THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION: November 25

Sunday, October 18, 2009

November 25

Genesis 1:1 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

NOVEMBER 25

PSALMS: 25, 55, 85, 115, 145

PROVERBS: 25

OLD TESTAMENT

EXODUS 37:1 - 38:31

NEW TESTAMENT

MATTHEW 28:1 - 20

PSALMS: 25

Of David.

1ToA you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

4Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;

5guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

6Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

7Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way.

10All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11For the sake of your name, O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? [1]

He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13He will spend his days in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

14The LORD confides in those who fear him;

he makes his covenant known to them.

15My eyes are ever on the LORD,

for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.

18Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins.

19See how my enemies have increased

and how fiercely they hate me!

20Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you.

21May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.

22Redeem Israel, O God,

from all their troubles! [2]

PSALMS: 55

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskilA of David.

1Listen to my prayer, O God,

do not ignore my plea;

2hear me and answer me.

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

3at the voice of the enemy,

at the stares of the wicked;

for they bring down suffering upon me

and revile me in their anger.

4My heart is in anguish within me;

the terrors of death assail me.

5Fear and trembling have beset me;

horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest--

7I would flee far away

and stay in the desert;

Selah

8I would hurry to my place of shelter,

far from the tempest and storm."

9Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech,

for I see violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they prowl about on its walls;

malice and abuse are within it.

11Destructive forces are at work in the city;

threats and lies never leave its streets. [3]

12If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it;

if a foe were raising himself against me,

I could hide from him.

13But it is you, a man like myself,

my companion, my close friend,

14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

15Let death take my enemies by surprise;

let them go down alive to the grave,B

for evil finds lodging among them.

16But I call to God,

and the LORD saves me.

17Evening, morning and noon

I cry out in distress,

and he hears my voice.

18He ransoms me unharmed

from the battle waged against me,

even though many oppose me.

19God, who is enthroned forever,

will hear them and afflict them--

Selah

men who never change their ways

and have no fear of God.

20My companion attacks his friends;

he violates his covenant.

21His speech is smooth as butter,

yet war is in his heart;

his words are more soothing than oil, [4]

yet they are drawn swords.

22Cast your cares on the LORD

and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous fall.

23But you, O God, will bring down the wicked

into the pit of corruption;

bloodthirsty and deceitful men

will not live out half their days.

But as for me, I trust in you. [5]

PSALMS: 85

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1You showed favor to your land, O LORD;

you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2You forgave the iniquity of your people

and covered all their sins.

Selah

3You set aside all your wrath

and turned from your fierce anger.

4Restore us again, O God our Savior,

and put away your displeasure toward us.

5Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

6Will you not revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you?

7Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,

and grant us your salvation.

8I will listen to what God the LORD will say;

he promises peace to his people, his saints--

but let them not return to folly.

9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that his glory may dwell in our land.

10Love and faithfulness meet together;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12The LORD will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest.

13Righteousness goes before him [6]

and prepares the way for his steps. [7]

PSALMS: 115

1Not to us, O LORD, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness.

2Why do the nations say,

"Where is their God?"

3Our God is in heaven;

he does whatever pleases him.

4But their idols are silver and gold,

made by the hands of men.

5They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but they cannot see;

6they have ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but they cannot smell;

7they have hands, but cannot feel,

feet, but they cannot walk;

nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them.

9O house of Israel, trust in the LORD--

he is their help and shield.

10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD--

he is their help and shield.

11You who fear him, trust in the LORD--

he is their help and shield.

12The LORD remembers us and will bless us:

He will bless the house of Israel,

he will bless the house of Aaron,

13he will bless those who fear the LORD--

small and great alike. [8]

14May the LORD make you increase,

both you and your children.

15May you be blessed by the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

16The highest heavens belong to the LORD,

but the earth he has given to man.

17It is not the dead who praise the LORD,

those who go down to silence;

18it is we who extol the LORD,

both now and forevermore.

Praise the LORD.A [9]

PSALMS: 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

1IA will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

4One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.

5They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.B

6They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.

9The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

10All you have made will praise you, O LORD;

your saints will extol you.

11They will tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might,

12so that all men may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations. [10]

The LORD is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made.C

14The LORD upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

16You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and loving toward all he has made.

18The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

20The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever. [11]

PROVERBS: 25

251These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4Remove the dross from the silver,

and out comes material forA the silversmith;

5remove the wicked from the king's presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,

and do not claim a place among great men;

7it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"

than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.

What you have seen with your eyes

8 do not bringB hastily to court,

for what will you do in the end

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9If you argue your case with a neighbor,

do not betray another man's confidence,

10or he who hears it may shame you

and you will never lose your bad reputation.

11A word aptly spoken

is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear. [12]

13Like the coolness of snow at harvest time

is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

14Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16If you find honey, eat just enough--

too much of it, and you will vomit.

17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house--

too much of you, and he will hate you.

18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

19Like a bad tooth or a lame foot

is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

20Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on soda,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the LORD will reward you.

23As a north wind brings rain,

so a sly tongue brings angry looks. [13]

24Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

27It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

28Like a city whose walls are broken down

is a man who lacks self-control. [14]

OLD TESTAMENT

EXODUS 37:1 - 38:31

371Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood--two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.A 2He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6He made the atonement cover of pure gold--two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.B 7Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

10TheyC made the table of acacia wood--two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.D 11Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12They also made around it a rim a handbreadthE wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16And they made from pure gold the articles for the table--its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

17They made the lampstand of pure gold and hammered it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms were of one piece with it. 18Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand--three on one side and three on the other. 19Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair--six branches in all. 22The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talentF of pure gold.

25They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits highG--its horns of one piece with it. 26They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27They made two gold rings below the molding--two on opposite sides--to hold the poles used to carry it. 28They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense--the work of a perfumer.[15]

381TheyA built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubitsB high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.C 2They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze. 3They made all its utensils of bronze--its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. 5They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. 6They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.

8They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

9Next they made the courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubitsD long and had curtains of finely twisted linen, 10with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11The north side was also a hundred cubits long and had twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12The west end was fifty cubitsE wide and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 13The east end, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits wide. 14Curtains fifteen cubitsF long were on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15and curtains fifteen cubits long were on the other side of the entrance to the courtyard, with three posts and three bases. 16All the curtains around the courtyard were of finely twisted linen. 17The bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver; so all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.

18The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen--the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubitsG long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubitsH high, 19with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver. 20All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

21These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which were recorded at Moses' command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 22(Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the LORD commanded Moses; 23with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan--a craftsman and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.) 24The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels,I according to the sanctuary shekel.

25The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels,J according to the sanctuary shekel-- 26one beka per person, that is, half a shekel,K according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to [16]those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men. 27The 100 talentsL of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain--100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. 28They used the 1,775 shekelsM to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.

29The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.N 30They used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all its utensils, 31the bases for the surrounding courtyard and those for its entrance and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and those for the surrounding courtyard.[17]

NEW TESTAMENT

MATTHEW 28:1 - 20

281After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inA the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."[18]

John 3:16 – 21 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,F that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.G 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."H