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42; Ro 9:33) Therefore, thus says the Lord God:
See, I lay in Zion a stone,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, firmly placed;
he who believes shall not act hastily.
17 (2Ki 21:13; Isa 28:2) I shall make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plummet;
then the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies
and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 (Isa 7:7; 28:15) Your covenant with death shall be annulled,
and your agreement with hell shall not stand;
when the overflowing scourge passes through,
then you shall be trodden down by it.
19 As often as it passes through, it shall seize you;
for morning by morning it shall pass through,
anytime by day or night.
It shall be terror only
to understand the report.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out,
and the covering is too small to wrap oneself in it.
21 (Jos 10:10; 10:12) For the Lord shall rise up as at Mount Perazim,
He shall be wrathful as in the Valley of Gibeon
to do His work, His unusual work,
and bring to pass His task, His exceptional task.
22 (Isa 10:22-23 ) Now therefore, do not continue as mockers,
lest your bonds be made stronger;
for I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts
of determined destruction upon the whole earth.
23 Give ear and hear my voice;
listen and hear my speech.
24 Does the plowman plow all day to sow?
Does he continually turn and break the clods of his ground?
25 Does he not level its surface
and sow dill and scatter the cumin
and plant wheat in rows,
barley in its place
and the rye within its area?
26 For his God instructs
and teaches him appropriately.
27 (Am 1:3) For the dill is not threshed with a threshing instrument,
nor is a cartwheel driven over the cumin;
but the dill is beaten out with a staff,
and the cumin with a rod.
28 Grain for bread is crushed;
so he does not continue to thresh it forever,
nor break it with the wheel of his cart,
nor crush it with his horsemen.
29 (Isa 9:6; Ro 11:33) This also comes from the Lord of Hosts,
who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.
[1] Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious
beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them
that are overcome with wine!
[2] Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of
hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall
cast down to the earth with the hand.
[3] The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
[4] And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall
be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he
that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
[5] In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a
diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
[6] And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for
strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
[7] But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out
of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they
are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they
err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
[8] For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no
place clean.
[9] Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
[10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,
line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
[11] For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
[12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to
rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
[13] But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a
little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared,
and taken.
[14] Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this
people which is in Jerusalem.
[15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell
are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it
shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves:
[16] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a
foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure
foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
[17] Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet:
and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
overflow the hiding place.
[18] And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement
with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
then ye shall be trodden down by it.
[19] From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by
morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation
only to understand the report.
[20] For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and
the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
[21] For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in
the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring
to pass his act, his strange act.
[22] Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I
have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon
the whole earth.
[23] Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
[24] Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods
of his ground?
[25] When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the
fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the
appointed barley and rie in their place?
[26] For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
[27] For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither
is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out
with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
[28] Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor
break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
[29] This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in
counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 29
Woe to the City of David
1 (2Sa 5:9 ) Woe to Ariel, to Ariel,
the city where David lived!
Add year to year,
observe your feasts on schedule.
2 Yet I will distress Ariel,
and she shall be a city of lamenting and sorrow,
and she shall be as an Ariel to me.
3 (Lk 19:43-44; Eze 21:22) I will encamp against you all around,
and will lay siege against you with a mound,
and I will raise forts against you.
4 (Isa 8:19) You shall be brought down, and shall speak from the ground,
and from the dust where you are prostrate your speech shall come;
your voice shall also be as that of a ghost from the ground;
and your speech shall whisper from the dust.
5 (1Th 5:3; Isa 17:13-14 ) Moreover the multitude of your enemies shall
become like fine dust,
and the multitude of the ruthless ones as chaff which blows away;
and it shall happen in an instant, suddenly.
6 (Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8) You shall be punished from the Lord of Hosts
with thunder and earthquake and loud noise,
with storm and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.
7 (Job 20:8; Ps 73:20) The multitude of all the nations
who fight against Ariel,
even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her,
shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and he eats;
but when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied;
or as when a thirsty man dreams, and he is drinking;
but when he awakens, he is faint, and his thirst is not quenched;
so shall the multitude of all the nations be
who fight against Mount Zion.
9 (Isa 51:21-22; 19:14) Be delayed and wait,
blind yourselves and be blind.
They are drunk, but not with wine.
They stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 (Ro 11:8; Ps 69:23) For the Lord has poured out
on you the spirit of deep sleep
and has closed your eyes, the prophets;
and He has covered your heads, the seers.
11 (Isa 8:16; Da 12:4) The whole vision will be to you as the words
of a book that is sealed, which when they deliver it to one who is learned,
saying, "Read this, please," he shall say, "I cannot, for it is sealed."
12 Then the book shall be delivered to him who is not learned, saying,
"Read this, please." And he shall say, "I cannot read."
13 (Col 2:22) Therefore, the Lord said:
Because this people draw near with their mouths
and honor Me with their lips,
but have removed their hearts far fromMe,
and their fear toward Me
is tradition by the precept of men,
14 (Hab 1:5; Jer 49:7; Isa 6:9-10) therefore I will once again do
a marvelous work among this people,
even a marvelous work and a wonder;
for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.
15 (Isa 30:1; Eze 8:12) Woe to those who deeply
hide their counsel from the Lord
and whose works are done in the dark, and they say,
"Who sees us?" and "Who knows us?"
16 Surely you turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the potter's clay?
Shall what is made say to its maker,
"He did not make me"?
Or shall the thing formed say to him who formed it,
"He has no understanding"?
17 (Isa 32:15) Is it not yet a very little while before Lebanon
shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be counted as a forest?
18 (Isa 35:5; Mt 11:5; Mk 7:37) And on that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and the eyes of the blind shall see
out of obscurity and darkness.
19 (Jas 2:5; Isa 61:1; Mt 5:5) The meek also shall increase
their joy in the Lord,
and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 (Mic 2:1; Isa 29:5) For the ruthless shall come to nothing,
and the scorner will be consumed,
and all who are intent on doing iniquity shall be cut off-
21 (Am 5:10-12) those who cause a man to be indicted by a word,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and turn aside the righteous with meaningless arguments.
22 (Isa 51:2; 45:17)Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham,
concerning the house of Jacob:
Jacob shall not now be ashamed,
nor shall his face now turn pale;
23 (Isa 8:13; 19:25) but when he sees his children,
the work of My hands, in his midst,
they shall sanctify My name
and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and fear the God of Israel.
24 (Isa 28:7) Those also who err in spirit shall know the truth,
and those who murmured shall accept instruction.
Isaiah 29
[1] Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year;
let them kill sacrifices.
[2] Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and
it shall be unto me as Ariel.
[3] And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against
thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
[4] And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and
thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one
that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper
out of the dust.
[5] Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and
the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea,
it shall be at an instant suddenly.
[6] Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with
earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of
devouring fire.
[7] And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all
that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as
a dream of a night vision.
[8] It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth;
but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth,
and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his
soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight
against mount Zion.
[9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but
not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
[10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and
hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he
covered.
[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray
thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read
this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with
their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart
far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
[14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this
people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise
men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and
their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
[16] Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the
potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?
or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
[17] Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a
fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
[18] And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes
of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
[19] The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among
men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
[20] For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed,
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
[21] That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that
reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
[22] Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the
house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now
wax pale.
[23] But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of
him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and
shall fear the God of Israel.
[24] They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they
that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Isaiah 30
The Warning of Judah
1 (Isa 1:2; 29:15) Woe to the rebellious children,
says the Lord,
who take counsel, but not from Me,
and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,
in order to add sin to sin;
2 (Nu 27:21; Isa 36:6) they walk down to Egypt
and have not asked from My mouth,
to strengthen themselves in the safety of Pharaoh
and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 (Isa 20:5) Therefore the safety of Pharaoh shall be your shame
and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your humiliation.
4 (Isa 19:11; Jer 43:7) For their princes were at Zoan,
and their ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 (Jer 2:36; Isa 30:7) They all will be ashamed
of a people who cannot profit them,
who are not a help or profit,
but a shame and also a reproach.
6 (Dt 8:15; Isa 46:1-2; Jer 11:4) The burden of the beasts of the Negev.
Through a land of trouble and anguish,
from which comes the lioness and lion,
the viper and fiery flying serpent,
they will carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people who shall not profit them.
7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.
Therefore, I have called her,
"Rahab who has been exterminated."
8 (Isa 8:1; Hab 2:2) Now go, write it before them on a tablet,
and note it in a book,
that it may serve in the time to come
as a witness forever;
9 (Isa 30:1 ) for this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children who refuse to listen to the law of the Lord;
10 (Am 7:13; Jer 11:21) they say to the seers,
"You must not see visions,"
and to the prophets,
"You must not prophesy to us right things;
speak to us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.
11 Get out of the way,
turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more
about the Holy One of Israel."
12 (Isa 5:24) Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel:
Because you despise this word
and trust in oppression and perverseness,
and rely on them,
13 (1Ki 20:30; Ps 62:3) therefore this iniquity shall be to you
as a breach ready to fall, swelling up in a high wall,
whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant.
14 (Ps 2:9; Jer 19:10-11) He shall break it as the breaking of the potter's
vessel that is broken in pieces;
He shall not spare so that there shall not be found in the breaking of it
a shard to take fire from the hearth
or with which to take water out of a cistern.
15 (Isa 32:17; 7:4) For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
Yet you were not willing,
16 (Isa 31:1; 31:3) and you said, "No, for we will flee on horses";
therefore you shall flee.
"And we will ride on swift horses";
therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17 (Lev 26:8; 26:36) One thousand shall flee
at the threat of one man;
at the threat of five
you shall flee
until you are left
as a flag on the top of a mountain
and as a banner on a hill.
God's Promise to Zion
18( Isa 25:9; 2Pe 3:9) Therefore, the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
and therefore, He waits on high to have mercy on you;
for the Lord is a God of justice;
how blessed are all who long for Him.
19 (Ps 50:15; Isa 58:9) O people in Zion, inhabitants in Jerusalem,
you shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound
of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 (1Ki 22:27; Ps 74:9) Though the Lord has given you the bread of adversity
and the water of affliction, yet He, your Teacher,
will no longer hide Himself,
but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 (Ps 25:8-9; Isa 35:8-9) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand
and when you turn to the left.
22 (Jdg 17:3-4; Isa 46:6) You shall defile also your graven images
overlaid with silver, and your molded images ornamented with gold.
You shall scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!"
23 (Isa 32:20; Ps 65:9-13) Then He shall give you rain for the seed which you
shall sow in the ground and bread of the increase of the earth.
And it shall be rich and plentiful.
On that day your cattle shall feed in large pastures.
24 (Ge 45:6) The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that work the ground
shall eat cured fodder, which has been winnowed with the shovel and fork.
25 (Isa 35:6-7; 43:19-20) There shall be on every high mountain
and on every high hill rivers and streams of waters in the day
of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26 (Isa 60:19-20; Dt 32:39) Moreover the light of the moon shall be
as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,
as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds
up the breach of His people and heals the wound from His blow.
Judgment on Assyria
27 See, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
burning with His anger, and its burden is heavy;
His lips are full of indignation,
and His tongue as a devouring fire.
28 (Isa 8:8; 11:4) And His breath is as an overflowing stream
which reaches to the middle of the neck,
to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity;
and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people,
causing them to err.
29 (Ps 42:4; Isa 2:3) You shall have songs,
as in the night when a festival is kept,
and gladness of heart,
as when one goes with a flute
to come into the mountain of the Lord,
to the Mighty One of Israel.
30 (Ps 18:13-14; Jos 10:11) The Lord shall cause His glorious voice
to be heard,
and shall show the descending of His arm
with the indignation of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire,
with scattering, and cloudburst, and hailstones.
31 (Isa 9:4; 10:5) For through the voice of the Lord the Assyrian
shall be beaten down
when He strikes with a rod.
32 (Isa 11:15; 2:19) And every blow of the rod of punishment
which the Lord shall lay on him
shall be with tambourines and harps;
and in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them.
33 (2Ki 23:10; Ge 19:24; Jer 19:6) For Topheth has been long prepared,
indeed, for the king it has been prepared.
He has made it deep and large,
a pile of fire with much wood;
the breath of the Lord,
like a stream of brimstone,
kindles it.
Isaiah 30
[1] Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they
may add sin to sin:
[2] That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to
strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow
of Egypt!
[3] Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in
the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
[4] For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
[5] They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an
help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
[6] The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and
anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying
serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and
their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not
profit them.
[7] For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have
I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
[8] Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it
may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
[9] That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not
hear the law of the LORD:
[10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto
us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
[11] Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One
of Israel to cease from before us.
[12] Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this
word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
[13] Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall,
swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
[14] And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is
broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in
the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water
withal out of the pit.
[15] For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and
rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your
strength: and ye would not.
[16] But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee:
and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be
swift.
[17] One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five
shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and
as an ensign on an hill.
[18] And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and
therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD
is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
[19] For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no
more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he
shall hear it, he will answer thee.
[20] And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of
affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more,
but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
[21] And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way,
walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
[22] Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and
the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a
menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
[23] Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground
withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and
plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
[24] The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat
clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.
[25] And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill,
rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the
towers fall.
[26] Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and
the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the
day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the
stroke of their wound.
[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger,
and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his
tongue as a devouring fire:
[28] And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of
the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a
bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
[29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept;
and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the
mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
[30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew
the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with
the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
[31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down,
which smote with a rod.
[32] And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD
shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of
shaking will he fight with it.
[33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he
hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the
breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
2) Our Daily Bread for 21 July 2023 titled Room for Silence
1 Kings 19:9-14
9 (Ex 33:21-22; 1Ki 19:13) He came to a cave and camped there,
and the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him,
"Why are you here, Elijah?"
10 (1Ki 18:4; 18:22; Nu 25:13) And he said, "I have been very zealous
for the Lord, Lord of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken
Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets
with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."
11 (Ex 24:12; Eze 1:4) He said, "Go and stand on the mountain
before the Lord."
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind split
the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake came,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 (Job 4:16; Zec 4:6) And after the earthquake, a fire came, but the Lord
was not in the fire, and after the fire, a still, small voice.
13 (1Ki 19:9) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak
and went out and stood in the entrance to the cave.
And a voice came to him and said, "Why are you here, Elijah?"
14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts,
because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down
Your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left,
and they seek to take my life."
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but
the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
If you like peace and quiet, there's a room in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that
you'll love. It absorbs 99.99 percent of all sound! The world-famous anechoic
(echo-free) chamber of the Orfield Laboratories has been called the "quietest
place on earth." People who want to experience this soundless space are
required to sit down to avoid getting disoriented by the lack of noise, and no
one has ever been able to spend more than forty-five minutes in the room.
Few of us need that much silence. Yet we do sometimes long for a little quiet
in a loud and busy world. Even the news we watch and the social media we
ingest bring a kind of clamorous "noise" that competes for our attention.
So much of it is infused with words and images that stir up negative emotions.
Immersing ourselves in it can easily drown out the voice of God.
When the prophet Elijah went to meet God on the mountain of Horeb, he didn't
find Him in the loud, destructive wind or in the earthquake or in the fire
(1 Kings 19:11-12). It wasn't until Elijah heard a "gentle whisper" that he
covered his face and ventured out of the cave to meet
with "the Lord God Almighty" (vv. 12-14).
Your spirit may well be craving quiet but-even more so-it may be yearning to
hear the voice of God. Find room for silence in your life so you'll never
miss God’s "gentle whisper" (v. 12).
By: Cindy Hess Kasper
Reflect & Pray
What are some ways God communes with His children?
Why is it vital to regularly communicate with Him?
Loving Father, quiet my heart and mind so I'm ready to meet with You today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 6 - Through The Fire
Is 43:2
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you. And through the rivers,they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
2 When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
In the Book of Daniel, 3 young men provide one of the world's best-known
Bible stories. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three of the finest young
men of Israel, were taken into capitivity to Babylon. There King
Nebuchadnezzar, filled with his own importance, commanded that
everyone bow down and worship his image.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship anyone
except the One True god, they were cast into Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace of fire.
Is 43:2 brings their experience into focus for us. There the Lord says,
"When you pass through the fire ... when you walk through the water ..."
Not if, but when. If we are committed to serving and honouring the Lord,
at some point we will be faced with "passing through the fire" for hm.
We may not face a physical furnace, but we may face the fires of
persecution, anger, hostility or suffering. And God says:
"I will be with you."
When the three young Israelites stepped into the king's furnace, all
the people looked and saw, not three, but four men in the fire, their
bonds burned away, walking freely among the flames. They did not
escape the fate decreed for them. But the Lord was with them in
the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the flood
and the fire, as surely as he has promised to be with us in the
flood and fire tht life brings to us. The promise of god remains:
"I will be with you; the waters will not overflow, nor will the
flames burn you."
Application
a) What kinds of "fires" and "Floods" have I experienced?
b) How was I aware of the Lord's presence with me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Haggai 2:7-9
7 (1Ki 8:11; Isa 60:7) And I will shake all the nations,
and they will come with the wealth of all nations,
and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts.
8 (Isa 60:17) The silver is mine, and the gold is Mine,
says the Lord of Hosts.
9 (Isa 9:6-7) The glory of this latter house will be greater
than the former, says the Lord of Hosts. And in this place
I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts.
7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory,
saith the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater
than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place
will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
James 1:12-18
Trial and Temptation
12 (Jas 2:5; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8) Blessed is the man who endures temptation,
for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life,
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God,"
for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone.
14 But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15 (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14) Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin;
and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
16 (Jas 1:19; 2:5) Do not err, my beloved brothers.
17 (Mal 3:6; Nu 23:19; Jn 3:27) Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no change or shadow of turning.
18 (1Pe 1:23; Jn 1:13; Rev 14:4) Of His own will He brought us forth with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,
and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
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 "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.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- 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!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
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, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
21st Day of the Month
a) Pray for the leaders our educational system, that they would
have wisdom and make God honouring decisions
(
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make
supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life
in all godliness and honesty,
)
b) Pray that those who serve in law enforcement will have the resources
they need and the vigilance their work requires.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a pray of intercession for your nation.
Pray to the Lord: "Loving Father, quiet my heart and mind so I'm
ready to meet with You today. "
Pray to the Lord and pray to know that the Lord will guide you through all
your troubles.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember everything belongs to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to give the Lord every temptation you have.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- 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!
Pray for the leaders our educational system, that they would
have wisdom and make God honouring decisions
Pray that those who serve in law enforcement will have the resources
they need and the vigilance their work requires.
Pray that Christians in Jordan will receive approval to open church facilities
and meet without surveillance .
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.