Day 263 of My Second Bible Study Journey - 20 September reflections
Day 263, 20 September 2022
1) Nehemiah 12:27-46
Nehemiah 13
Joel 1
Joel 2
Joel 3
Nehemiah 12:27-46
Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall
27 (1Ch 15:16; 15:28) At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
they sought to bring the Levites from all their places to Jerusalem
to celebrate the dedication appropriately with thanksgiving songs
and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 (1Ch 9:16; 2:54) The members of choirs had assembled
from the regions all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from Beth Gilgal, and from fields of Geba and Azmaveth,
because they had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.
30 (Ex 19:10; Job 1:5) Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves.
They also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 (Ne 2:13; 12:38) Then I led the commanders of Judah up to the top
of the wall and appointed two great thanksgiving choirs.
The first choir proceeded to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.
32 Behind them followed Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 with Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
35 and some of the priests with trumpets-Zechariah, the son of Jonathan,
the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,
the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph,
36 (Ne 12:24; 1Ch 23:5) in conjunction with his relatives-Shemaiah,
Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani,
being accompanied with the musical instruments of David the man of God.
Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 (Ne 2:14; 3:26) At the Fountain Gate, directly across from them,
they ascended the steps of the City of David, following that sloped
section of the wall up to the house of David, then eastward
to the Water Gate.
38 (Ne 3:8; 3:11) The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left
where I followed them with the other half of the people on top of the wall,
from the Tower of the Furnaces to the Broad Wall,
39 (Ne 3:1; 3:3; 3:6) then from above the Ephraim Gate past the Old Gate,
the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred,
as far as the Sheep Gate, but they stood still at the Gate of the Guard.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, as did I
and the half of the officials with me,
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam,
and Ezer. The singers sang loudly. Jezrahiah was their director.
43 (Ps 92:4) On that day they offered great sacrifices
and rejoiced because God had given them great cause for rejoicing.
The wives and the children rejoiced, too.
From far away the joyful celebration of Jerusalem was heard.
Temple Responsibilities
44 (Ne 13:12-13) At that time men were appointed to govern
over the chambers for the treasures, for the contributions,
for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so that they might
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the legal portions
belonging to the priests and Levites. This was because the celebration
of Judah survived on the basis of the priests and the Levites
45 (1Ch 25:1-26) who, accompanied by the singers
and the gatekeepers, attentively preserved the practices
of their God and the practices of purification, according
to the commandment of David and of his son Solomon.
46 (2Ch 29:30) For in the former days of David and Asaph
there were leaders for the singers, the songs of praise,
and thanksgivings to God.
47 All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah
gave the singers and the gatekeepers their portions,
as specified daily. Likewise, they consecrated what was
due to the Levites, who then consecrated what was due
to the descendants of Aaron.
[26] These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of
Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest,
the scribe.
[27] And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites
out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication
with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals,
psalteries, and with harps.
[28] And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of
the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of
Netophathi;
[29] Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
[30] And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the
people, and the gates, and the wall.
[31] Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two
great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand
upon the wall toward the dung gate:
[32] And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
[33] And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
[34] Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
[35] And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the
son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of
Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
[36] And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai,
Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man
of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
[37] And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by
the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the
house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
[38] And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them,
and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the
tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
[39] And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above
the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto
the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
[40] So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of
God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
[41] And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
[42] And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and
Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah
their overseer.
[43] Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had
made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced:
so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
[44] And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the
treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for
the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the
Levites that waited.
[45] And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and
the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of
Solomon his son.
[46] For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the
singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
[47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah,
gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and
they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified
them unto the children of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
The Reforms of Nehemiah
1 (Dt 23:3-5; Ne 9:3) On that day they read aloud
from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.
In it there was found written that no Ammonite
or Moabite should ever enter the congregation of God,
2 (Dt 23:5) because they did not meet the children of Israel
with bread and water, but hired Balaam to curse them.
However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 (Ne 9:2; Ex 12:38) When they heard the Law, they separated
from Israel all the racially mixed.
4 (Ne 12:44; 2:10) Before this, Eliashib the priest,
who had been appointed to govern the chambers of the house
of our God, was related to Tobiah.
5 So, he had prepared a great chamber hall for him, where previously
they had stored the contributions, the frankincense, the vessels,
and the tithes of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, as required,
for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contribution
for the priests.
6 (Ne 5:14) But during this time I was not in Jerusalem,
since in the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon
I had gone to the king. At the conclusion of those days
I requested a leave of the king.
7 (Ne 13:5) When I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil
that Eliashib did for Tobiah by preparing him a chamber in the courts
of the house of God,
8 I was very grieved. So, from the chamber I threw all of the household
belongings of Tobiah outside.
9 (2Ch 29:5) Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers
so that I could return there the vessels of the house of God,
the contributions for the offerings, and the frankincense.
10 (Ne 10:37; Mal 3:8) When I perceived that the supplies
for the Levites had not been given and that the Levites
and the singers doing the work had fled, everyone to his own field,
11 (Ne 10:39; 13:17) I confronted the officials and asked, "Why is
the house of God forsaken?" So I gathered them and stationed
them at their posts.
12 (Ne 10:37-39; 12:44) Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain,
the new wine, and the fresh oil to the storehouses.
13 (Ne 7:2; 12:44) Overseeing the replenishing of the storehouse,
I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe,
and Pedaiah from the Levites, and to assist them Hanan the son of Zakkur,
the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable,
and their task was to distribute to their relatives.
14 (Ne 5:19; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, concerning this. Do not blot out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its workings.
15 (Ne 10:31; Ex 34:21) In those days I saw in Judah some treading
winepresses on the Sabbath or hauling loads of grain or loading donkeys
with wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens in order to bring
them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, during the day
while they were selling the food goods, I warned them.
16 Men of Tyre also stayed there, having hauled in fish
and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath
to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 (Ne 13:11; 13:25) Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and asked them,
"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18 (Jer 17:21-23) Did not your fathers do likewise?
Did not our God bring all this evil against us and against this city?
Will you yet bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath?"
19 (Lev 23:32) As the gates of Jerusalem began to cast the evening shadow
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut,
and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.
Some of my servants I stationed at the gates so that there would be
no loads brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise
lodged outside Jerusalem.
21 So I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night next
to the wall? If you do so again, I will send you away by force."
From that time on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.
22 (Ne 12:30; 13:14) Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves
so that they could come and, as guardians of the gates,
sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to Your abundant mercy.
23 (Ne 10:30; Ezr 9:1-2) Moreover, in those days I also saw Jews
who had married the women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 Half of their children spoke in the language of Ashdod,
yet none of them could recognize the language of the Jews.
This was true language by language.
25 (Ezr 10:5; Ne 10:29-30) So I confronted them and cursed them.
Some of the men I beat. Others, I plucked out their hair.
Also, I made them swear an oath by God and said to them,
"You shall neither give your daughters to their sons,
nor marry their daughters to your sons or to yourselves.
26 (1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:12) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?
Yet among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God,
who made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women caused
even him to sin.
27 (Ezr 10:2) Should we then listen to you, the ones doing
all this great evil, who are behaving unfaithfully against our God
by bedding foreign women?"
28 (Ne 2:19; 2:10) Also, one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib
the high priest, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove
him away from me.
29 (Ne 6:14) Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood
and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 (Ne 10:30) Thus I purified them from everything foreign
and appointed work crews for the priests and the Levites, each to his task,
31 (Ne 10:34; 13:14) and I provided the wood offering, at the appointed times,
and the first fruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Nehemiah 13
[1] On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the
people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite
should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
[2] Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water,
but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God
turned the curse into a blessing.
[3] Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated
from Israel all the mixed multitude.
[4] And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the
chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
[5] And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid
the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the
corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the
Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
[6] But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and
thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after
certain days obtained I leave of the king:
[7] And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did
for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
[8] And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff
of Tobiah out of the chamber.
[9] Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I
again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the
frankincense.
[10] And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given
them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every
one to his field.
[11] Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
[12] Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the
oil unto the treasuries.
[13] And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and
Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan
the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and
their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
[14] Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
[15] In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath,
and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath
day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
[16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all
manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in
Jerusalem.
[17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What
evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
[18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon
us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the
sabbath.
[19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark
before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged
that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my
servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on
the sabbath day.
[20] So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without
Jerusalem once or twice.
[21] Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about
the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth
came they no more on the sabbath.
[22] And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and
that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the
greatness of thy mercy.
[23] In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of
Ammon, and of Moab:
[24] And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not
speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
[25] And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them,
and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not
give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your
sons, or for yourselves.
[26] Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made
him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause
to sin.
[27] Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress
against our God in marrying strange wives?
[28] And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was
son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
[29] Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and
the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
[30] Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the
priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
[31] And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Joel 1
1 (Jer 1:2; Ac 2:16) The word of the Lord, which came to Joel, son of Pethuel.
A Land Laid Waste
2 (Hos 5:1; Joel 2:2) Hear this, elders,
and give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has anything like this happened in your days,
or in the days of your fathers?
3 Tell it to your children,
and let your children tell their children,
and let their children tell another generation.
4 (Joel 2:25; Am 4:9; Ex 10:4) What the fledging locust left,
the adult locust has eaten;
what the adult locust left,
the larval locust has eaten;
what the larval locust left,
the hopper locust has eaten.
5 Awaken, drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all wine-drinkers,
because the sweet wine
has been cut off from your lips.
6 (Joel 2:25) For a nation powerful and innumerable
has invaded my land;
its teeth are like the teeth of a lion,
like the fangs of a lioness.
7 (Isa 5:6; Joel 1:12) It has despoiled my vine,
and splintered my fig tree;
it has stripped off its bark
and cast it away,
leaving its branches white.
8 (Isa 22:12) Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth
for the husband of her youth.
9 (Joel 2:14; 2:17) The grain offering and the drink offering
are cut off from the house of the Lord;
the priests mourn, who are
ministers to the Lord.
10 (Jer 12:11; Hos 4:3) The field is ravaged,
the ground mourns;
for the grain is ruined,
the new wine is dried up,
and the oil dwindles.
11 (Isa 17:11; Jer 9:12) Despair, fieldworkers;
wail, vinedressers,
for the wheat and the barley,
because the harvest of the field has perished.
12 (Isa 24:11; SS 2:3) The vine is dried up,
and the fig tree is withered;
pomegranate, palm, and apple-
all the trees of the field are dry;
surely joy has withered away
from the sons of men.
A Call to Repentance
13 (Jer 4:8; Joel 1:8-9) Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, ministers of the altar.
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
ministers of my God,
because the grain offering and the drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 (Joel 2:15–16; Jnh 3:8) Consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly,
assemble the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
15 (Jer 30:7; Eze 7:2-12) Alas, for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
and like devastation from the Almighty it comes.
16 (Dt 12:6-7; Ps 43:4) Has not the food been cut off
before our eyes,
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?
17 The seeds have shriveled
under their shovels,
the storehouses have been deserted;
the granaries have been torn down,
because the grain has dried up.
18 (Jer 12:4; Hos 4:3) How the beasts groan!
The herds of cattle are confused,
because they have no pasture;
even the flocks of sheep suffer.
19 (Ps 50:15; Jer 9:10) To You, O Lord, I call,
because fire has devoured the wild pastures,
and flame has burned all the trees of the field.
20 (Ps 104:21; 1Ki 17:7) Even the beasts of the field long for You,
because the streams of water have dried up,
and fire has devoured the wild pastures.
Joel 1
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
[2] Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.
Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
[3] Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children,
and their children another generation.
[4] That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that
which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the
cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
[5] Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine,
because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
[6] For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose
teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
[7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it
clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
[8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of
the LORD; the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn.
[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new
wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
[11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat
and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate
tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the
field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
[13] Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the
altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the
meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your
God.
[14] Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all
the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry
unto the LORD,
[15] Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a
destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
[16] Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the
house of our God?
[17] The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate,
the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
[18] How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because
they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
[19] O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of
the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
[20] The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters
are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Joel 2
The Day of the Lord
1 (Joel 1:15; 2:15) Blow the ram's horn in Zion,
sound the alarm on My holy mountain!
All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble,
because the day of the Lord has come,
because it is near-
2 (Joel 1:6; 2:25) a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Like blackness spreading over the mountain,
a great and mighty army comes,
such as was never before,
and will never be again,
even through the years of all generations.
3 (Ge 2:8; Isa 51:3) Before them fire devours,
and behind them a flame blazes;
the land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wasteland,
and nothing escapes them.
4 (Rev 9:7) They have the appearance of horses,
and like cavalry they run.
5 (Isa 5:24; Rev 9:9) As with the sound of chariots,
they leap on the mountaintops,
as with the sound of a flame of fire consuming stubble,
as a mighty army arrayed for war.
6 (Na 2:10; Isa 13:8) Before them, peoples are tormented;
every face turns pale.
7 (Pr 30:27) Like mighty men they run,
like men of war they scale a wall;
each marches on his way,
they do not swerve from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another;
each marches in his track.
Through the weapons they plunge;
they do not break rank.
9 (Jer 9:21; Jn 10:1) They rush on the city,
they run on the wall;
they climb up into the houses,
they enter through the windows like thieves.
10 (Ps 18:7; Isa 13:10) Before them the earth quakes,
the heavens shake;
the sun and moon darken,
and the stars withdraw their radiance.
11 (Rev 18:8; Joel 3:16) The Lord has sounded His voice
before His army,
for His camp is exceedingly great;
mighty is the one who accomplishes His word.
For great is the day of the Lord,
and very awe-inspiring.
Who can endure it?
Return to the Lord
12 (Jer 4:1; Hos 12:6) Yet even now, declares the Lord,
return to Me with all your heart,
and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.
13 (Ps 34:18; Jnh 4:2) Rend your heart,
and not your garments;
return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and He relents from punishing.
14 (Joel 1:13; Hag 2:19) Who knows? He might turn aside and relent,
and He might leave behind a blessing—
a grain offering and a food offering
for the Lord your God.
15 (Joel 1:14; Nu 10:3) Blow the ram's horn in Zion,
consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly.
16 (Ex 19:10; 19:22) Gather the people,
consecrate the congregation,
assemble the elders,
gather the children
and those nursing at the breast;
let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17( Eze 8:16; Ps 79:10) Between the temple porch and the altar,
let the priests, ministers of the Lord, weep and say,
"Have pity upon Your people,
and do not make Your heritage a disgrace,
a mockery among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "
Rescue and Restitution
18 (Zec 1:14; 8:2) Then the Lord became jealous for His land
and took pity upon His people.
19 (Eze 34:29; Joel 1:10) So the Lord answered and said to His people,
Here! I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied,
and I will never again make you
a disgrace among the nations.
20 (Zec 14:8; Dt 11:24; Isa 34:3) I will remove the northerner far from you,
and I will banish him to a dry and desolate land,
those in front to the eastern sea,
and those in back to the western sea,
and his stink will rise,
and his stench will rise,
for he has done great things.
21 (Isa 54:4; Zep 3:16-17) Do not be afraid, land;
exult and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 (Ps 65:12; Joel 1:18-20) Do not be afraid, beasts of the field,
because the wild pastures flourish,
because the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and the vine yield their abundance.
23 (Zec 10:7; Lev 26:4) And children of Zion, exult
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
because He has given to you
the early rain for vindication.
He showers down rains for you,
the early rain and the latter rain, as before.
24 (Lev 26:10; Am 9:13) Then the threshing floors will be filled with grain,
and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 (Joel 1:4-7; 2:2-11) And I will compensate you for the years the locusts
have eaten-the larval locust, the hopper locust,
and the fledging locust-
My great army which I sent against you.
26 (Lev 26:5; Isa 25:1) You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,
and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
and My people will never again be shamed.
27 (Joel 3:17; Lev 26:11-12) Then you will know that I am in the midst
of Israel, that I am the Lord your God,
and that there is no other.
And My people will never again be shamed.
The Outpouring of the Spirit
28 (Eze 39:29; Isa 32:15) And it will be that, afterwards,
I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 (1Co 12:13; Gal 3:28) Even on the menservants and maidservants
in those days I will pour out My Spirit.
30 (Lk 21:11; Mt 24:29) Then I will work wonders in the heavens
and the earth-
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 (Mal 4:5; Isa 13:9-10) The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the great and awe-inspiring day of the Lord comes.
32 (Isa 46:13; Ob 1:17) And it will be that everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the Lord has said,
and among the survivors
whom the Lord calls.
Joel 2
[1] Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let
all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for
it is nigh at hand;
[2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick
darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a
strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after
it, even to the years of many generations.
[3] A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land
is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness;
yea, and nothing shall escape them.
[4] The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen,
so shall they run.
[5] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap,
like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong
people set in battle array.
[6] Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall
gather blackness.
[7] They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of
war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break
their ranks:
[8] Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path:
and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
[9] They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall,
they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like
a thief.
[10] The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun
and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
[11] And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is
very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the
LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
[12] Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your
heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
[13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your
God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil.
[14] Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind
him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
[15] Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
[16] Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,
gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go
forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
[17] Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and
the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine
heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore
should they say among the people, Where is their God?
[18] Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
[19] Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send
you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will
no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
[20] But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive
him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and
his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his
ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
[21] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great
things.
[22] Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the
wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the
vine do yield their strength.
[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come
down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first
month.
[24] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with
wine and oil.
[25] And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the
cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I
sent among you.
[26] And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of
the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall
never be ashamed.
[27] And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the
LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
[28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old
men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I
pour out my spirit.
[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and
fire, and pillars of smoke.
[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall
call.
Joel 3
Judging the Nations
1 (Jer 16:15; 30:3) In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 (Isa 66:16; Eze 35:10) I will gather all the nations,
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
I will enter into judgment with them there
regarding My people and My heritage Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations;
they have also divided up My land.
3 (Am 2:6; Ob 1:11) They have cast lots for My people,
and have traded a boy for a prostitute;
they have sold a girl for wine,
that they might drink.
4 (Isa 34:8; 59:18) Also, what are you to Me, Tyre and Sidon
and all the regions of Philistia? Are you repaying Me
for something? If you are repaying Me, I will return your payment
swiftly and speedily on your head.
5 (2Ki 12:18; 2Ch 21:16-17) For you have taken My silver and My gold,
and you have carried off My finest treasures to your temples.
6 (Eze 27:13; Joel 3:3) You have sold the people of Judah
and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their border.
7 (Isa 43:5-6; Jer 23:8) I am about to rouse them from the place
to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your head.
8 (Isa 60:14; Job 1:15) I will sell your sons and your daughters
into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them
to the Sabeans-to a distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.
9 (Isa 8:9-10; Jer 46:3-4) Proclaim this among the nations:
Consecrate a war!
Stir up the mighty men!
Let all the men of war draw near and rise.
10 (Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3) Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears;
let the weakling say,
"I am a warrior!"
11 (Isa 13:3; Zep 3:8) Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
and gather there.
Bring down Your warriors, O Lord.
12 (Isa 2:4; Ps 96:13) Let the nations be roused,
and go up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit
to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 (Hos 6:11; Isa 63:3) Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Come and tread,
for the winepress is full.
The wine vats overflow,
because their evil is great.
14 (Isa 34:2-8; Joel 1:15) Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of the decision.
15 (Joel 2:10; 2:31) The sun and moon darken,
and the stars withdraw their radiance.
16 (Am 1:2; Eze 38:19) The Lord roars from Zion,
and sounds His voice from Jerusalem,
and heaven and earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge for His people,
and a stronghold for the children of Israel.
The Lord Dwells in Zion
17 (Joel 2:27; Isa 4:3) Then you will know that I am the Lord your God,
who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.
And Jerusalem will be holy,
and invaders will never again pass through her.
18 (Isa 30:25; 35:6) And it will be that in that day the mountains will drip
sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk,
and all the streambeds of Judah will flow with water;
a spring will proceed from the house of the Lord
and will water the Valley of Shittim.
19 (Isa 19:1-15) Egypt will become a desolation,
and Edom a desolate wasteland,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah-
they shed innocent blood in their land.
20 (Eze 37:25; Am 9:15) But Judah will be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem for generations and generations.
21 (Isa 4:4; Eze 36:25) I will avenge their blood,
which I have not yet avenged.
The Lord dwells in Zion!
Joel 3
[1] For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again
the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
[2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley
of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my
heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my
land.
[3] And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an
harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
[4] Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the
coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompence
me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
[5] Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your
temples my goodly pleasant things:
[6] The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold
unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
[7] Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them,
and will return your recompence upon your own head:
[8] And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the
children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far
off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
[9] Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty
men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
[10] Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears:
let the weak say, I am strong.
[11] Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves
together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
[12] Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat:
for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
[13] Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for
the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
[14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the
LORD is near in the valley of decision.
[15] The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw
their shining.
[16] The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be
the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
[17] So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy
mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass
through her any more.
[18] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop
down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of
Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house
of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
[19] Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness,
for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed
innocent blood in their land.
[20] But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to
generation.
[21] For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD
dwelleth in Zion.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 September 2022
Entitled "Reckless Decisions"
Numbers 20:1-12
NUMBERS 20
Moses Strikes the Rock
1 (Nu 13:21; Ex 15:20) Then the children of Israel, the whole assembly,
came to the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people dwelt
in Kadesh, and Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 (Nu 16:19; 16:42) And there was no water for the assembly, and they
gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 (Ex 17:2; Nu 16:31-35) The people argued with Moses, and spoke, saying,
"O that we had died when our brothers died before the Lord!
4 (Ex 17:3) And why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord
into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
5 (Nu 16:14) And why have you brought us up from Egypt, to bring
us into this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines,
or of pomegranates. Nor is there any water to drink."
6 (Nu 14:5; 16:4) Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
to the door of the tent of meeting, and they fell on their faces,
and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8 (Ex 4:17; 17:5-6) Take the rod, and gather the assembly together,
you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes,
and it will give its water, and you will bring out to them water
from the rock; so you will give the assembly and their livestock drink.
9 (Nu 17:10) So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him.
10 (Ps 106:32-33) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock,
and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels.
Will we bring out water from this rock for you?"
11 (1Co 10:4; Ex 17:6) And Moses lifted up his hand, and he struck the rock
twice with his rod, and plenty of water came out, and the assembly drank,
and their livestock.
12 (Nu 27:14; Dt 1:37) The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you did not believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of
the children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly
into the land which I have given them"
[1] Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the
desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam
died there, and was buried there.
[2] And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered
themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
[3] And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we
had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
[4] And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this
wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
[5] And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in
unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of
pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
[6] And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and
the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
[7] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[8] Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy
brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give
forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock:
so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
[9] And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
[10] And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock,
and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of
this rock?
[11] And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice:
and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their
beasts also.
[12] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to
sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not
bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
As a teen, I was driving way too fast trying to follow my friend to his home
after a high school basketball practice. It was raining hard, and I was having
a hard time keeping up with his car. Suddenly, my wipers cleared the watery
windshield only to reveal my friend's sedan stopped in front of me! I slammed
on the brakes, slid off the street, and struck a large tree. My car was
destroyed. Later I awoke in the comatose ward of a local hospital. While by
God's grace I survived, my reckless ways had proved to be very costly.
Moses made a reckless decision that cost him greatly. His poor choice,
however, involved a lack of water-not too much of it (as in my case). The
Israelites were without water in the Desert of Zin, and "the people gathered
in opposition to Moses" (Numbers 20:2). God told the frazzled leader to speak
to a rock and it would "pour out its water" (v.
. Instead, he "struck the
rock twice" (v. 11). God said, "Because you did not trust in me . . . , you
will not [enter the promised land]" (v. 12).
When we make reckless decisions, we pay the consequences. "Desire without
knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!"
(Proverbs 19:2). May we prayerfully, carefully seek God's wisdom and guidance
in the choices and decisions we make today.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
What regrettable decisions have you made based on impulse? Why is it vital
to slow down and prayerfully seek God's wisdom before reacting?
Jesus, please help me to follow Your wise instruction as Your Spirit leads me.
For further study, read Making Decisions God’s Way.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 3 The song of Exaltation
Exodus 15:2
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
2 The LORD is my strength and song,
And he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
My father's God, and I will exalt him.
The world is full of music that communicates human emotion:
love, joy, sadness, separation.
A love song makes us misty-eyed; a song of protest arouses anger; a song
describing loss stimulates feelings of hurt and abandonment.
Music is a powerful force to sway the human spirit.
Exodus 15:2 indicates that God should be the source of the songs in our hearts.
Human emotions vacillate; human relationships disappoint,
but God is our "strength" and our "song".
To exalt the Lord includes many different type of "songs".
"I can't carry a tune in a bucket," one woman complained.
"How can I sing to the Lord anything that will be pleasing to him?"
But the Lord does not delight in the professionalism of our songs,
but in the motivation of our hearts. We can "sing to the Lord"
when we enjoy a Bach organ piece played for his glory.
We can exalt him in the words of Scripture - either remembered or sung.
We can worship him by enjoying the songs of others.
The key to making the Lord our song is exaltation. When our thoughts
lift him up in praise, we are singing a song of exaltation to the Lord.
When God is exalted in our songs, in our hearts, and in our thoughts,
that focus gives strength to our lives. We can face the difficulties
that are an inevitable part of experience,
because God is our "strength and our song".
Application
a) What is the difference between a song that is professionally performed
and one that exalts the Lord?
b) What practical steps can I take to make
my daily life a "song of praise" to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
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?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
20th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
( Matthew 19:14
14 (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:16-17)
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not,
to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
)
b) Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
(
Eph 6:12
12 (Eph 1:3; 1:21) For our fight is not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly places.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His Favour.
Pray to the Lord: "Jesus, please help me to follow
Your wise instruction as Your Spirit leads me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to make your life a Song of Praise for the Lord.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him fully and you will prosper.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as light, mecry and salvation.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
Pray for Christian leaders from Muslim backgrounds in Ethiopia who risk
their lives to share the Gospel.
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) Nehemiah 12:27-46
Nehemiah 13
Joel 1
Joel 2
Joel 3
Nehemiah 12:27-46
Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall
27 (1Ch 15:16; 15:28) At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
they sought to bring the Levites from all their places to Jerusalem
to celebrate the dedication appropriately with thanksgiving songs
and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 (1Ch 9:16; 2:54) The members of choirs had assembled
from the regions all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from Beth Gilgal, and from fields of Geba and Azmaveth,
because they had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.
30 (Ex 19:10; Job 1:5) Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves.
They also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 (Ne 2:13; 12:38) Then I led the commanders of Judah up to the top
of the wall and appointed two great thanksgiving choirs.
The first choir proceeded to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.
32 Behind them followed Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 with Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
35 and some of the priests with trumpets-Zechariah, the son of Jonathan,
the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,
the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph,
36 (Ne 12:24; 1Ch 23:5) in conjunction with his relatives-Shemaiah,
Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani,
being accompanied with the musical instruments of David the man of God.
Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 (Ne 2:14; 3:26) At the Fountain Gate, directly across from them,
they ascended the steps of the City of David, following that sloped
section of the wall up to the house of David, then eastward
to the Water Gate.
38 (Ne 3:8; 3:11) The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left
where I followed them with the other half of the people on top of the wall,
from the Tower of the Furnaces to the Broad Wall,
39 (Ne 3:1; 3:3; 3:6) then from above the Ephraim Gate past the Old Gate,
the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred,
as far as the Sheep Gate, but they stood still at the Gate of the Guard.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, as did I
and the half of the officials with me,
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam,
and Ezer. The singers sang loudly. Jezrahiah was their director.
43 (Ps 92:4) On that day they offered great sacrifices
and rejoiced because God had given them great cause for rejoicing.
The wives and the children rejoiced, too.
From far away the joyful celebration of Jerusalem was heard.
Temple Responsibilities
44 (Ne 13:12-13) At that time men were appointed to govern
over the chambers for the treasures, for the contributions,
for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so that they might
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the legal portions
belonging to the priests and Levites. This was because the celebration
of Judah survived on the basis of the priests and the Levites
45 (1Ch 25:1-26) who, accompanied by the singers
and the gatekeepers, attentively preserved the practices
of their God and the practices of purification, according
to the commandment of David and of his son Solomon.
46 (2Ch 29:30) For in the former days of David and Asaph
there were leaders for the singers, the songs of praise,
and thanksgivings to God.
47 All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah
gave the singers and the gatekeepers their portions,
as specified daily. Likewise, they consecrated what was
due to the Levites, who then consecrated what was due
to the descendants of Aaron.
[26] These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of
Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest,
the scribe.
[27] And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites
out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication
with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals,
psalteries, and with harps.
[28] And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of
the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of
Netophathi;
[29] Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
[30] And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the
people, and the gates, and the wall.
[31] Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two
great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand
upon the wall toward the dung gate:
[32] And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
[33] And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
[34] Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
[35] And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the
son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of
Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
[36] And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai,
Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man
of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
[37] And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by
the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the
house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
[38] And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them,
and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the
tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
[39] And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above
the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto
the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
[40] So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of
God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
[41] And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
[42] And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and
Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah
their overseer.
[43] Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had
made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced:
so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
[44] And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the
treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to
gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for
the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the
Levites that waited.
[45] And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and
the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of
Solomon his son.
[46] For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the
singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
[47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah,
gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and
they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified
them unto the children of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
The Reforms of Nehemiah
1 (Dt 23:3-5; Ne 9:3) On that day they read aloud
from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.
In it there was found written that no Ammonite
or Moabite should ever enter the congregation of God,
2 (Dt 23:5) because they did not meet the children of Israel
with bread and water, but hired Balaam to curse them.
However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 (Ne 9:2; Ex 12:38) When they heard the Law, they separated
from Israel all the racially mixed.
4 (Ne 12:44; 2:10) Before this, Eliashib the priest,
who had been appointed to govern the chambers of the house
of our God, was related to Tobiah.
5 So, he had prepared a great chamber hall for him, where previously
they had stored the contributions, the frankincense, the vessels,
and the tithes of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, as required,
for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contribution
for the priests.
6 (Ne 5:14) But during this time I was not in Jerusalem,
since in the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon
I had gone to the king. At the conclusion of those days
I requested a leave of the king.
7 (Ne 13:5) When I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil
that Eliashib did for Tobiah by preparing him a chamber in the courts
of the house of God,
8 I was very grieved. So, from the chamber I threw all of the household
belongings of Tobiah outside.
9 (2Ch 29:5) Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers
so that I could return there the vessels of the house of God,
the contributions for the offerings, and the frankincense.
10 (Ne 10:37; Mal 3:8) When I perceived that the supplies
for the Levites had not been given and that the Levites
and the singers doing the work had fled, everyone to his own field,
11 (Ne 10:39; 13:17) I confronted the officials and asked, "Why is
the house of God forsaken?" So I gathered them and stationed
them at their posts.
12 (Ne 10:37-39; 12:44) Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain,
the new wine, and the fresh oil to the storehouses.
13 (Ne 7:2; 12:44) Overseeing the replenishing of the storehouse,
I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe,
and Pedaiah from the Levites, and to assist them Hanan the son of Zakkur,
the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable,
and their task was to distribute to their relatives.
14 (Ne 5:19; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, concerning this. Do not blot out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its workings.
15 (Ne 10:31; Ex 34:21) In those days I saw in Judah some treading
winepresses on the Sabbath or hauling loads of grain or loading donkeys
with wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens in order to bring
them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, during the day
while they were selling the food goods, I warned them.
16 Men of Tyre also stayed there, having hauled in fish
and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath
to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 (Ne 13:11; 13:25) Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and asked them,
"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18 (Jer 17:21-23) Did not your fathers do likewise?
Did not our God bring all this evil against us and against this city?
Will you yet bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath?"
19 (Lev 23:32) As the gates of Jerusalem began to cast the evening shadow
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut,
and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.
Some of my servants I stationed at the gates so that there would be
no loads brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise
lodged outside Jerusalem.
21 So I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night next
to the wall? If you do so again, I will send you away by force."
From that time on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.
22 (Ne 12:30; 13:14) Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves
so that they could come and, as guardians of the gates,
sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to Your abundant mercy.
23 (Ne 10:30; Ezr 9:1-2) Moreover, in those days I also saw Jews
who had married the women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 Half of their children spoke in the language of Ashdod,
yet none of them could recognize the language of the Jews.
This was true language by language.
25 (Ezr 10:5; Ne 10:29-30) So I confronted them and cursed them.
Some of the men I beat. Others, I plucked out their hair.
Also, I made them swear an oath by God and said to them,
"You shall neither give your daughters to their sons,
nor marry their daughters to your sons or to yourselves.
26 (1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:12) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?
Yet among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God,
who made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women caused
even him to sin.
27 (Ezr 10:2) Should we then listen to you, the ones doing
all this great evil, who are behaving unfaithfully against our God
by bedding foreign women?"
28 (Ne 2:19; 2:10) Also, one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib
the high priest, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove
him away from me.
29 (Ne 6:14) Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood
and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 (Ne 10:30) Thus I purified them from everything foreign
and appointed work crews for the priests and the Levites, each to his task,
31 (Ne 10:34; 13:14) and I provided the wood offering, at the appointed times,
and the first fruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Nehemiah 13
[1] On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the
people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite
should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
[2] Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water,
but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God
turned the curse into a blessing.
[3] Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated
from Israel all the mixed multitude.
[4] And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the
chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
[5] And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid
the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the
corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the
Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
[6] But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and
thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after
certain days obtained I leave of the king:
[7] And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did
for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
[8] And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff
of Tobiah out of the chamber.
[9] Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I
again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the
frankincense.
[10] And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given
them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every
one to his field.
[11] Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
[12] Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the
oil unto the treasuries.
[13] And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and
Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan
the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and
their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
[14] Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
[15] In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath,
and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath
day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
[16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all
manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in
Jerusalem.
[17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What
evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
[18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon
us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the
sabbath.
[19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark
before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged
that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my
servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on
the sabbath day.
[20] So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without
Jerusalem once or twice.
[21] Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about
the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth
came they no more on the sabbath.
[22] And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and
that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the
greatness of thy mercy.
[23] In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of
Ammon, and of Moab:
[24] And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not
speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
[25] And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them,
and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not
give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your
sons, or for yourselves.
[26] Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made
him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause
to sin.
[27] Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress
against our God in marrying strange wives?
[28] And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was
son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
[29] Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and
the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
[30] Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the
priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
[31] And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
Joel 1
1 (Jer 1:2; Ac 2:16) The word of the Lord, which came to Joel, son of Pethuel.
A Land Laid Waste
2 (Hos 5:1; Joel 2:2) Hear this, elders,
and give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has anything like this happened in your days,
or in the days of your fathers?
3 Tell it to your children,
and let your children tell their children,
and let their children tell another generation.
4 (Joel 2:25; Am 4:9; Ex 10:4) What the fledging locust left,
the adult locust has eaten;
what the adult locust left,
the larval locust has eaten;
what the larval locust left,
the hopper locust has eaten.
5 Awaken, drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all wine-drinkers,
because the sweet wine
has been cut off from your lips.
6 (Joel 2:25) For a nation powerful and innumerable
has invaded my land;
its teeth are like the teeth of a lion,
like the fangs of a lioness.
7 (Isa 5:6; Joel 1:12) It has despoiled my vine,
and splintered my fig tree;
it has stripped off its bark
and cast it away,
leaving its branches white.
8 (Isa 22:12) Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth
for the husband of her youth.
9 (Joel 2:14; 2:17) The grain offering and the drink offering
are cut off from the house of the Lord;
the priests mourn, who are
ministers to the Lord.
10 (Jer 12:11; Hos 4:3) The field is ravaged,
the ground mourns;
for the grain is ruined,
the new wine is dried up,
and the oil dwindles.
11 (Isa 17:11; Jer 9:12) Despair, fieldworkers;
wail, vinedressers,
for the wheat and the barley,
because the harvest of the field has perished.
12 (Isa 24:11; SS 2:3) The vine is dried up,
and the fig tree is withered;
pomegranate, palm, and apple-
all the trees of the field are dry;
surely joy has withered away
from the sons of men.
A Call to Repentance
13 (Jer 4:8; Joel 1:8-9) Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, ministers of the altar.
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
ministers of my God,
because the grain offering and the drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 (Joel 2:15–16; Jnh 3:8) Consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly,
assemble the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
15 (Jer 30:7; Eze 7:2-12) Alas, for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
and like devastation from the Almighty it comes.
16 (Dt 12:6-7; Ps 43:4) Has not the food been cut off
before our eyes,
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?
17 The seeds have shriveled
under their shovels,
the storehouses have been deserted;
the granaries have been torn down,
because the grain has dried up.
18 (Jer 12:4; Hos 4:3) How the beasts groan!
The herds of cattle are confused,
because they have no pasture;
even the flocks of sheep suffer.
19 (Ps 50:15; Jer 9:10) To You, O Lord, I call,
because fire has devoured the wild pastures,
and flame has burned all the trees of the field.
20 (Ps 104:21; 1Ki 17:7) Even the beasts of the field long for You,
because the streams of water have dried up,
and fire has devoured the wild pastures.
Joel 1
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
[2] Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.
Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
[3] Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children,
and their children another generation.
[4] That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that
which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the
cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
[5] Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine,
because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
[6] For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose
teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
[7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it
clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
[8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of
the LORD; the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn.
[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new
wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
[11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat
and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate
tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the
field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
[13] Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the
altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the
meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your
God.
[14] Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all
the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry
unto the LORD,
[15] Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a
destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
[16] Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the
house of our God?
[17] The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate,
the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
[18] How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because
they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
[19] O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of
the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
[20] The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters
are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Joel 2
The Day of the Lord
1 (Joel 1:15; 2:15) Blow the ram's horn in Zion,
sound the alarm on My holy mountain!
All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble,
because the day of the Lord has come,
because it is near-
2 (Joel 1:6; 2:25) a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Like blackness spreading over the mountain,
a great and mighty army comes,
such as was never before,
and will never be again,
even through the years of all generations.
3 (Ge 2:8; Isa 51:3) Before them fire devours,
and behind them a flame blazes;
the land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wasteland,
and nothing escapes them.
4 (Rev 9:7) They have the appearance of horses,
and like cavalry they run.
5 (Isa 5:24; Rev 9:9) As with the sound of chariots,
they leap on the mountaintops,
as with the sound of a flame of fire consuming stubble,
as a mighty army arrayed for war.
6 (Na 2:10; Isa 13:8) Before them, peoples are tormented;
every face turns pale.
7 (Pr 30:27) Like mighty men they run,
like men of war they scale a wall;
each marches on his way,
they do not swerve from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another;
each marches in his track.
Through the weapons they plunge;
they do not break rank.
9 (Jer 9:21; Jn 10:1) They rush on the city,
they run on the wall;
they climb up into the houses,
they enter through the windows like thieves.
10 (Ps 18:7; Isa 13:10) Before them the earth quakes,
the heavens shake;
the sun and moon darken,
and the stars withdraw their radiance.
11 (Rev 18:8; Joel 3:16) The Lord has sounded His voice
before His army,
for His camp is exceedingly great;
mighty is the one who accomplishes His word.
For great is the day of the Lord,
and very awe-inspiring.
Who can endure it?
Return to the Lord
12 (Jer 4:1; Hos 12:6) Yet even now, declares the Lord,
return to Me with all your heart,
and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.
13 (Ps 34:18; Jnh 4:2) Rend your heart,
and not your garments;
return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and He relents from punishing.
14 (Joel 1:13; Hag 2:19) Who knows? He might turn aside and relent,
and He might leave behind a blessing—
a grain offering and a food offering
for the Lord your God.
15 (Joel 1:14; Nu 10:3) Blow the ram's horn in Zion,
consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly.
16 (Ex 19:10; 19:22) Gather the people,
consecrate the congregation,
assemble the elders,
gather the children
and those nursing at the breast;
let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17( Eze 8:16; Ps 79:10) Between the temple porch and the altar,
let the priests, ministers of the Lord, weep and say,
"Have pity upon Your people,
and do not make Your heritage a disgrace,
a mockery among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "
Rescue and Restitution
18 (Zec 1:14; 8:2) Then the Lord became jealous for His land
and took pity upon His people.
19 (Eze 34:29; Joel 1:10) So the Lord answered and said to His people,
Here! I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied,
and I will never again make you
a disgrace among the nations.
20 (Zec 14:8; Dt 11:24; Isa 34:3) I will remove the northerner far from you,
and I will banish him to a dry and desolate land,
those in front to the eastern sea,
and those in back to the western sea,
and his stink will rise,
and his stench will rise,
for he has done great things.
21 (Isa 54:4; Zep 3:16-17) Do not be afraid, land;
exult and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 (Ps 65:12; Joel 1:18-20) Do not be afraid, beasts of the field,
because the wild pastures flourish,
because the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and the vine yield their abundance.
23 (Zec 10:7; Lev 26:4) And children of Zion, exult
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
because He has given to you
the early rain for vindication.
He showers down rains for you,
the early rain and the latter rain, as before.
24 (Lev 26:10; Am 9:13) Then the threshing floors will be filled with grain,
and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 (Joel 1:4-7; 2:2-11) And I will compensate you for the years the locusts
have eaten-the larval locust, the hopper locust,
and the fledging locust-
My great army which I sent against you.
26 (Lev 26:5; Isa 25:1) You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,
and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
and My people will never again be shamed.
27 (Joel 3:17; Lev 26:11-12) Then you will know that I am in the midst
of Israel, that I am the Lord your God,
and that there is no other.
And My people will never again be shamed.
The Outpouring of the Spirit
28 (Eze 39:29; Isa 32:15) And it will be that, afterwards,
I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 (1Co 12:13; Gal 3:28) Even on the menservants and maidservants
in those days I will pour out My Spirit.
30 (Lk 21:11; Mt 24:29) Then I will work wonders in the heavens
and the earth-
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 (Mal 4:5; Isa 13:9-10) The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the great and awe-inspiring day of the Lord comes.
32 (Isa 46:13; Ob 1:17) And it will be that everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the Lord has said,
and among the survivors
whom the Lord calls.
Joel 2
[1] Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let
all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for
it is nigh at hand;
[2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick
darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a
strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after
it, even to the years of many generations.
[3] A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land
is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness;
yea, and nothing shall escape them.
[4] The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen,
so shall they run.
[5] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap,
like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong
people set in battle array.
[6] Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall
gather blackness.
[7] They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of
war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break
their ranks:
[8] Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path:
and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
[9] They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall,
they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like
a thief.
[10] The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun
and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
[11] And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is
very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the
LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
[12] Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your
heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
[13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your
God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil.
[14] Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind
him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
[15] Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
[16] Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,
gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go
forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
[17] Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and
the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine
heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore
should they say among the people, Where is their God?
[18] Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
[19] Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send
you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will
no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
[20] But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive
him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and
his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his
ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
[21] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great
things.
[22] Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the
wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the
vine do yield their strength.
[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come
down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first
month.
[24] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with
wine and oil.
[25] And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the
cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I
sent among you.
[26] And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of
the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall
never be ashamed.
[27] And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the
LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
[28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old
men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I
pour out my spirit.
[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and
fire, and pillars of smoke.
[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall
call.
Joel 3
Judging the Nations
1 (Jer 16:15; 30:3) In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 (Isa 66:16; Eze 35:10) I will gather all the nations,
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
I will enter into judgment with them there
regarding My people and My heritage Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations;
they have also divided up My land.
3 (Am 2:6; Ob 1:11) They have cast lots for My people,
and have traded a boy for a prostitute;
they have sold a girl for wine,
that they might drink.
4 (Isa 34:8; 59:18) Also, what are you to Me, Tyre and Sidon
and all the regions of Philistia? Are you repaying Me
for something? If you are repaying Me, I will return your payment
swiftly and speedily on your head.
5 (2Ki 12:18; 2Ch 21:16-17) For you have taken My silver and My gold,
and you have carried off My finest treasures to your temples.
6 (Eze 27:13; Joel 3:3) You have sold the people of Judah
and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their border.
7 (Isa 43:5-6; Jer 23:8) I am about to rouse them from the place
to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your head.
8 (Isa 60:14; Job 1:15) I will sell your sons and your daughters
into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them
to the Sabeans-to a distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.
9 (Isa 8:9-10; Jer 46:3-4) Proclaim this among the nations:
Consecrate a war!
Stir up the mighty men!
Let all the men of war draw near and rise.
10 (Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3) Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears;
let the weakling say,
"I am a warrior!"
11 (Isa 13:3; Zep 3:8) Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
and gather there.
Bring down Your warriors, O Lord.
12 (Isa 2:4; Ps 96:13) Let the nations be roused,
and go up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit
to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 (Hos 6:11; Isa 63:3) Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Come and tread,
for the winepress is full.
The wine vats overflow,
because their evil is great.
14 (Isa 34:2-8; Joel 1:15) Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of the decision.
15 (Joel 2:10; 2:31) The sun and moon darken,
and the stars withdraw their radiance.
16 (Am 1:2; Eze 38:19) The Lord roars from Zion,
and sounds His voice from Jerusalem,
and heaven and earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge for His people,
and a stronghold for the children of Israel.
The Lord Dwells in Zion
17 (Joel 2:27; Isa 4:3) Then you will know that I am the Lord your God,
who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.
And Jerusalem will be holy,
and invaders will never again pass through her.
18 (Isa 30:25; 35:6) And it will be that in that day the mountains will drip
sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk,
and all the streambeds of Judah will flow with water;
a spring will proceed from the house of the Lord
and will water the Valley of Shittim.
19 (Isa 19:1-15) Egypt will become a desolation,
and Edom a desolate wasteland,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah-
they shed innocent blood in their land.
20 (Eze 37:25; Am 9:15) But Judah will be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem for generations and generations.
21 (Isa 4:4; Eze 36:25) I will avenge their blood,
which I have not yet avenged.
The Lord dwells in Zion!
Joel 3
[1] For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again
the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
[2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley
of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my
heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my
land.
[3] And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an
harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
[4] Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the
coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompence
me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
[5] Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your
temples my goodly pleasant things:
[6] The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold
unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
[7] Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them,
and will return your recompence upon your own head:
[8] And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the
children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far
off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
[9] Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty
men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
[10] Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears:
let the weak say, I am strong.
[11] Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves
together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
[12] Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat:
for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
[13] Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for
the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
[14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the
LORD is near in the valley of decision.
[15] The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw
their shining.
[16] The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be
the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
[17] So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy
mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass
through her any more.
[18] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop
down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of
Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house
of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
[19] Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness,
for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed
innocent blood in their land.
[20] But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to
generation.
[21] For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD
dwelleth in Zion.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 September 2022
Entitled "Reckless Decisions"
Numbers 20:1-12
NUMBERS 20
Moses Strikes the Rock
1 (Nu 13:21; Ex 15:20) Then the children of Israel, the whole assembly,
came to the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people dwelt
in Kadesh, and Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 (Nu 16:19; 16:42) And there was no water for the assembly, and they
gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 (Ex 17:2; Nu 16:31-35) The people argued with Moses, and spoke, saying,
"O that we had died when our brothers died before the Lord!
4 (Ex 17:3) And why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord
into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
5 (Nu 16:14) And why have you brought us up from Egypt, to bring
us into this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines,
or of pomegranates. Nor is there any water to drink."
6 (Nu 14:5; 16:4) Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
to the door of the tent of meeting, and they fell on their faces,
and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8 (Ex 4:17; 17:5-6) Take the rod, and gather the assembly together,
you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes,
and it will give its water, and you will bring out to them water
from the rock; so you will give the assembly and their livestock drink.
9 (Nu 17:10) So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him.
10 (Ps 106:32-33) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock,
and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels.
Will we bring out water from this rock for you?"
11 (1Co 10:4; Ex 17:6) And Moses lifted up his hand, and he struck the rock
twice with his rod, and plenty of water came out, and the assembly drank,
and their livestock.
12 (Nu 27:14; Dt 1:37) The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you did not believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of
the children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly
into the land which I have given them"
[1] Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the
desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam
died there, and was buried there.
[2] And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered
themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
[3] And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we
had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
[4] And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this
wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
[5] And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in
unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of
pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
[6] And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and
the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
[7] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[8] Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy
brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give
forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock:
so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
[9] And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
[10] And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock,
and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of
this rock?
[11] And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice:
and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their
beasts also.
[12] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to
sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not
bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
As a teen, I was driving way too fast trying to follow my friend to his home
after a high school basketball practice. It was raining hard, and I was having
a hard time keeping up with his car. Suddenly, my wipers cleared the watery
windshield only to reveal my friend's sedan stopped in front of me! I slammed
on the brakes, slid off the street, and struck a large tree. My car was
destroyed. Later I awoke in the comatose ward of a local hospital. While by
God's grace I survived, my reckless ways had proved to be very costly.
Moses made a reckless decision that cost him greatly. His poor choice,
however, involved a lack of water-not too much of it (as in my case). The
Israelites were without water in the Desert of Zin, and "the people gathered
in opposition to Moses" (Numbers 20:2). God told the frazzled leader to speak
to a rock and it would "pour out its water" (v.
. Instead, he "struck therock twice" (v. 11). God said, "Because you did not trust in me . . . , you
will not [enter the promised land]" (v. 12).
When we make reckless decisions, we pay the consequences. "Desire without
knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!"
(Proverbs 19:2). May we prayerfully, carefully seek God's wisdom and guidance
in the choices and decisions we make today.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
What regrettable decisions have you made based on impulse? Why is it vital
to slow down and prayerfully seek God's wisdom before reacting?
Jesus, please help me to follow Your wise instruction as Your Spirit leads me.
For further study, read Making Decisions God’s Way.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 3 The song of Exaltation
Exodus 15:2
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
2 The LORD is my strength and song,
And he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
My father's God, and I will exalt him.
The world is full of music that communicates human emotion:
love, joy, sadness, separation.
A love song makes us misty-eyed; a song of protest arouses anger; a song
describing loss stimulates feelings of hurt and abandonment.
Music is a powerful force to sway the human spirit.
Exodus 15:2 indicates that God should be the source of the songs in our hearts.
Human emotions vacillate; human relationships disappoint,
but God is our "strength" and our "song".
To exalt the Lord includes many different type of "songs".
"I can't carry a tune in a bucket," one woman complained.
"How can I sing to the Lord anything that will be pleasing to him?"
But the Lord does not delight in the professionalism of our songs,
but in the motivation of our hearts. We can "sing to the Lord"
when we enjoy a Bach organ piece played for his glory.
We can exalt him in the words of Scripture - either remembered or sung.
We can worship him by enjoying the songs of others.
The key to making the Lord our song is exaltation. When our thoughts
lift him up in praise, we are singing a song of exaltation to the Lord.
When God is exalted in our songs, in our hearts, and in our thoughts,
that focus gives strength to our lives. We can face the difficulties
that are an inevitable part of experience,
because God is our "strength and our song".
Application
a) What is the difference between a song that is professionally performed
and one that exalts the Lord?
b) What practical steps can I take to make
my daily life a "song of praise" to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
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?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
20th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
( Matthew 19:14
14 (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:16-17)
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not,
to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
)
b) Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
(
Eph 6:12
12 (Eph 1:3; 1:21) For our fight is not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly places.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His Favour.
Pray to the Lord: "Jesus, please help me to follow
Your wise instruction as Your Spirit leads me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to make your life a Song of Praise for the Lord.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him fully and you will prosper.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as light, mecry and salvation.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
Pray for Christian leaders from Muslim backgrounds in Ethiopia who risk
their lives to share the Gospel.
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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