Day 178 of the 2nd Bible Study Journey - 27 June 2022 reflections
Day 178, 27 June 2022
1) Isaiah 1:21-31,2-5
Isaiah 1:21-31
The Degenerate City
21 How the faithful city
has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice;
righteousness lodged in her,
but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
your wine mixed with water.
23 (Ex 23:8; Mic 7:3) Your princes are rebellious
and companions of thieves;
everyone loves a bribe
and follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
24 (Dt 28:63; Isa 49:26 ) Therefore the Lord, the Lord of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
Ah, I will get relief from My adversaries,
and avenge Myself on My enemies.
25 (Mal 3:3) And I will turn My hand against you,
thoroughly purge away your dross,
and take away all your impurities.
26 (Jer 33:7; Zec 8:3) I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called
the city of righteousness,
a faithful town.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice
and her converts with righteousness.
28 (Job 31:3; Ps 1:6) But the destruction of the transgressors
and sinners shall be together,
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 (Isa 57:5; 65:3) For they shall be ashamed of the oaks
which you have desired,
and you shall be humiliated for the gardens
that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades,
and as a garden that has no water.
31 (Isa 66:24 ) The strong shall be as tinder,
and his work like a spark;
they will both burn together,
and no one will quench them.
[21] How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment;
righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
[22] Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
[23] Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth
gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither
doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
[24] Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel,
Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
[25] And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross,
and take away all thy tin:
[26] And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellers as
at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness,
the faithful city.
[27] Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with
righteousness.
[28] And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be
together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
[29] For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye
shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
[30] For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath
no water.
[31] And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and
they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Isaiah 2
The Mountain of the Lord
Mic 4:1-3
1 (Isa 1:1) The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem.
2 (Isa 27:13; Mic 4:1-3) In the last days,
the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established
on the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills,
and all nations shall flow to it.
3 (Lk 24:47; Isa 51:4-5) Many people shall go and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
and He will teach us of His ways,
and we will walk in His paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 (Hos 2:18; Joel 3:10) He shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
nor shall they learn war any more.
5 (Eph 5:8; 1Jn 1:7) O house of Jacob, come,
and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord
6 (2Ki 1:2) For You have forsaken Your people,
the house of Jacob,
because they are replenished from the east,
and are soothsayers like the Philistines,
and they please themselves with the children of strangers.
7 (Isa 30:16; 31:1) Their land also is full of silver and gold,
and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is also full of horses,
and there is no end to their chariots.
8 (Ps 115:4-8; Isa 37:19) Their land also is full of idols;
they worship the work of their own hands,
that which their own fingers have made.
9 (Isa 5:15; Ps 49:2) And the common man bows down,
and the great man humbles himself;
therefore, do not forgive them.
10 (Rev 6:15-16) Enter into the rock,
and hide in the dust
from the fear of the Lord
and from the glory of His majesty.
11 (Ps 18:27; Isa 5:15-16) The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 (Mal 4:1) For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be
upon everything that is proud and lofty,
and upon everything that is lifted up,
and it shall be brought low;
13 (Isa 14:8) and it will be upon all the cedars of Lebanon
that are high and lifted up,
and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 (Isa 30:25; 40:4) and upon all the high mountains,
and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15 and upon all the high towers,
and upon every fenced wall,
16 (1Ki 10:22; Isa 23:1) and upon all the ships of Tarshish,
and upon all pleasant sloops.
17 (Isa 2:11) The loftiness of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day;
18 the idols He shall utterly abolish.
19 (Isa 2:10; Heb 12:26; Isa 2:21) They shall go into the holes of the rocks,
and into the caves of the earth,
from the fear of the Lord,
and from the glory of His majesty,
when He shall arise to shake the earth mightily.
20 (Isa 30:22; 31:7) In that day a man shall cast away
his idols of silver and his idols of gold,
which they made for themselves to worship,
to the moles and to the bats,
21 (Isa 2:19) to enter the caverns of the rocks,
and into the clefts of the cliffs,
from the terror of the Lord,
and from the glory of His majesty,
when He arises to shake the earth mightily.
22 (Ps 146:3; 8:4) Cease regarding man,
whose breath is in his nostrils;
for why should he be esteemed?
Isaiah 2
[1] the word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.
[2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
[3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
[5] O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
[6] Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they
be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and
they please themselves in the children of strangers.
[7] Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of
their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end
of their chariots:
[8] Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own
hands, that which their own fingers have made:
[9] And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself:
therefore forgive them not.
[10] Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD,
and for the glory of his majesty.
[11] The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men
shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
[12] For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud
and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
[13] And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and
upon all the oaks of Bashan,
[14] And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted
up,
[15] And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
[16] And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
[17] And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of
men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
[18] And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
[19] And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of
the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he
ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
[20] In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of
gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to
the bats;
[21] To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged
rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he
ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
[22] Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he
to be accounted of?
Isaiah 3
Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
1 (Lev 26:26; Isa 1:24) For now the Lord,
the Lord of Hosts,
takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah
the stock and the store,
the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
2 (Eze 17:13 ) the mighty man and the man of war,
the judge and the prophet,
and the prudent and the ancient,
3 the captain of fifty and the honorable man,
the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the eloquent orator.
4 (Ecc 10:16) I will give youths to be their princes,
and unweaned children shall rule over them.
5 (Jer 9:3-8) The people shall be oppressed,
every one by another, and every one by his neighbor;
the youth shall behave himself proudly against the elder,
and the inferior against the honorable.
6 (Isa 4:1) When a man shall take hold of his brother
in the house of his father saying,
"You have clothing; be our ruler,
and let this ruin be under your power,"
7 (Hos 5:13) in that day he shall swear saying,
"I will not be a healer.
For in my house is neither bread nor clothing;
do not make me a ruler of the people."
8 For Jerusalem is ruined,
and Judah is fallen,
because their tongue and their deeds are against the Lord,
to provoke the eyes of His glory.
9 (Ge 13:13; Ro 6:23) The expression of their countenance witnesses
against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom;
they hide it not.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.
10 (Ecc 8:12; Dt 28:1-14) Say to the righteous
that it shall be well with them,
for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 (Dt 28:15-68; Ecc 8:13) Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 (Isa 3:4) As for My people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
O My people, those who lead you cause you to err,
and destroy the way of your paths.
13 (Mic 6:2) The Lord stands up to plead
and stands to judge the people.
14 (Job 22:4; Ps 143:2) The Lord will enter into judgment
with the elders and the princes of His people:
For you have eaten up the vineyard;
the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 (Ps 94:5) What do you mean that you beat My people to pieces
and grind the faces of the poor?
says the Lord God of Hosts.
16 (Isa 4:4; 32:9-11) Moreover the Lord says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
and walk with outstretched necks
and wanton eyes,
walking and mincing as they go,
and making a tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore, the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will make their foreheads bare.
18 (Jdg 8:21) In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the ankle
ornaments, and the headbands, and the crescent ornaments,
19 the chains, and the bracelets, and the veils,
20 (Ex 39:28) the bonnets, the leg ornaments, the sashes,
perfume boxes, amulets,
21 (Ge 24:47) the finger rings, nose rings,
22 festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, purses,
23 hand mirrors, and undergarments, hoods, and veils.
24 (Isa 22:12; La 2:10) Instead of sweet perfume there shall be a stench;
and instead of a belt, a rope;
and instead of well-set hair, baldness;
and instead of fine clothes, a girding of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
and your mighty in the war.
26 (Jer 14:2; La 2:10) Her gates shall lament and mourn,
and she, being desolate, shall sit on the ground.
Isaiah 3
[1] For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem
and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the
whole stay of water,
[2] The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the
prudent, and the ancient,
[3] The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counseller, and
the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
[4] And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over
them.
[5] And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one
by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the
ancient, and the base against the honourable.
[6] When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father,
saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under
thy hand:
[7] In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my
house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
[8] For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and
their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
[9] The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they
have rewarded evil unto themselves.
[10] Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall
eat the fruit of their doings.
[11] Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his
hands shall be given him.
[12] As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over
them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the
way of thy paths.
[13] The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
[14] The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and
the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the
poor is in your houses.
[15] What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of
the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.
[16] Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and
walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they
go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
[17] Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the
daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
[18] In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling
ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the
moon,
[19] The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
[20] The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the
tablets, and the earrings,
[21] The rings, and nose jewels,
[22] The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and
the crisping pins,
[23] The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
[24] And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be
stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair
baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning
instead of beauty.
[25] Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
[26] And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit
upon the ground.
Isaiah 4
1 (Ge 30:23; Isa 13:12) And in that day seven women
shall take hold of one man, saying,
"We will eat our own bread,
and wear our own apparel,
only let us be called by your name,
to take away our reproach."
The Branch of the Lord
2 (Jer 23:5; Zec 3:8; 6:12) In that day the branch of the Lord shall
be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent
and comely for those of Israel who have escaped.
3 (Lk 10:20; Isa 52:1) He who is left in Zion and he who remains
in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written
among the living in Jerusalem.
4 (Mal 3:2-3; Eze 36:25) When the Lord has washed away
the filth of the daughters of Zion and has purged the blood of Jerusalem
from the midst by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning,
5 (Ex 13:21-22; Nu 9:15-22) then the Lord will create upon every
dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies,
a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night.
For over all the glory shall be a covering.
6 (Isa 25:4; Ps 27:5; Isa 32:2) There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow
in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge,
and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
[1] And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will
eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy
name, to take away our reproach.
[2] In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and
the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are
escaped of Israel.
[3] And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that
remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written
among the living in Jerusalem:
[4] When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion,
and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the
spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
[5] And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and
upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming
fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
[6] And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the
heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 5
The Song of the Vineyard
1 (Ps 80:8; Mt 21:33) Now I will sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved
concerning His vineyard:
My well-beloved has a vineyard
in a very fruitful hill.
2 (Jer 2:21; Mk 11:13) And He fenced it, and removed its stones,
and planted it with the choicest vine.
And He built a tower in the midst of it,
and also made a winepress in it;
and He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
but it brought forth wild grapes.
3 Now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
judge between My vineyard and Me.
4 (Mt 23:37) What more could have been done to My vineyard
that I have not done in it?
Why, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
5 (Isa 28:18; La 1:15) So now I will tell you
what I will do to My vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it shall be consumed;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trodden down.
6 (Isa 7:23-25; 2Ch 36:19-21) And I will lay it waste:
It shall not be pruned or dug,
but briers and thorns shall come up.
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain on it.
7 (Ps 80:8-11) For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
His pleasant plant.
Thus He looked for justice, but saw oppression;
for righteousness, but heard a cry.
Woes and Judgment
8 (Mic 2:2; Hab 2:9-12) Woe to those who join house to house,
who add field to field,
until there is no more space
where they may live alone in the midst of the land!
9 (Mt 23:38; Isa 22:14) In my ears the Lord of Hosts said:
Truly, many houses shall be desolate,
even great and beautiful, without inhabitants.
10 (Lev 26:26) For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath,
[About 6 gallons, or 22 liters.]
and the homer [Likely about 360 pounds, or 160 kilograms.]
of seed shall yield an ephah.[Likely about 36 pounds, or 16 kilograms.]
11 (Pr 23:29-30; Isa 5:22) Woe to those who rise up early in the morning
that they may pursue strong drink;
who continue late in the evening
until wine inflames them!
12 (Job 34:27; Ps 28:5) The lyre and the harp, the tambourine and pipe,
and wine are in their feasts;
but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord,
or consider the work of His hands.
13 (Hos 4:6; Isa 1:3; 27:11) Therefore My people go into captivity
because they have no knowledge;
and their honorable men are famished,
and their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 (Hab 2:5) Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself
and opened its mouth without measure;
so their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp,
and he who rejoices shall descend into it.
15 (Isa 2:9; 2:11) The common man shall be brought down,
and the great man shall be humbled,
and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.
16 (Isa 29:23; 8:13) But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment,
and God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
17 (Isa 7:25; Zep 2:6) Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture,
and strangers shall eat in the waste places of the wealthy.
18 (Jer 23:14; 23:10) Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood
and sin as if with a cart rope,
19 (Eze 12:22; Jer 17:15) who say, "Let Him make speed
and hasten His work,
that we may see it;
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel
draw near and come,
that we may know it!"
20 (Pr 17:15; Am 5:7) Woe to those who call evil good,
and good evil;
who exchange darkness for light,
and light for darkness;
who exchange bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
21 (Pr 3:7; Ro 12:16) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and prudent in their own sight!
22 (Isa 5:11; 28:7) Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine,
and men of strength to mingle strong drink,
23 (Ps 94:21; Isa 10:2) who justify the wicked for a reward,
and take away the justice of the righteous from him!
24 (Job 18:16; Isa 30:12) Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble
and the flame consumes the chaff,
so their root shall be as rottenness,
and their blossom shall go up as dust;
because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 (2Ki 9:37; Isa 9:17) Therefore the anger of the Lord burns
against His people,
and He has stretched out His hand against them,
and has stricken them,
and the hills trembled.
Their corpses were torn in the midst of the streets.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
and His hand is still stretched out.
26 (Dt 28:49; Isa 7:18) He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar
and will hiss at them from the ends of the earth;
certainly they shall come
with speed, swiftly.
27 (Job 12:18; Joel 2:7-8) No one shall be weary or stumble among them;
no one shall slumber or sleep;
neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed,
nor the strap of their shoes be broken;
28 (Ps 45:5) their arrows are sharp
and all their bows bent;
their horses' hooves will seem like flint,
and their wheels like a whirlwind.
29 (Isa 42:22; 49:24-25) Their roaring shall be like a lion,
they shall roar like young lions;
they shall roar and lay hold of the prey;
and shall carry it away, and no one shall deliver it.
30 (Isa 8:22; Jer 4:23-28) In that day they shall roar against them
like the roaring of the sea.
And if one looks to the land-
only darkness and sorrow,
and the light is darkened by the clouds.
[1] Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his
vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
[2] And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it
with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made
a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes,
and it brought forth wild grapes.
[3] And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray
you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
[4] What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in
it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it
forth wild grapes?
[5] And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will
take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the
wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
[6] And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there
shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they
rain no rain upon it.
[7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the
men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold
oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
[8] Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till
there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
[9] In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be
desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
[10] Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an
homer shall yield an ephah.
[11] Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
[12] And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in
their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the
operation of his hands.
[13] Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no
knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried
up with thirst.
[14] Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without
measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that
rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
[15] And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be
humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
[16] But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is
holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
[17] Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of
the fat ones shall strangers eat.
[18] Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it
were with a cart rope:
[19] That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it:
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we
may know it!
[20] Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!
[21] Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own
sight!
[22] Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to
mingle strong drink:
[23] Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of
the righteous from him!
[24] Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go
up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and
despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
[25] Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he
hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the
hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the
streets.
For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out
still.
[26] And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss
unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed
swiftly:
[27] None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor
sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the
latchet of their shoes be broken:
[28] Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs
shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:
[29] Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions:
yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away
safe, and none shall deliver it.
[30] And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the
sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the
light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
2) Our Daily Bread for 27 June 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/06/27/more-than-enough-3
Entitled God's Provision
2 Kings 4:1-7
2 Kings 4
The Widow's Olive Oil
1 (2Ki 2:3; Lev 25:39-41) Now one of the wives of the sons of the prophets
cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that
your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take
my two sons as slaves."
2 (1Ki 17:12) Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you?
Tell me, what do you have in the house?"
She said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."
3 Then he said, "Go, ask for vessels from all your neighbors,
empty vessels and not just a few.
4 Then go in, shut the door behind you and your sons,
and pour the oil into all these vessels. When each is full, set it aside."
5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons,
and they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.
6 (Mt 14:20) When the vessels were full, she said to her son,
"Bring me another vessel."
But he said to her, "There is not another vessel." And the oil ceased.
7 Then she went and told the man of God. And he said,
"Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your children can live
on the rest."
2 Kings 4
[1] Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets
unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that
thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my
two sons to be bondmen.
[2] And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast
thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the
house, save a pot of oil.
[3] Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours,
even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
[4] And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon
thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set
aside that which is full.
[5] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who
brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
[6] And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her
son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel
more. And the oil stayed.
[7] Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil,
and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Three-year-old Buddy and his mom went to church each week to help unload
groceries from the food ministry truck. When Buddy overheard his mom telling
his grandmother that the delivery truck broke down, he said, "Oh, no. How will
they do food ministry?" His mom explained that the church would have to raise
money to buy a new truck. Buddy smiled. "I have money," he said, leaving the
room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colorful stickers and
filled with coins, which amounted to a little over $38. Though Buddy didn't
have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to
provide a new refrigerated truck, so that the church could continue serving
their community.
A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in
God's hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial
assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to
her neighbors for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1-4). In a
miraculous display of provision, God used the widow's small amount of oil to
fill all the jars she collected from her neighbors (vv. 5-6). Elisha told her,
"Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is
left" (v. 7).
When we focus on what we don't have, we risk missing out on watching God
do great things with what we do have.
By: Xochitl Dixon
Reflect & Pray
When has God multiplied your resources in a miraculous way?
When has He used you to combine your resources with the gifts of
others to meet a bigger need in your community?
Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful
and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 2 - Growing Up
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 (Ro 15:4) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction
in righteousness,
17 (1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:21) that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:
17 that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
"I can't wait till I get big!" Marc, age 5, declared. "Then I do
what I want!" Most of us, as children, shared Marc's statement.
We looked forward to that "magic age" - 16, 18, 21 - when we
would be adults: mature, able to make our own decisions.
We find, of course, that adulthood has its own share of
difficulties and conflicts. But even in our spiritual lives
we often long for a "magic moment" of maturity. As one woman
confessed, "Ever since I became a Christian, I've hoped I'd wake up
one morning to find myself mature."
But growth in the spiritual life comes gradually, like growth in
the physical world. In 2 Tim 2:16-17, Paul gives the young pastor
Timothy an important key to spiritual growing up - the Word of God.
The Word is "profitable" or "useful," Paul says, for "teaching" - that is,
for developing a right concept of God. Scripture offers "rebuke" when
we go wrong, "correction" to set us on the right path, and "training
in righteousness" so that we can grow in the image of Christ.
The purpose of Scripture's work in our lives, Paul emphasises,
is that we may be "perfect" - mature, equipped for the good things
God has for us to do. Such maturity does not come easily
or instantaneously, but it does come - sometimes imperceptibly -
as we submit our lives to the transforming power of God's Word.
Application
a) In what areas of my life do I need to grow? How can I benefit
from the Bible's
i) teaching?
ii) rebuke?
iii) correction?
iv) training in righteousness?
b) How can memorising God's Word help me grow in those areas?
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 7 - Upheld by His Hand
Is 41:10
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Beth had the same recurring nightmare: she was running along a cliff,
then she slipped, and fell headlong, into a bottomless ravine.
Falling, without control,without end, falling, falling, falling...
Beth's dream may be one many of us identify with. The sense
of losing control can be nightmarish, and we may fear falling
without end, without remedy. Financial failure may be the chasm
that we face, or professional disgrace. Personal relationships
may go out of control, and we look into a never-ending
ravine of pain and misunderstanding
But God says, "Don't be afraid; I am holding you up."
Like the father who helps his child learn to swim,
God holds us above the water. We may not feel his hands;
indeed, we may suspect that he lets us go just so we can
do it on our own. But he promises that he doesn't let go.
"I am with you." he declares. "I give you strength
and hold you up."
God's promise never to let go takes on new meaning
in a world where relationships are temporary and life is
uncertain. We do not need to fear, for he is with us.
We can relax and stop striving, for he is our God.
His strength becomes ours; amid all our sin and rebellion,
he undergirds us with his righteousness. We cannot fall,
for he holds us firm.
Application
a) Under what circumstances have I felt myself "falling"?
b) How does God's promise in Is 41:10 help me to have faith
in the midst of my fears?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Exodus 3:7-8
7 (Ps 106:44; Ex 2:23-25)The Lord said,
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt
and have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters,
for I know their sorrows.
8 (Ge 50:24; 15:18-21; Ex 13:5) Therefore, I have come down
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land,
to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites."
7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people
which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;
for I know their sorrows;
8 and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and
a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
PSALMS 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He restores my soul;
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
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?)
Quebec
Quick facts on Muslims in Quebec
Quebec 2015 population 8214 000
est Muslim Population 418946
CNMM Networks: Montreal
There is a growing Muslim population in Quebec City and a smattering
of Muslims scattered around the rest of the province, yet the vast majority
of Muslims live in the greater Montreal area. n fact, 23% of Canada's Muslim
population live in Quebec. Why is that? It is largely because Francophone
African Muslims are attracted to La Belle Provence.
And here's an interesting, perhaps even shocking fact: There are more
Muslims in Montreal than there are evangelical Christians.
This is one demographic factor creates a challenging environment for churches
and believers here: The size of the available 'workforce' is small
by comparison to begin with. Believers are already is a host culture that
is often either indifferent to religion or resistant to it. And now
this 'new' religious community of Muslims - many of whom do not visibly
or socially conform to Quebec society - are a growing population. It might br
easy for Christians to feel overwhelm by this cultural double-whammy,
yet God has always worked miracles through the small, the few.
Agree in prayer for :
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
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
Day 27 of the Month
a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
(
2 Cor 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
)
b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be obediant to Him.
Pray to the Lord: "Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful
and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me."
Pray to the Lord and ask the Lord to help you understand the Word.
Pray to the Lord and remember He hears your cries for help.
Pray to the Lord and rrmember He will guide you through troubled times.
Agree in prayer for Quebec:
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
- 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's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Pray for successful Bible distributions and an increased receptivity
to the Gospel message in Bhutan.
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 1:21-31,2-5
Isaiah 1:21-31
The Degenerate City
21 How the faithful city
has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice;
righteousness lodged in her,
but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
your wine mixed with water.
23 (Ex 23:8; Mic 7:3) Your princes are rebellious
and companions of thieves;
everyone loves a bribe
and follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
24 (Dt 28:63; Isa 49:26 ) Therefore the Lord, the Lord of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
Ah, I will get relief from My adversaries,
and avenge Myself on My enemies.
25 (Mal 3:3) And I will turn My hand against you,
thoroughly purge away your dross,
and take away all your impurities.
26 (Jer 33:7; Zec 8:3) I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called
the city of righteousness,
a faithful town.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice
and her converts with righteousness.
28 (Job 31:3; Ps 1:6) But the destruction of the transgressors
and sinners shall be together,
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 (Isa 57:5; 65:3) For they shall be ashamed of the oaks
which you have desired,
and you shall be humiliated for the gardens
that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades,
and as a garden that has no water.
31 (Isa 66:24 ) The strong shall be as tinder,
and his work like a spark;
they will both burn together,
and no one will quench them.
[21] How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment;
righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
[22] Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
[23] Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth
gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither
doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
[24] Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel,
Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
[25] And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross,
and take away all thy tin:
[26] And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellers as
at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness,
the faithful city.
[27] Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with
righteousness.
[28] And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be
together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
[29] For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye
shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
[30] For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath
no water.
[31] And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and
they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Isaiah 2
The Mountain of the Lord
Mic 4:1-3
1 (Isa 1:1) The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem.
2 (Isa 27:13; Mic 4:1-3) In the last days,
the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established
on the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills,
and all nations shall flow to it.
3 (Lk 24:47; Isa 51:4-5) Many people shall go and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
and He will teach us of His ways,
and we will walk in His paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 (Hos 2:18; Joel 3:10) He shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
nor shall they learn war any more.
5 (Eph 5:8; 1Jn 1:7) O house of Jacob, come,
and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord
6 (2Ki 1:2) For You have forsaken Your people,
the house of Jacob,
because they are replenished from the east,
and are soothsayers like the Philistines,
and they please themselves with the children of strangers.
7 (Isa 30:16; 31:1) Their land also is full of silver and gold,
and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is also full of horses,
and there is no end to their chariots.
8 (Ps 115:4-8; Isa 37:19) Their land also is full of idols;
they worship the work of their own hands,
that which their own fingers have made.
9 (Isa 5:15; Ps 49:2) And the common man bows down,
and the great man humbles himself;
therefore, do not forgive them.
10 (Rev 6:15-16) Enter into the rock,
and hide in the dust
from the fear of the Lord
and from the glory of His majesty.
11 (Ps 18:27; Isa 5:15-16) The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 (Mal 4:1) For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be
upon everything that is proud and lofty,
and upon everything that is lifted up,
and it shall be brought low;
13 (Isa 14:8) and it will be upon all the cedars of Lebanon
that are high and lifted up,
and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 (Isa 30:25; 40:4) and upon all the high mountains,
and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15 and upon all the high towers,
and upon every fenced wall,
16 (1Ki 10:22; Isa 23:1) and upon all the ships of Tarshish,
and upon all pleasant sloops.
17 (Isa 2:11) The loftiness of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day;
18 the idols He shall utterly abolish.
19 (Isa 2:10; Heb 12:26; Isa 2:21) They shall go into the holes of the rocks,
and into the caves of the earth,
from the fear of the Lord,
and from the glory of His majesty,
when He shall arise to shake the earth mightily.
20 (Isa 30:22; 31:7) In that day a man shall cast away
his idols of silver and his idols of gold,
which they made for themselves to worship,
to the moles and to the bats,
21 (Isa 2:19) to enter the caverns of the rocks,
and into the clefts of the cliffs,
from the terror of the Lord,
and from the glory of His majesty,
when He arises to shake the earth mightily.
22 (Ps 146:3; 8:4) Cease regarding man,
whose breath is in his nostrils;
for why should he be esteemed?
Isaiah 2
[1] the word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.
[2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
[3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
[5] O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
[6] Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they
be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and
they please themselves in the children of strangers.
[7] Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of
their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end
of their chariots:
[8] Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own
hands, that which their own fingers have made:
[9] And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself:
therefore forgive them not.
[10] Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD,
and for the glory of his majesty.
[11] The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men
shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
[12] For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud
and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
[13] And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and
upon all the oaks of Bashan,
[14] And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted
up,
[15] And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
[16] And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
[17] And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of
men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
[18] And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
[19] And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of
the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he
ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
[20] In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of
gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to
the bats;
[21] To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged
rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he
ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
[22] Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he
to be accounted of?
Isaiah 3
Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
1 (Lev 26:26; Isa 1:24) For now the Lord,
the Lord of Hosts,
takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah
the stock and the store,
the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
2 (Eze 17:13 ) the mighty man and the man of war,
the judge and the prophet,
and the prudent and the ancient,
3 the captain of fifty and the honorable man,
the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the eloquent orator.
4 (Ecc 10:16) I will give youths to be their princes,
and unweaned children shall rule over them.
5 (Jer 9:3-8) The people shall be oppressed,
every one by another, and every one by his neighbor;
the youth shall behave himself proudly against the elder,
and the inferior against the honorable.
6 (Isa 4:1) When a man shall take hold of his brother
in the house of his father saying,
"You have clothing; be our ruler,
and let this ruin be under your power,"
7 (Hos 5:13) in that day he shall swear saying,
"I will not be a healer.
For in my house is neither bread nor clothing;
do not make me a ruler of the people."
8 For Jerusalem is ruined,
and Judah is fallen,
because their tongue and their deeds are against the Lord,
to provoke the eyes of His glory.
9 (Ge 13:13; Ro 6:23) The expression of their countenance witnesses
against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom;
they hide it not.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.
10 (Ecc 8:12; Dt 28:1-14) Say to the righteous
that it shall be well with them,
for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 (Dt 28:15-68; Ecc 8:13) Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 (Isa 3:4) As for My people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
O My people, those who lead you cause you to err,
and destroy the way of your paths.
13 (Mic 6:2) The Lord stands up to plead
and stands to judge the people.
14 (Job 22:4; Ps 143:2) The Lord will enter into judgment
with the elders and the princes of His people:
For you have eaten up the vineyard;
the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 (Ps 94:5) What do you mean that you beat My people to pieces
and grind the faces of the poor?
says the Lord God of Hosts.
16 (Isa 4:4; 32:9-11) Moreover the Lord says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
and walk with outstretched necks
and wanton eyes,
walking and mincing as they go,
and making a tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore, the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will make their foreheads bare.
18 (Jdg 8:21) In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the ankle
ornaments, and the headbands, and the crescent ornaments,
19 the chains, and the bracelets, and the veils,
20 (Ex 39:28) the bonnets, the leg ornaments, the sashes,
perfume boxes, amulets,
21 (Ge 24:47) the finger rings, nose rings,
22 festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, purses,
23 hand mirrors, and undergarments, hoods, and veils.
24 (Isa 22:12; La 2:10) Instead of sweet perfume there shall be a stench;
and instead of a belt, a rope;
and instead of well-set hair, baldness;
and instead of fine clothes, a girding of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
and your mighty in the war.
26 (Jer 14:2; La 2:10) Her gates shall lament and mourn,
and she, being desolate, shall sit on the ground.
Isaiah 3
[1] For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem
and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the
whole stay of water,
[2] The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the
prudent, and the ancient,
[3] The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counseller, and
the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
[4] And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over
them.
[5] And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one
by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the
ancient, and the base against the honourable.
[6] When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father,
saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under
thy hand:
[7] In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my
house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
[8] For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and
their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
[9] The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they
have rewarded evil unto themselves.
[10] Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall
eat the fruit of their doings.
[11] Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his
hands shall be given him.
[12] As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over
them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the
way of thy paths.
[13] The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
[14] The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and
the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the
poor is in your houses.
[15] What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of
the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.
[16] Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and
walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they
go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
[17] Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the
daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
[18] In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling
ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the
moon,
[19] The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
[20] The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the
tablets, and the earrings,
[21] The rings, and nose jewels,
[22] The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and
the crisping pins,
[23] The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
[24] And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be
stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair
baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning
instead of beauty.
[25] Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
[26] And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit
upon the ground.
Isaiah 4
1 (Ge 30:23; Isa 13:12) And in that day seven women
shall take hold of one man, saying,
"We will eat our own bread,
and wear our own apparel,
only let us be called by your name,
to take away our reproach."
The Branch of the Lord
2 (Jer 23:5; Zec 3:8; 6:12) In that day the branch of the Lord shall
be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent
and comely for those of Israel who have escaped.
3 (Lk 10:20; Isa 52:1) He who is left in Zion and he who remains
in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written
among the living in Jerusalem.
4 (Mal 3:2-3; Eze 36:25) When the Lord has washed away
the filth of the daughters of Zion and has purged the blood of Jerusalem
from the midst by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning,
5 (Ex 13:21-22; Nu 9:15-22) then the Lord will create upon every
dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies,
a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night.
For over all the glory shall be a covering.
6 (Isa 25:4; Ps 27:5; Isa 32:2) There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow
in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge,
and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
[1] And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will
eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy
name, to take away our reproach.
[2] In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and
the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are
escaped of Israel.
[3] And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that
remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written
among the living in Jerusalem:
[4] When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion,
and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the
spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
[5] And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and
upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming
fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
[6] And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the
heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 5
The Song of the Vineyard
1 (Ps 80:8; Mt 21:33) Now I will sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved
concerning His vineyard:
My well-beloved has a vineyard
in a very fruitful hill.
2 (Jer 2:21; Mk 11:13) And He fenced it, and removed its stones,
and planted it with the choicest vine.
And He built a tower in the midst of it,
and also made a winepress in it;
and He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
but it brought forth wild grapes.
3 Now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
judge between My vineyard and Me.
4 (Mt 23:37) What more could have been done to My vineyard
that I have not done in it?
Why, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
5 (Isa 28:18; La 1:15) So now I will tell you
what I will do to My vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it shall be consumed;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trodden down.
6 (Isa 7:23-25; 2Ch 36:19-21) And I will lay it waste:
It shall not be pruned or dug,
but briers and thorns shall come up.
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain on it.
7 (Ps 80:8-11) For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
His pleasant plant.
Thus He looked for justice, but saw oppression;
for righteousness, but heard a cry.
Woes and Judgment
8 (Mic 2:2; Hab 2:9-12) Woe to those who join house to house,
who add field to field,
until there is no more space
where they may live alone in the midst of the land!
9 (Mt 23:38; Isa 22:14) In my ears the Lord of Hosts said:
Truly, many houses shall be desolate,
even great and beautiful, without inhabitants.
10 (Lev 26:26) For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath,
[About 6 gallons, or 22 liters.]
and the homer [Likely about 360 pounds, or 160 kilograms.]
of seed shall yield an ephah.[Likely about 36 pounds, or 16 kilograms.]
11 (Pr 23:29-30; Isa 5:22) Woe to those who rise up early in the morning
that they may pursue strong drink;
who continue late in the evening
until wine inflames them!
12 (Job 34:27; Ps 28:5) The lyre and the harp, the tambourine and pipe,
and wine are in their feasts;
but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord,
or consider the work of His hands.
13 (Hos 4:6; Isa 1:3; 27:11) Therefore My people go into captivity
because they have no knowledge;
and their honorable men are famished,
and their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 (Hab 2:5) Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself
and opened its mouth without measure;
so their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp,
and he who rejoices shall descend into it.
15 (Isa 2:9; 2:11) The common man shall be brought down,
and the great man shall be humbled,
and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.
16 (Isa 29:23; 8:13) But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment,
and God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
17 (Isa 7:25; Zep 2:6) Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture,
and strangers shall eat in the waste places of the wealthy.
18 (Jer 23:14; 23:10) Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood
and sin as if with a cart rope,
19 (Eze 12:22; Jer 17:15) who say, "Let Him make speed
and hasten His work,
that we may see it;
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel
draw near and come,
that we may know it!"
20 (Pr 17:15; Am 5:7) Woe to those who call evil good,
and good evil;
who exchange darkness for light,
and light for darkness;
who exchange bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
21 (Pr 3:7; Ro 12:16) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and prudent in their own sight!
22 (Isa 5:11; 28:7) Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine,
and men of strength to mingle strong drink,
23 (Ps 94:21; Isa 10:2) who justify the wicked for a reward,
and take away the justice of the righteous from him!
24 (Job 18:16; Isa 30:12) Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble
and the flame consumes the chaff,
so their root shall be as rottenness,
and their blossom shall go up as dust;
because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 (2Ki 9:37; Isa 9:17) Therefore the anger of the Lord burns
against His people,
and He has stretched out His hand against them,
and has stricken them,
and the hills trembled.
Their corpses were torn in the midst of the streets.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
and His hand is still stretched out.
26 (Dt 28:49; Isa 7:18) He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar
and will hiss at them from the ends of the earth;
certainly they shall come
with speed, swiftly.
27 (Job 12:18; Joel 2:7-8) No one shall be weary or stumble among them;
no one shall slumber or sleep;
neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed,
nor the strap of their shoes be broken;
28 (Ps 45:5) their arrows are sharp
and all their bows bent;
their horses' hooves will seem like flint,
and their wheels like a whirlwind.
29 (Isa 42:22; 49:24-25) Their roaring shall be like a lion,
they shall roar like young lions;
they shall roar and lay hold of the prey;
and shall carry it away, and no one shall deliver it.
30 (Isa 8:22; Jer 4:23-28) In that day they shall roar against them
like the roaring of the sea.
And if one looks to the land-
only darkness and sorrow,
and the light is darkened by the clouds.
[1] Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his
vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
[2] And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it
with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made
a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes,
and it brought forth wild grapes.
[3] And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray
you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
[4] What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in
it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it
forth wild grapes?
[5] And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will
take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the
wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
[6] And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there
shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they
rain no rain upon it.
[7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the
men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold
oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
[8] Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till
there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
[9] In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be
desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
[10] Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an
homer shall yield an ephah.
[11] Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
[12] And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in
their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the
operation of his hands.
[13] Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no
knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried
up with thirst.
[14] Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without
measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that
rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
[15] And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be
humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
[16] But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is
holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
[17] Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of
the fat ones shall strangers eat.
[18] Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it
were with a cart rope:
[19] That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it:
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we
may know it!
[20] Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!
[21] Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own
sight!
[22] Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to
mingle strong drink:
[23] Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of
the righteous from him!
[24] Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go
up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and
despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
[25] Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he
hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the
hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the
streets.
For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out
still.
[26] And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss
unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed
swiftly:
[27] None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor
sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the
latchet of their shoes be broken:
[28] Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs
shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:
[29] Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions:
yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away
safe, and none shall deliver it.
[30] And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the
sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the
light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
2) Our Daily Bread for 27 June 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/06/27/more-than-enough-3
Entitled God's Provision
2 Kings 4:1-7
2 Kings 4
The Widow's Olive Oil
1 (2Ki 2:3; Lev 25:39-41) Now one of the wives of the sons of the prophets
cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that
your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take
my two sons as slaves."
2 (1Ki 17:12) Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you?
Tell me, what do you have in the house?"
She said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."
3 Then he said, "Go, ask for vessels from all your neighbors,
empty vessels and not just a few.
4 Then go in, shut the door behind you and your sons,
and pour the oil into all these vessels. When each is full, set it aside."
5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons,
and they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.
6 (Mt 14:20) When the vessels were full, she said to her son,
"Bring me another vessel."
But he said to her, "There is not another vessel." And the oil ceased.
7 Then she went and told the man of God. And he said,
"Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your children can live
on the rest."
2 Kings 4
[1] Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets
unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that
thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my
two sons to be bondmen.
[2] And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast
thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the
house, save a pot of oil.
[3] Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours,
even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
[4] And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon
thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set
aside that which is full.
[5] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who
brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
[6] And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her
son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel
more. And the oil stayed.
[7] Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil,
and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Three-year-old Buddy and his mom went to church each week to help unload
groceries from the food ministry truck. When Buddy overheard his mom telling
his grandmother that the delivery truck broke down, he said, "Oh, no. How will
they do food ministry?" His mom explained that the church would have to raise
money to buy a new truck. Buddy smiled. "I have money," he said, leaving the
room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colorful stickers and
filled with coins, which amounted to a little over $38. Though Buddy didn't
have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to
provide a new refrigerated truck, so that the church could continue serving
their community.
A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in
God's hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial
assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to
her neighbors for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1-4). In a
miraculous display of provision, God used the widow's small amount of oil to
fill all the jars she collected from her neighbors (vv. 5-6). Elisha told her,
"Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is
left" (v. 7).
When we focus on what we don't have, we risk missing out on watching God
do great things with what we do have.
By: Xochitl Dixon
Reflect & Pray
When has God multiplied your resources in a miraculous way?
When has He used you to combine your resources with the gifts of
others to meet a bigger need in your community?
Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful
and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 2 - Growing Up
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 (Ro 15:4) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction
in righteousness,
17 (1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:21) that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:
17 that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
"I can't wait till I get big!" Marc, age 5, declared. "Then I do
what I want!" Most of us, as children, shared Marc's statement.
We looked forward to that "magic age" - 16, 18, 21 - when we
would be adults: mature, able to make our own decisions.
We find, of course, that adulthood has its own share of
difficulties and conflicts. But even in our spiritual lives
we often long for a "magic moment" of maturity. As one woman
confessed, "Ever since I became a Christian, I've hoped I'd wake up
one morning to find myself mature."
But growth in the spiritual life comes gradually, like growth in
the physical world. In 2 Tim 2:16-17, Paul gives the young pastor
Timothy an important key to spiritual growing up - the Word of God.
The Word is "profitable" or "useful," Paul says, for "teaching" - that is,
for developing a right concept of God. Scripture offers "rebuke" when
we go wrong, "correction" to set us on the right path, and "training
in righteousness" so that we can grow in the image of Christ.
The purpose of Scripture's work in our lives, Paul emphasises,
is that we may be "perfect" - mature, equipped for the good things
God has for us to do. Such maturity does not come easily
or instantaneously, but it does come - sometimes imperceptibly -
as we submit our lives to the transforming power of God's Word.
Application
a) In what areas of my life do I need to grow? How can I benefit
from the Bible's
i) teaching?
ii) rebuke?
iii) correction?
iv) training in righteousness?
b) How can memorising God's Word help me grow in those areas?
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 7 - Upheld by His Hand
Is 41:10
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Beth had the same recurring nightmare: she was running along a cliff,
then she slipped, and fell headlong, into a bottomless ravine.
Falling, without control,without end, falling, falling, falling...
Beth's dream may be one many of us identify with. The sense
of losing control can be nightmarish, and we may fear falling
without end, without remedy. Financial failure may be the chasm
that we face, or professional disgrace. Personal relationships
may go out of control, and we look into a never-ending
ravine of pain and misunderstanding
But God says, "Don't be afraid; I am holding you up."
Like the father who helps his child learn to swim,
God holds us above the water. We may not feel his hands;
indeed, we may suspect that he lets us go just so we can
do it on our own. But he promises that he doesn't let go.
"I am with you." he declares. "I give you strength
and hold you up."
God's promise never to let go takes on new meaning
in a world where relationships are temporary and life is
uncertain. We do not need to fear, for he is with us.
We can relax and stop striving, for he is our God.
His strength becomes ours; amid all our sin and rebellion,
he undergirds us with his righteousness. We cannot fall,
for he holds us firm.
Application
a) Under what circumstances have I felt myself "falling"?
b) How does God's promise in Is 41:10 help me to have faith
in the midst of my fears?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Exodus 3:7-8
7 (Ps 106:44; Ex 2:23-25)The Lord said,
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt
and have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters,
for I know their sorrows.
8 (Ge 50:24; 15:18-21; Ex 13:5) Therefore, I have come down
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land,
to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites."
7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people
which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;
for I know their sorrows;
8 and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and
a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
PSALMS 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He restores my soul;
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
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?)
Quebec
Quick facts on Muslims in Quebec
Quebec 2015 population 8214 000
est Muslim Population 418946
CNMM Networks: Montreal
There is a growing Muslim population in Quebec City and a smattering
of Muslims scattered around the rest of the province, yet the vast majority
of Muslims live in the greater Montreal area. n fact, 23% of Canada's Muslim
population live in Quebec. Why is that? It is largely because Francophone
African Muslims are attracted to La Belle Provence.
And here's an interesting, perhaps even shocking fact: There are more
Muslims in Montreal than there are evangelical Christians.
This is one demographic factor creates a challenging environment for churches
and believers here: The size of the available 'workforce' is small
by comparison to begin with. Believers are already is a host culture that
is often either indifferent to religion or resistant to it. And now
this 'new' religious community of Muslims - many of whom do not visibly
or socially conform to Quebec society - are a growing population. It might br
easy for Christians to feel overwhelm by this cultural double-whammy,
yet God has always worked miracles through the small, the few.
Agree in prayer for :
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
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
Day 27 of the Month
a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
(
2 Cor 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
)
b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be obediant to Him.
Pray to the Lord: "Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful
and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me."
Pray to the Lord and ask the Lord to help you understand the Word.
Pray to the Lord and remember He hears your cries for help.
Pray to the Lord and rrmember He will guide you through troubled times.
Agree in prayer for Quebec:
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
- 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's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Pray for successful Bible distributions and an increased receptivity
to the Gospel message in Bhutan.
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.
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