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Day 241 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 29 August 2023 reflections

Day 241, 29 August 2023



1)Ezekiel 16,17



Ezekiel 16



Jerusalem as an Adulterous Bride



1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2 (Eze 22:2; 20:4) Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

3Eze 16:45; Ge 15:16and say, Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: Your birth

and your nativity are from the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite,

and your mother a Hittite.

4 (Hos 2:3) As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord

was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you. You were not rubbed

with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.

5 No eye pitied you to do any of these to you, to have compassion on you.

But you were cast out in the open field, to the loathing of your person,

in the day that you were born.

6 When I passed by you and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said to you

when you were in your blood, "Live!" Indeed, I said to you when you were

in your blood, "Live!"

7 (Ex 1:7; Dt 1:10) I have caused you to multiply as the bud of the field,

and you have increased and become tall, and you have reached the age of fine

ornaments. Your breasts were fashioned and your hair had grown,

yet you were naked and bare.

8 (Ru 3:9; Jer 2:2-3) Now when I passed by you and looked upon you, you were

old enough for love. So I spread My garment over you

and covered your nakedness. Indeed, I swore to you, and entered into

a covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became Mine.

9 (Ru 3:3; Ps 23:5) Then I washed you with water. Indeed, I thoroughly

washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.

10 (Eze 16:18; 16:13) I clothed you also with embroidered work,

and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet, and girded you about

with fine linen, and covered you with silk.

11 (Ge 24:22; 24:47; 41:42) I decked you also with ornaments,

and put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck.

12 I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears,

and a beautiful crown on your head.

13 (Dt 32:13-14; 1Ki 4:21) Thus you were decked with gold and silver.

And your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work.

You ate fine flour, and honey, and oil. And you were exceedingly beautiful

and advanced to royalty.

14 (La 2:15; 1Ki 10:24) Then your renown went out among the nations

for your beauty. For it was perfect through My comeliness which I had put

upon you, says the Lord God.

15 (Isa 57:8; Jer 2:20) But you trusted in your own beauty, and played

the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications

on every willing passerby.

16 (2Ki 23:7) Of your garments you took and decked your high places

with various colors and played the harlot on them,

which should never come about or happen.

17 You have also taken your fair jewels made of My gold and My silver,

which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men that

you might commit harlotry with them.

18 Then you took your embroidered garments and covered them.

And you have set My oil and My incense before them.

19 (Eze 16:13) My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil,

and honey, with which I fed you, you have even set before them

for a sweet savour. And thus it was, says the Lord God.

20 (Eze 23:37; Ex 13:2) Moreover you have taken your sons

and your daughters, whom you have borne to Me,

and these you have sacrificed to them to be devoured.

Were your harlotries so small a matter?

21 (2Ki 17:17) You have slain My children and delivered them up

to idols by causing them to pass through the fire.

22 (Jer 2:2; Eze 16:43) Besides all your abominations and your harlotries

you have not remembered the days of your youth when you were naked

and bare and were polluted in your blood.

23 After all your wickedness (Woe, woe to you! says the Lord God)

24 (Ps 78:58; Isa 57:7) you also built for yourself a shrine

and have made yourself a high place in every street.

25 (Jer 3:2; Eze 16:31) You have built yourself a high place

at the head of every street, and have made your beauty to be abhorred,

and have spread your legs to every passerby to multiply your harlotries.

26 (Eze 23:19-21; 20:7-8) You have also committed fornication

with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and increased your harlotries

to provoke Me to anger.

27 (Isa 9:12; Eze 16:57) Therefore I have stretched out My hand against

you and have diminished your ordinary food and delivered you to the will

of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines who are ashamed

of your lewd conduct.

28 (2Ki 16:7; 16:10-18) You have played the harlot also with the Assyrians

because you were insatiable. Indeed, you have played the harlot with them,

and yet could not be satisfied.

29 You have moreover multiplied your fornication with the land of merchants,

Chaldea. And yet you were not satisfied even with this.

30 (Jer 3:3; Pr 9:13) How weak is your heart, says the Lord God,

seeing you do all these things, the works of an imperious harlot.

31 (Isa 52:3; Eze 16:33-34) When you built your shrine at the head

of every street and made your high place in every square, you have not been

as a harlot in that you scorned payment.

32 You have been as a wife who commits adultery, who takes strangers

instead of her husband!

33 (Isa 57:9; Hos 8:9-10) Men give gifts to all harlots.

But you give your gifts to all your lovers, and hire them that they may come

to you on every side for your harlotry.

34 Thus you are different from other women in your harlotries

in that no one follows you to commit harlotries, because you give money,

and no money is given to you. Thus you are different.

35 Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord.

36 (Eze 23:10) Thus says the Lord God, Because your filthiness

was poured out and your nakedness discovered through your harlotries

with your lovers, and with all the idols of your abominations,

and by the blood of your children, which you gave to idols,

37 (Jer 13:22; Hos 2:10) therefore I will gather all your lovers with whom

you have taken pleasure and all those whom you have loved with all those

whom you have hated. I will even gather them from all around against you

and will reveal your nakedness to them

so that they may see all your nakedness.

38 (Lev 20:10; Ge 9:6) I will judge you as women who commit adultery

or shed blood are judged. And I will bring on you the blood of fury

and jealousy.

39 (Eze 23:26; Hos 2:3) I will also give you into their hand,

and they shall throw down your shrines, and shall break down your high places.

They shall strip you also of your clothes, and shall take your fair jewels,

and leave you naked and bare.

40 (Eze 23:47; Hab 1:6-10) They shall also bring up a company against you,

and they shall stone you with stones,

and thrust you through with their swords.

41 (Eze 23:48; 2Ki 25:9) They shall burn your houses with fire

and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women.

And I will cause you to cease from playing the harlot,

and you also shall give no hire anymore.

42 (Eze 5:13; 39:29) So I will make My fury toward you to rest,

and My jealousy shall depart from you, and I will be quiet,

and will be angry no more.

43 (Eze 16:22; Ps 78:42) Because you have not remembered the days

of your youth, but have enraged Me in all these things,

I also will recompense your way upon your head,

says the Lord God, so that you shall not commit

this lewdness above all your other abominations.

44 (Eze 18:2-3; 1Sa 24:13) Everyone who uses proverbs shall use

this proverb against you, saying, "Like mother, like daughter."

45 (Isa 1:4; Eze 23:37-39) You are your mother's daughter who loathed

her husband and her children. And you are the sister of your sisters

who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite,

and your father an Amorite.

46 (Eze 23:4; 16:48-49) Now your elder sister is Samaria,

she and her daughters who dwell north of you. And your younger sister

who dwells south of you is Sodom and her daughters.

47 (2Ki 21:9; Eze 5:6-7) Yet you have not walked after their ways,

or done according to their abominations. But, as if that were a very

little thing, you were corrupted more than they in all your ways.

48 (Mt 10:15) As I live, says the Lord God, Sodom your sister has not done,

she nor her daughters, as you and your daughters have done.

49 (Ge 13:10; Ps 138:6) This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom. Pride,

abundance of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters,

but she did strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50 (Ge 13:13; 18:20) They were haughty and committed abominations before Me.

Therefore I took them away when I saw it.

51 (Jer 3:8-11) Moreover, Samaria did not commit half of your sins.

But you have multiplied your abominations more than they and have made your

sisters appear righteous in all your abominations which you have done.

52 Also bear your own shame in that you have made judgment favorable

to your sisters. Because of your sins that you have committed more abominable

than they, they are more righteous than you. Indeed, be humiliated also

and bear your shame in that you have made your sisters appear righteous.

53 (Isa 19:24-25; Eze 29:14) Yet I shall restore their captivity,

the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria

and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity,

54 (Jer 2:26; Eze 14:22-23) in order that you may bear your own shame

and may be humiliated in all that you have done

in that you are a comfort to them.

55 (Eze 16:53; 36:11) Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria

and her daughters, shall return to their former state,

and you and your daughters shall return to your former state.

56 As the name of your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day

of your pride,

57 (2Ki 16:5-7; 2Ch 28:5-6) before your wickedness was uncovered, so now you

have become the reproach of the daughters of Edom and all who are around her,

the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you.

58 (Eze 23:49) You have borne the punishment of your lewdness

and your abominations, says the Lord.

An Everlasting Covenant

59 (Isa 24:5; Eze 17:19) For thus, says the Lord God, I will even deal

with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath

by breaking the covenant.

60 (Lev 26:42; Isa 55:3) Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you

in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant

with you.

61 (Jer 50:4-5; Eze 20:43) Then you shall remember your ways and be ashamed

when you receive your sisters, your elder and your younger. And I will give

them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant.

62 (Jer 24:7; Eze 6:7) Thus I will establish My covenant with you,

and you shall know that I am the Lord,

63 (Ro 3:19; Ps 39:9) in order that you may remember, and be humiliated,

and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame,

when I am pacified toward you for all that you have done, says the Lord God.



Ezekiel 16

[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[2] Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy

nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother

an Hittite.

[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not

cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted

at all, nor swaddled at all.

[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion

upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy

person, in the day that thou wast born.

[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I

said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when

thou wast in thy blood, Live.

[7] I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast

increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy

breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and

bare.

[8] Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was

the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy

nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee,

saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

[9] Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood

from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

[10] I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers'

skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

[11] I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands,

and a chain on thy neck.

[12] And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a

beautiful crown upon thine head.

[13] Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine

linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey,

and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a

kingdom.

[14] And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was

perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

[15] But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot

because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that

passed by; his it was.

[16] And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with

divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not

come, neither shall it be so.

[17] Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which

I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit

whoredom with them,

[18] And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast

set mine oil and mine incense before them.

[19] My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey,

wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour:

and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.

[20] Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast

borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is

this of thy whoredoms a small matter,

[21] That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to

pass through the fire for them?

[22] And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not

remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast

polluted in thy blood.

[23] And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee!

saith the Lord GOD;)

[24] That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made

thee an high place in every street.

[25] Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made

thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that

passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

[26] Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours,

great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

[27] Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have

diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them

that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy

lewd way.

[28] Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast

unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest

not be satisfied.

[29] Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan

unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.

[30] How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all

these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

[31] In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and

makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in

that thou scornest hire;

[32] But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead

of her husband!

[33] They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy

lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy

whoredom.

[34] And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas

none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward,

and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.

[35] Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:

[36] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy

nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the

idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou

didst give unto them;

[37] Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast

taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou

hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will

discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

[38] And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are

judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

[39] And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down

thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip

thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee

naked and bare.

[40] They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone

thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

[41] And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon

thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing

the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

[42] So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall

depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

[43] Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast

fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy

way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this

lewdness above all thine abominations.

[44] Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against

thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.

[45] Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her

children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their

husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an

Amorite.

[46] And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at

thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is

Sodom and her daughters.

[47] Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their

abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted

more than they in all thy ways.

[48] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor

her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

[49] Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of

bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither

did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

[50] And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me:

therefore I took them away as I saw good.

[51] Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast

multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters

in all thine abominations which thou hast done.

[52] Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy

sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more

righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in

that thou hast justified thy sisters.

[53] When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and

her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I

bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

[54] That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all

that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.

[55] When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former

estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate,

then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

[56] For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy

pride,

[57] Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of

the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of

the Philistines, which despise thee round about.

[58] Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.

[59] For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast

done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

[60] Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy

youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

[61] Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt

receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto

thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

[62] And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I

am the LORD:

[63] That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth

any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that

thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.



Ezekiel 17



Two Eagles and a Vine



1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2 (Eze 20:49) Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable

to the house of Israel,

3 (Jer 48:40; Hos 8:1) and say, Thus says the Lord God:

A great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers which had

various colors, came to Lebanon and took away the highest branch of the cedar.

4 He cropped off the top of its young twigs and carried it into

a land of merchants. He set it in a city of dealers.

5 (Dt 8:7-9; Isa 44:4) He took also some of the seed of the land

and planted it in a fruitful field. He placed it by great waters

and set it as a willow tree.

6 (Eze 17:14) It grew and became a spreading vine of low stature,

whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under it.

So it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

7 (Eze 17:15; 31:4) There was also another great eagle with great wings

and many feathers. And this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth

its branches toward him, that he might water it by the bed

where it was planted.

8 It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth

branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a splendid vine.

9 Say: Thus says the Lord God: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots

and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its spring leaves

wither? It will not take a great power or many people to pull it

from its roots.

10 (Hos 13:15) Though it has been planted, will it prosper? Shall it not

utterly wither when the east wind hits it? It shall wither in the furrows

where it grew.

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

12 (Eze 24:19; 1:2) Say now to the rebellious house: Do you not know

what these things mean? Tell them: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem,

and took its king and its officials, and led them to him in Babylon.

13 (2Ch 36:13; 2Ki 24:15-17) He took one of the king's seed,

and made a covenant with him, and put him under oath. He has also taken

away the mighty of the land,

14 (Eze 29:14) that the kingdom might be debased, that it might not lift

itself up, but by the keeping of his covenant it might stand.

15 (Dt 17:16; 2Ki 24:20) But he rebelled against him in sending

his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses

and much people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things?

Can he indeed break the covenant and be delivered?

16 (Eze 12:13; Jer 52:11) As I live, says the Lord God, surely in the country

of the king who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant

he broke, in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

17 (Jer 37:7; Isa 36:6) Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army

and great company help him in the war by casting up mounts

and building forts to cut off many persons.

18 (1Ch 29:24) Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant,

when he had given his allegiance and has done all these things,

he shall not escape.

19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely My oath that he has

despised and My covenant that he has broken, I will inflict upon his own head.

20 (Eze 12:13; Jer 2:35) I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken

in My snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and will enter into judgment

with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against Me.

21 (2Ki 25:5; 25:11) All the choice men in all his troops shall fall

by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward all winds.

And you shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.

22 (Eze 20:40; Ps 2:6) Thus says the Lord God: I will also take of the highest

branch of the high cedar and set it aside. I will crop off from the top

of its young twigs a tender one and will plant it on a high

and lofty mountain.

23 (Eze 31:6; Mt 13:32) On the mountain of the height of Israel I will plant

it. And it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a splendid cedar.

And under it all fowl of every wing shall nest. In the shadow of its branches

they shall nest.

24 (Eze 22:14; Am 9:11) All the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord

have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up

the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish.

I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.



Ezekiel 17

[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[2] Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of

Israel;

[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings,

longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon,

and took the highest branch of the cedar:

[4] He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of

traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

[5] He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful

field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

[6] And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches

turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a

vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

[7] There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers:

and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her

branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

[8] It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring

forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

[9] Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull

up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it

shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or

many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

[10] Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly

wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows

where it grew.

[11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[12] Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean?

tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken

the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to

Babylon;

[13] And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and

hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

[14] That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but

that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

[15] But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that

they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he

escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be

delivered?

[16] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king

dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he

brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

[17] Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for

him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many

persons:

[18] Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had

given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

[19] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he

hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I

recompense upon his own head.

[20] And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare,

and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his

trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

[21] And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and

they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that

I the LORD have spoken it.

[22] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the

high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young

twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

[23] In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall

bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it

shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof

shall they dwell.

[24] And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought

down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree,

and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have brought down the

high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have

made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.



2) Our Daily Bread for 29 August 2023 titled When You’re Weary



Matthew 11:25-30



Come to Me and Rest

Lk 10:21-22



25 (Ps 8:2; Jn 11:41) At that time Jesus said, "I thank You, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things

from the wise and prudent and revealed them to infants.

26 Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.

27 (Jn 10:15; Mt 28:18; Jn 1:18) "All things are delivered to Me

by My Father, and no one knows the Son, except the Father.

And no one knows the Father, except the Son

and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

28 (Jn 7:37; 6:37) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened,

and I will give you rest.

29 (Jer 6:16; Jn 13:15) Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.

For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

[Jer 6:16. ]

30 (1Jn 5:3) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”



[25] At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of

heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and

prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

[26] Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

[27] All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the

Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and

he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give

you rest.

[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in

heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.



I sat in the stillness of a workday's end, my laptop in front of me. I

should've been exhilarated about the work I'd finished that day, but I wasn't.

I was tired. My shoulders ached with the load of anxiety over a problem at

work, and my mind was spent from thinking about a troubled relationship. I

wanted to escape from it all-my thoughts wandered to watching TV that night.



But I closed my eyes. "Lord," I whispered. I was too tired to say more. All

my weariness went into that one word. And somehow, I immediately knew that

was where it should go.



"Come to me," Jesus tells us who are weary and burdened, "and I will give you

rest" (Matthew 11:28). Not the rest from a good night's sleep. Not the break

from reality that television offers. Not even the relief when a problem has

been solved. Although these may be good sources of rest, the respite they

offer is short-lived and dependent on our circumstances.



In contrast, the rest Jesus gives is lasting and guaranteed by His unchanging

character. He's always good. He gives us true rest for our souls even amid

trouble because we know that everything is in His control. We can trust and

submit to Him, endure and even thrive in difficult situations because of the

strength and restoration only He can give.



"Come to me," Jesus tells us. "Come to me."



By: Karen Huang



Reflect & Pray



When your spirit is weary, where do you go for rest?

How will you respond to Jesus, when He invites you to go to Him?



Heavenly Father, remind me that true rest is found only in You.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 3 The Kind Heart of Forgiveness



Eph 4:32



32 (2Co 2:10; Col 3:12-13; Mt 6:12) And be kind one to another,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.



32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.



Don had lost his job because he stood against his boss and refused to

compromise his Christian principles. Certain friends in the company had

turned against him, choosing to save their own jobs at any cost,

and he felt very alone, abandoned when he most needed the support

of those who cared.

But Don showed no signs of bitterness or unforgiveness. He refused to

recite the details of his firing to those around him, saying simply and

honestly, " I believe my boss was wrong in what he did. But God can show

him." The kindness of Don's heart, and the tenderness with which he

extended forgiveness, became a testimony to all who knew him. Don's

boss never "saw the light", never repented, but Don lived in the freedom of

forgiving.

Comparison is a rare commodity among Christains today. We seem to be

overstocked with judgment and crammed full of condemnation, but we have

little space in the corners of our lives for tenderheartedness. We are quick

to assume that we know another person's heart and have the remedy for

the problem, rather then giving that person the benefit of the doubt,

the room to grow, the freedom to make a mistake and seek forgiveness.

Jesus demonstrated the king compassion necessary in forgiveness when he

looked down at the soldiers who has crucified him, gambling at his feet

for his cloak, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what

are doing."

When others hurt and betray us, they often "do not know what they are

doing." we can, in Christ, offer compassionate forgiveness to them -

not condoning their actions or excusing their wrong, but forgiving ,

in the simplicity and purity of God's love.



Application



a) What is the difference between excusing a wrong and forgiving?



b) How has God forgiven me for Christ's sake?



c) What does today's verse tell me about my attitude in forgiveness?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



2 Chr 26:5



5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,

the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days

that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.



5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,

who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long

as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Gift of Salvation



Ps 40:1-3,9-11



PSALMS 40



1 I waited patiently for the Lord,

and He turned to me, and heard my cry.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

out of the miry clay,

and set my feet on a rock,

and established my steps.

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,

even praise to our God;

many will see it, and fear,

and will trust in the Lord.



...



9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness

in the great congregation;

I have not held back my lips,

O Lord, You know.

10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness

within my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;

I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth

from the great congregation.

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;

may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.



To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even

praise unto our God:

Many shall see it, and fear,

And shall trust in the LORD.

...

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:

Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;

I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:

I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,

And thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:

Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.



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 2021 edition?)



New Brunswick



Total population 753900

Muslim population (est.) 4543



Moncton, followed by Fredericton and Saint John, each have a growing Muslim

population in New Brunswick, In 2007, the building that was formerly a Baptist

church was converted into Moncton's 1st mosque. The University of Moncton

also has a Muslim student association hosting prayer services, fellowship

getherings, and outreaches on campus.

Fredericton also has one mosque and a Muslim student association serving the

campuses of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.

Fredericton's Muslim population consists in 2014 of about 50 families,

and between 300 to 400 university students.

Saint John is home to the 1st Muslim Association for the province,

which also helped foster the Islamic associations of Fredericton and Moncton.

a 'musalla', or prayer location that is not officially structured as a mosque,

has been established in the Uptown area with the intention of seeing it grow

into a 2nd official place of Muslim worship. Demand for this new location has

been primarily for university students moving into the area.



Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick

- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened

to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened

to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them



- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these

areas of concentration



- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,

and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.



Adding further



30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020



Under the Keep Praying page



When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month

and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days

of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that

usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,

of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be

decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the

distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of

Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",

which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you

know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions

in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about

unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such

movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three

decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim

relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.



Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,

"What does this mean?"

13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."



Peter's Speech at Pentecost



14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice

and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,

let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,

since it is the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,

'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.'



- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.



- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for

Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.



Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under

a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the

house."



Ideas for prayer



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -



Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



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, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



Day 29 of the Month



a) Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care

to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true

integrity and compassion (



Ps 139:13-16



13 You brought my inner parts into being;

You wove me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;

marvelous are Your works,

and You know me completely.

15 My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me unformed,

yet in Your book

all my days were written,

before any of them came into being.



13 For thou hast possessed my reins:

Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee,

When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;

And in thy book all my members were written,

Which in continuance were fashioned,

When as yet there was none of them.



)



b) Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor

and compassionately respond to their plight (



Gal 2:10



10 (Ac 24:17) Only they requested that we should remember the poor,

which I also was eager to do.



10 Only they would that we should remember the poor;

the same which I also was forward to do.



)



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray not be part of a spiritual adulterous society.



Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father,

remind me that true rest is found only in You."



Pray to the Lord and pray to have a good attitude of forgiveness.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek the Lord diligently.



Pray to the Lord and pray to feel His Salvation.



Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick

- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened

to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened

to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them



- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these

areas of concentration



- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,

and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.



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 that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care

to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true

integrity and compassion



Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor

and compassionately respond to their plight.



Pray for effective Bible distributions in Kyrgyzstan to those who otherwise

have no access to God's Word.



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.