Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

 Zechariah 2:1-13

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” Zechariah 2:10-12

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 2:1-13, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  The commentary broadly describes the theme of these verses as "God's desire to restore and rebuild" Jerusalem.  It then shares how this message would have been surprising given how "the city was in such ruin and so unstable that very few wanted to live in it, preferring the surrounding area in Judah" (see also Nehemiah 11:1-2).  The commentary then outlines in detail four elements of God's message for His people:

1. The exiles remaining in Babylon should return to Jerusalem as quickly as possible (vv6-7)
2. The nations that had been harming Israel will be judged (vv8-9)
3. God will bless Israel and many nations through Israel (vv10-12)
4. All people should be silent in the presence of the Lord (v13)
   

The commentary wraps for this text by emphasizing how, "[b]ecause of His love for His people, God placed Israel under His own protective and powerful care....God’s overwhelming love for us that protects us, draws us back to Himself, and renews us is the ultimate root of God’s extreme jealousy for us. He will not let us go, because we are precious to Him!"

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who restores, comforts, protects, and so much more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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.

“I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

 Zechariah 1:7-13

“I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Zechariah 1:8

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 1:7-13, which the commentary outlines as the first of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13) - as this first division is entitled We Can Depend on the Lord’s Overcoming Comfort by the commentary.  The commentary describes vv7-13 as a vision from the Lord: "Because God loves His people with a jealous, unfailing love, we can depend on His comfort, even when our enemies appear to be prospering and the consequences for our past failures linger. Through the Angel of the Lord, God extended overcoming comfort to Israel in four significant ways in this part of Zechariah’s vision:"

• God shows concern for His people
• God intercedes on behalf of His people
• God encourages His people
• God is intimately present in the lives of His people  

V8 is portrayed as a messianic prophecy of how "the Angel of the Lord 'stood among the myrtle trees in the valley'."  The commentary winds down its description of the text by sharing: "[d]uring Israel’s time of physical weakness, emotional anguish, and spiritual discouragement, the Son of God was in the midst of God’s people, as He is now[.]"  We are referred to Psalm 34:18.  Take comfort in how God is in our midst!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being with me and how I can never be separated from Your love - I am not deserving of my salvation, nor Your love.  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 spouse 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.

Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

 Zechariah 1:7-13

Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. Zechariah 1:12-13

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 1:7-13, which the commentary outlines as the first of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  Here, scripture describes a vision of a horseman (vv7-17) - an angel - whose horses' purpose was to "patrol the earth" on behalf of the Lord (vv10-11).  The angel asks God how long He will show no mercy and be angry with Judah (v12) and God responds with "gracious and comforting words" (v13).  So far in my reading of Zephaniah and Haggai, we see God full of grace and compassion on His people, as long as they repent and return to fellowship with Him.  This does not mean of course that we will not be punished for our sin and suffer the consequences.  We must be prepared for God to deal with us according to what we have done - see also post yesterday and Romans 2:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.  God is just - yet most importantly we should see God love us, so much so that He sent His Son!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are amazing indeed!  I can never be separated from Your love and Your grace continues to pour over me - ceaselessly.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

 1 Corinthians 7

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:33

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today draws on history to describe how Abraham Lincoln leaned into God, despite likely earlier skepticism, during a time of both personal and professional anguish.  John Piper shares how after the passing of his 11-year old son Willie, "Lincoln turned to Phineas Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington."  Piper also highlights how the Civil War raged at the same time, and that Lincoln - as president, sought solace from from Willie's passing and the unimaginable death and destruction that accompanied the war, which in many instances was fought within earshot of the White House.  Other sources point to how Lincoln turned towards God during this time.  Piper records Lincoln's turn towards God by noting: [t]he horrors of the dead and wounded soldiers assaulted him daily. There were fifty hospitals for the wounded in Washington. The rotunda of the Capitol held two thousand cots for wounded soldiers. Typically, fifty soldiers a day died in these temporary hospitals. All of this drove Lincoln deeper into the providence of God. 'We cannot but believe, that He who made the world still governs it.'"  Piper points to one additional source where we see a more mature Lincoln faith - as demonstrated in his second inaugural address - as he notes that God is not "a simple supporter for the Union or Confederate cause. God has his own purposes and does not excuse sin on either side."  Piper concludes the devotion by praying for readers that for those of us "who suffer loss and injury and great sorrow that it will awaken for you, as it did for Lincoln, not an empty fatalism, but a deeper reliance on the infinite wisdom and love of God’s inscrutable providence."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your riches and wisdom and knowledge are great and Your justice is perfect - Your mercies are new every morning and they never cease....amazing that You love me, saved me and never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  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.  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.

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Daniel 12

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 12:1-4 as I lean on my commentary for this text.  The commentary emphasizes how Daniel's vision here, which extends from 11:2, points to end times, and here in chapter 12, in light of this, "teaches us how to live as faithful exiles in a world, a context, that is not our home. It helps us answer the question, How can we live as kingdom citizens, dedicated disciples, in a land that is strange and even hostile toward us?" The whole of chapter 12 provides "nine marks of eschatological discipleship", including those found in v1-4:

• we are to be comforted by God's protection: just as the angel Michael arises in v1, "[God's] angels are on your side, and they are busy at work on your behalf."
• the hostility believers face now is just a foretaste of what is to be expected at the end times so we must be ready, "[p]urifying ourselves, cleansing ourselves, being refined by the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit[.]" v1
• believers name are written in the book of life - v1 - and we can count on God for our salvation; rest assured and be comforted
  
• v2: just as Jesus rose from the grave, so too will believers
• v3: we should "live wisely and point others to Jesus"
• v4: we should treasure God’s Word and grow in [our] understanding of it" 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your mercies are new every morning and Your blessings about as a demonstration of the love You have for me and all Your children - thank You Jesus for the comfort, peace of mind, confidence, etc. You provide!  Amazing indeed!  I am not deserving of such blessings and of my salvation.  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.  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.

Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened[.]

Daniel 10

 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened[.] Daniel 10:18-19

I resume my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 10.  The full meaning of the imagery used in this chapter is unclear to me, but I can start with what is clear:

• God speaks to Daniel through a vision (v1)
• The nature of the vision involves a conflict (v1)
• Daniel sees a Heavenly being - similar to a vision of Christ at end times from Revelation.
• The being - although not explicitly mentioned as God - is clearly God; God encourages, comforts , and strengthens Daniel, and by implication - those of faith - believers (v10-12, 18-19)
• The vision is about the future, including Persia and Greece (v13-14)

When we are troubled and we sit amidst trials/suffering and when we don't know the fullness of the future and what it holds - we know that God comforts, encourages, and strengthens us.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and I know that You comfort, encourage, and strengthen - and so much more - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love 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.  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 greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.

Isaiah 61-63

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. Isaiah 60:10-11

I return to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 1 (of 5) of week 22, which looks at Isaiah 61-63.  Day 1 starts with initial observations of Isaiah 61.  Stepping back and looking broadly at Isaiah, this commentary shares how the book serves as a "miniature Bible" with the first 39 chapters focusing on "judgement upon immoral and idolatrous men" and with the final 27 chapters "declar[ing] a message of hope" - Isaiah is 66 chapters just as the Bible is with 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.  This commentary shares that during the middle Isaiah's ministry (722 B.C.), the northern kingdom is taken captive by Assyria, and Isaiah prophecies how Judah - the southern kingdom will be taken captive by Babylon (see also this chart and this history) as the former will be absorbed by the latter.  Isaiah 61 seeks to comfort the afflicted captives, again described by this commentary how:

• the promised Messiah comes on a mission of blessing and vengeance (v1-3, 1-11)
• the Messiah's mission transforms Israel's status among the nations-distinct roles for both Gentile nations and Israel in the Redeemer's mission (v4-9)
• the mission of Messiah brings great joy for its righteousness and fruitfulness (v10-11)

Isaiah's words offer great comfort and hope for believers, particularly for the afflicted and suffering. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves us and who never leaves or forsakes us - offering comfort and hope.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it 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. 

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.

Isaiah 51-54:3

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations. Isaiah 51:6-8

 

Day 197 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 Isaiah as God seeks to comfort Israel in exile.  This morning, my commentary* starts with Isaiah using Abraham as an example of how God created a great nation from one man - Abraham - all from a promise.  God is faithful.  My commentary* then moves to Isaiah's message and how it describes how our "salvation is coming", how there is "no need to fear" as God's "wrath will pass". 

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

 

This salvation and restoration is of course Jesus Christ and and in Isaiah 53 we see the prophecy of the coming Messiah:

 

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away.Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered,he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:2-11

 

God uses Isaiah to comfort Israel in its exile with a promise of restoration and salvation.  This same message of course applies to all believers during any age.  During a period of suffering and trial we must look to God for comfort as what ever challenges we may be experiencing are temporary as we know that we can look forward to eternity in Heaven with Him and this is where we place our hope.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who provides comfort and salvation for those who believer in You - thank You Jesus!  What an awesome God!  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 accept You as 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 is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40-41

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Day 192 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 as I return to Isaiah. My commentary* indicates: "If there was any cause for optimism during the reign of Hezekiah, it has now been lost amid the paganism which Manasseh has fostered. Therefore Isaiah once again takes to the streets to warn against idolatry, sorcery, and even astrology. But now in his last days, and with most of Israel already in foreign exile, Isaiah shifts his emphasis. He projects himself into the period of Judah’s exile. He writes as if he were viewing God’s people after Jerusalem’s destruction. He sees their despair in Babylonian captivity. But even now, through God’s revelation, Isaiah sees the restoration of Israel, their return from captivity to a prosperous nation, and the rebuilt city of Jerusalem. Isaiah declares that his mission at this time is to bring comfort to those already in exile and to those about to be taken captive."

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

This morning, as I read Isaiah 40-41 my commentary* highlights not only Isaiah's words from God to comfort Israel, but also to tell of the coming Messiah, and to describe attributes of God - including how God's people/nations are fragile in His hands, how God loves His people, how God's power/strength is unlimited, how idols are futile, how God is in control, and how God's people find strength through Him.

There are many verses from today's reading that provide us with comfort and strength, including not just Isaiah 40:28-31, but also:

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides great comfort during periods of challenge and difficulty - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry am harsh with my words, etc.  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.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 17-19 

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:5-8

Day 154 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 Elijah.  According to my commentary* "[w]hen Israel is in a time of great crisis, it is predictable that God will raise up a spokesman to call out to his people and to perform special miracles to confirm his message. (It happened, for example, when Moses spoke God’s message of deliverance in both words and miracles.) Israel is clearly in another crisis of character and direction, and God’s man of the day is the prophet Elijah."  My commentary also indicates that Elijah's powers are so great that "there is great similarity between Elijah’s miracles and the miracles of the Messiah centuries later."

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

Praying to God, Elijah stretches a meal for two into a meal that did not run out (1 Kings 17:16), raises a young boy from the dead (1 Kings 17:22), rains down fire from Heaven upon wood drenched with water (1 Kings 18:38), and survives 40 days of evil influences in the wilderness (1 Kings 19:8).  God also speaks to Elijah multiple times and appears to Elijah in a wind and earthquake (1 Kings 19:11-12).

As powerful as Elijah's miracles are, we are reminded that Elijah is human and suffers self-doubt.  As Elijah does, we can seek comfort and encouragement from the Lord. See 1 Kings 19:5-8.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has comforted, encouraged, and strengthened me - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  My sin 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.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 61, 62, 64, and 69

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

Day 110 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

Today's psalms focus on prayers for God's defense and shelter, that God is our only strength, for relief from conspirators against us, and for end of scorn. With today's worries about the covid-19 virus, the economy, etc. there is much that is likely to concern us.  We may be physically or emotionally tired, or both.  We need rest - we will find it in the comforting arms of our Lord Jesus.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who provides rest - both physically and spiritually - thank You Jesus!  I know that You will never leave or forsake me - that I can always come to You and find rest.  Yet 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.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 35, 41, 43, 46, and 55

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

Day 109 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

Today's psalms focus on cries for vindication in the eyes of enemies who gloat,  prayers for the weak and those who suffer betrayal by friends, prayer for insight in the face of opposition, prayers for refuge and strength in the God who rules over nations, and for comfort over the anguish of having disloyal companions. Undoubtedly, these examples of trouble mark just several of many circumstances where we can seek comfort and refuge from God.  I am thankful for sure that I have a God who will sustain me, even in the darkest of times.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. 1 Peter 5:7

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are undoubtedly a great God and I KNOW You love me - I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, placing other matters above You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such a sin and towards You always and first!  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.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 13, 17, 23, 26, 28, and 31 

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 13:5-6, 17:15, 23:6, 26:12, 28:8-9, 31:23-24

Day 108 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

The psalms from my reading this morning reflect David's prayers for salvation and rescue from enemies, praise of God as the Good Shepherd, for redemption of the righteous and punishment for the wicked, and relief from pursuers and slanderers. What is apparent from these psalms is that while David does have moments of despair, worry, etc. - he does not remain in these moments.  With exception to Psalm 23 where the entire psalm is focused on praise, the other psalms move from cries to the Lord to praise and rest in the Lord and His faithfulness to rescue, comfort, and heal His children.  God is faithful - we can and SHOULD rest in His arms.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is always there to lift me up, comfort, heal, encourage, protect, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  You are MORE than enough - You are my all and all.  Yet I am undeserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, including worry, harshness with others, gossip, etc.  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.