“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Jeremiah 23:1-8, 33:14-26, 31:27-40

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel  and with the people of Judah.... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31,33-34.

Day 234 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Jeremiah where my commentary* indicates "Jeremiah appears to reach beyond the end of the 70-year exile to a kingdom of a different nature and to the Messiah who will save his people from their sins." My commentary* also describes how "[a]ll of this will cause great confusion to future generations of Hebrews who read the restoration promises of Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the other prophets, yet continue to see a hostile world about them. Many of them will keep vigil for the coming of a political Israel which will truly have lasting peace and prosperity. Many will look for a mighty king to bring them deliverance from future oppressors. Many will look for a country whose geographical boundaries are clearly delineated and secure. Yet Jeremiah suggests that their attitude toward the coming kingdom is misguided."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Highlights from this morning's reading:

The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. Jeremiah 23:5-6

The above verses are largely repeated in Jeremiah 33 where God seeks to make it known with certainty that a king will rise from David's line, fulfilling a promise made to David (Davidic Covenant). 

God also promises a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34).

Jesus is not only the Messiah prophesied and promised in the Old Testament (based on the Davidic Covenant), but also the Lord and Savior we all need.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who forgives my sin, freeing me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I continue to be harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

2 Samuel 6-9 and 1 Chronicles 16-17

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3

Day 97 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's efforts to establish regular worship of the Lord, Michal''s rebuke of David for his exuberant (rightly so!) celebration following the return of the ark to Jerusalem, and David's honoring of Mephibosheth (Jonathan's son and only surviving member of Saul's family). Today's reading also includes the Davidic Covenant.

John Piper has this excellent post on how we must remember that God makes these covenants not just for those to whom the covenant is originally made (i.e. Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc.), but for all of His children (believers). "The point of this invitation is that the very sovereignty and wisdom and love of God which assured David of an eternal kingdom can also assure you of God's eternal kindness as a part of that kingdom".  Piper uses Isaiah 55:1-3 to illustrate his point:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who feeds me, sustains me, protects me, teaches me, rebukes/corrects me, encourages me, etc.  You bless me and provide for me as no other can - You are the one true God and I am grateful that You have adopted me into Your family.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

1 Kings 15

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. v5

God loved David so much that He made a promise to him (the Davidic Covenant) that "I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."  

Even though the descendants of David (now inhabiting the kingdom of Judah) turned away from Him, God was faithful and raising up to the throne in Judah descendants of David.  In reference to
Abijah, it is written:

He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. v3-4

Abijah's son is Asa, and Asa did right in the eyes of the Lord: 

Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father (in his line) David had done. v11

God is so faithful - He will always keep His promises.  We know that Jesus is the one referred to in the Davidic Covenant as the one whose throne will last forever.   

See also posts here.

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has created the heavens and the earth, who is able to do all things, is in control of all things, yet You willingly submitted Your life so that I may be rescued from sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - amazing.  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

2 Samuel 7

"The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” v11-16

Wow...what a mind-blowing promise God makes to David! My wife pointed out that this is the Davidic Covenant.  Of course, God is talking about Jesus as the One whose house and kingdom and throne will endure and be established forever.  

Yet where I focus is not just God's promise to David but also God's promise to all of His children:

And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. v10-11. 

We should read the above verses from a heavenly perspective - because we have Jesus and as believers we have the gift of eternal life, freedom from the sting of sin and death, and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Since we have all of this, we can overcome the world, including how the world may disturb and oppress us.

John Piper provides this excellent commentary on why the Davidic Covenant should mean something to "us gentiles".  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - worthy of my full attention, praise and worship.  My cup overflows.  Thank You for how You bless me.  I am unworthy.  I continue to gossip and sin in other ways.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.”

 Hebrews 1

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:5-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:5-6, the second division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary.  Here, my commentary describes how "[t]hrough the author of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit is providing his own inerrant, infallible commentary on the Old Testament. In other words, we are learning from the author of Hebrews himself the importance of reading Scripture in the light of the rest of Scripture, specifically in the light of the New Testament." The commentary indicates that the following Old Testament passages are quoted/referenced in Hebrews 1:5-6:

• Psalm 2:7
• 2 Samuel 7:14 (within the Davidic Covenant)
• Deuteronomy 32:43
  

The commentary for this division wraps by stating: "[t]he argument is clear. The angels worship Christ; it is not Christ who worships the angels. The angels declare the birth of Christ; it is not Christ who declares the ministry of angels. The angels are not called sons, but that is the very name that Christ himself, the Davidic Messiah, has inherited."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with Yourself as You reveal Yourself generously!  Thank You Jesus that I can come to know You and through this love You!  I am blessed!  Yet I am undeserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo, etc.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

2 Kings 8

Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever. v19

When Jehoram becomes king of Judah, "[h]e followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord" v18.

God always keeps his promises - He made a promise (the Davidic Covenant) and He kept it.

According to John Piper, this is the same as the promise God makes to all believers in His Son - that we are saved and that if we persevere in our faith we will not lose our salvation.

God is faithful!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You are SO faithful!  We can depend on You and Your promises when all of the world lets us down.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love - You are my rock!  Please forgive me for my selfishness and worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 8-11

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20

Day 226 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Ezekiel.  My commentary* indicates that during the period "591 to 586 B.C., Ezekiel brings a number of denunciations against Judah for its idolatry, its false prophets, its corrupt leaders, its rebellious spirit, its religious infidelity, and its sins. Ezekiel says that God took him to Jerusalem to show him the idolatry in the temple and the punishment of idolaters and corrupt leaders, and then returned him to his house in Tel Aviv. It all happens somehow while Ezekiel is sitting in his house in the presence of a group of elders."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

As part of Ezekiel's vision, God puts "a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in [Jerusalem]" (Ezekiel 9:4).  Those with the mark are spared slaughter (Ezekiel 9:6).  John MacArthur explains that "since God's departure [Ezekiel 9:3] removed all protection and gave the people over to destruction, it was necessary for the angelic scribe to mark for God's preservation the righteous who had been faithful to Him...[.]"

Yet, because God is faithful (based on the Davidic covenant that Judah will survive and a king will rise from her), and He protects those who are faithful, Ezekiel's (God's) message to the exiles in Babylonia includes a message of restoration.  God's message that He will give those whom He restores an "undivided heart and put a new spirit in them" emphasizes His role in our salvation.  God saves - while it is undeniable that God gives us the

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I continue with Isaiah 7, looking more closely at Isaiah 7:10-17 where God addresses the house of David and referring to the Davidic Covenant made from 2 Samuel 7 when God promised David that:

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 2 Samuel 7:12-16

Ahaz and Judah will not be wiped out - God is faithful and will fulfill the promise He made to David and his descendants.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is faithful and will never leave or forsake me - I can count on You and Your promises - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the love and blessings You pour for me. My sin - of worry and other sins - continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

Isaiah 11-12

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Isaiah 12:1

I came back to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I reviewed Isaiah 11-12, where we see rich details of a Messianic prophecy.  In particular, we see a God who is certainly full of righteous anger for an unfaithful Israel; yet we also see a God who is faithful to those who remain firm in their faith - the remnant - and faithful to the promise God made to David (Davidic Covenant) in 2 Samuel 7.  Isaiah 12:1 brings to mind how all believers were one "hostile" to God but in His amazing grace loved and saved us anyway:

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him[.] Colossians 1:21-22

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are rich in mercy and grace - I know You loved and saved me while I was still hostile and an enemy to You - and I continue to sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace, salvation, and love.  My sin does continue...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.”

 Haggai 2:20-23

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:21-23

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Haggai 2:20-23, which the commentary outlines as the third division (entitled God Will Shower His People with Blessing as His Chosen Ones) for Haggai 2:10-23, the next set of verses covered by a new chapter in the commentary.  Here, I fudge on my claim that this is an unassisted review which is only partially true - while I don't lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary for this text, I do lean on both Ligonier.org - Teaching Fellowship of R.C. Sproul, and its post here, and GotQuestions.org and its post here.  The latter post describes the signet ring referenced in v23 as a mark by ancient kings to "to designate authority, honor, or ownership."  Further, it shares that "[i]t is important to understand who Zerubbabel is. He is the governor of the rebuilt Jerusalem and is himself of royal blood, being a descendant of David and the grandson of Judah’s King Jehoiachin. Years earlier, Jehoiachin had lost his throne when he was deported to Babylon; in fact, God pictured Jehoiachin as a signet ring being removed from God’s finger (Jeremiah 22:24). Now, God calls Zerubbabel the “signet ring,” but this time it won’t be removed.  In Haggai’s prophecy, God is giving Zerubbabel encouragement and hope. The governor is “chosen” for a unique and noble purpose. As God’s signet ring, Zerubbabel is given a place of honor and authority. God is reinstating the Davidic line and renewing His covenant with David. Judah still has a future as they look forward to the coming Son of David, the Messiah, who would one day “overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms” (v22). Ligonier.org adds: "God's promise to exalt Zerubbabel, that is, one of Zerubbabel's sons, is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, who is David's descendant through Zerubbabel (Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38). Christ has been exalted to the right hand of God the Father Almighty, fulfilling Haggai's word."  This morning's study dovetails nicely with the study from our Sunday school class on OT prophecies of Jesus.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and faithful God and I can count on Your Word, as all the promises made in scripture about a coming Messiah came true with You.  ALL of the promises of God find their yes in You (1 Corinthians 1:20).  You are so good and so faithful.  Thank You Jesus for providing and never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of Your love and faithfulness.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.