THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION: June 4

Thursday, October 22, 2009

June 4

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

JUNE 4

PSALMS: 4, 34, 64, 94, 124

PROVERBS: 4

OLD TESTAMENT

JOB 12:1 - 15:35

NEW TESTAMENT

1 CORINTHIANS 15:29 - 58

PSALMS: 4

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

1Answer me when I call to you,

O my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shameA?

How long will you love delusions and seek false godsB?

Selah

3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;

the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4In your anger do not sin;

when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

Selah

5Offer right sacrifices

and trust in the LORD.

6Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7You have filled my heart with greater joy

than when their grain and new wine abound.

8I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety. [1]

PSALMS: 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1IA will extol the LORD at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2My soul will boast in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3Glorify the LORD with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

8Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9Fear the LORD, you his saints,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days, [2]

13keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

14Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

21Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22The LORD redeems his servants;

no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. [3]

PSALMS: 64

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;

protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,

from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

3They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their words like deadly arrows.

4They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;

they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

5They encourage each other in evil plans,

they talk about hiding their snares;

they say, "Who will see themA?"

6They plot injustice and say,

"We have devised a perfect plan!"

Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

7But God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly they will be struck down.

8He will turn their own tongues against them

and bring them to ruin;

all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9All mankind will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done.

10Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD

and take refuge in him;

let all the upright in heart praise him![4]

PSALMS: 94

1O LORD, the God who avenges,

O God who avenges, shine forth.

2Rise up, O Judge of the earth;

pay back to the proud what they deserve.

3How long will the wicked, O LORD,

how long will the wicked be jubilant?

4They pour out arrogant words;

all the evildoers are full of boasting.

5They crush your people, O LORD;

they oppress your inheritance.

6They slay the widow and the alien;

they murder the fatherless.

7They say, "The LORD does not see;

the God of Jacob pays no heed."

8Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;

you fools, when will you become wise?

9Does he who implanted the ear not hear?

Does he who formed the eye not see?

10Does he who disciplines nations not punish?

Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?

11The LORD knows the thoughts of man;

he knows that they are futile.

12Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,

the man you teach from your law;

13you grant him relief from days of trouble,

till a pit is dug for the wicked.

14For the LORD will not reject his people;

he will never forsake his inheritance.

15Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,

and all the upright in heart will follow it.[5]

16Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

17Unless the LORD had given me help,

I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18When I said, "My foot is slipping,"

your love, O LORD, supported me.

19When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought joy to my soul.

20Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--

one that brings on misery by its decrees?

21They band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

22But the LORD has become my fortress,

and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

23He will repay them for their sins

and destroy them for their wickedness;

the LORD our God will destroy them. [6]

PSALMS: 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1If the LORD had not been on our side--

let Israel say--

2if the LORD had not been on our side

when men attacked us,

3when their anger flared against us,

they would have swallowed us alive;

4the flood would have engulfed us,

the torrent would have swept over us,

5the raging waters

would have swept us away.

6Praise be to the LORD,

who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7We have escaped like a bird

out of the fowler's snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the name of the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth. [7]

PROVERBS: 4

41 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

2I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

3When I was a boy in my father's house,

still tender, and an only child of my mother,

4he taught me and said,

"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands and you will live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or swerve from them.

6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

7Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have,A get understanding.

8Esteem her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

9She will set a garland of grace on your head

and present you with a crown of splendor."

10Listen, my son, accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.

11I guide you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.

12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.

14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evil men.

15Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

16For they cannot sleep till they do evil; [8]

they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

17They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

20My son, pay attention to what I say;

listen closely to my words.

21Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

22for they are life to those who find them

and health to a man's whole body.

23Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.

24Put away perversity from your mouth;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.

26Make levelB paths for your feet

and take only ways that are firm.

27Do not swerve to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil. [9]

OLD TESTAMENT

JOB 12:1 - 15:35

121Then Job replied:

2"Doubtless you are the people,

and wisdom will die with you!

3But I have a mind as well as you;

I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know all these things?

4"I have become a laughingstock to my friends,

though I called upon God and he answered--

a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!

5Men at ease have contempt for misfortune

as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

6The tents of marauders are undisturbed,

and those who provoke God are secure--

those who carry their god in their hands.A

7"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea inform you.

9Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind. [10]

11Does not the ear test words

as the tongue tastes food?

12Is not wisdom found among the aged?

Does not long life bring understanding?

13"To God belong wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his.

14What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

the man he imprisons cannot be released.

15If he holds back the waters, there is drought;

if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

16To him belong strength and victory;

both deceived and deceiver are his.

17He leads counselors away stripped

and makes fools of judges.

18He takes off the shackles put on by kings

and ties a loinclothB around their waist.

19He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows men long established.

20He silences the lips of trusted advisers

and takes away the discernment of elders.

21He pours contempt on nobles

and disarms the mighty.

22He reveals the deep things of darkness

and brings deep shadows into the light.

23He makes nations great, and destroys them; [11]

he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

24He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;

he sends them wandering through a trackless waste.

25They grope in darkness with no light;

he makes them stagger like drunkards.

131 "My eyes have seen all this,

my ears have heard and understood it.

2What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

3But I desire to speak to the Almighty

and to argue my case with God.

4You, however, smear me with lies;

you are worthless physicians, all of you!

5If only you would be altogether silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

6Hear now my argument;

listen to the plea of my lips.

7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf?

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8Will you show him partiality?

Will you argue the case for God?

9Would it turn out well if he examined you?

Could you deceive him as you might deceive men? [12]

10He would surely rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

11Would not his splendor terrify you?

Would not the dread of him fall on you?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

13"Keep silent and let me speak;

then let come to me what may.

14Why do I put myself in jeopardy

and take my life in my hands?

15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

I will surelyA defend my ways to his face.

16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,

for no godless man would dare come before him!

17Listen carefully to my words;

let your ears take in what I say.

18Now that I have prepared my case,

I know I will be vindicated.

19Can anyone bring charges against me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

20"Only grant me these two things, O God,

and then I will not hide from you:

21Withdraw your hand far from me, [13]

and stop frightening me with your terrors.

22Then summon me and I will answer,

or let me speak, and you reply.

23How many wrongs and sins have I committed?

Show me my offense and my sin.

24Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy?

25Will you torment a windblown leaf?

Will you chase after dry chaff?

26For you write down bitter things against me

and make me inherit the sins of my youth.

27You fasten my feet in shackles;

you keep close watch on all my paths

by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28"So man wastes away like something rotten,

like a garment eaten by moths.

141 "Man born of woman

is of few days and full of trouble.

2He springs up like a flower and withers away;

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

3Do you fix your eye on such a one?

Will you bring himA before you for judgment? [14]

4Who can bring what is pure from the impure?

No one!

5Man's days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed.

6So look away from him and let him alone,

till he has put in his time like a hired man.

7"At least there is hope for a tree:

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its new shoots will not fail.

8Its roots may grow old in the ground

and its stump die in the soil,

9yet at the scent of water it will bud

and put forth shoots like a plant.

10But man dies and is laid low;

he breathes his last and is no more.

11As water disappears from the sea

or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,

12so man lies down and does not rise;

till the heavens are no more, men will not awake

or be roused from their sleep.

13"If only you would hide me in the graveB

and conceal me till your anger has passed!

If only you would set me a time [15]

and then remember me!

14If a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my hard service

I will wait for my renewalC to come.

15You will call and I will answer you;

you will long for the creature your hands have made.

16Surely then you will count my steps

but not keep track of my sin.

17My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;

you will cover over my sin.

18"But as a mountain erodes and crumbles

and as a rock is moved from its place,

19as water wears away stones

and torrents wash away the soil,

so you destroy man's hope.

20You overpower him once for all, and he is gone;

you change his countenance and send him away.

21If his sons are honored, he does not know it;

if they are brought low, he does not see it.

22He feels but the pain of his own body

and mourns only for himself."

151Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: [16]

2"Would a wise man answer with empty notions

or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

3Would he argue with useless words,

with speeches that have no value?

4But you even undermine piety

and hinder devotion to God.

5Your sin prompts your mouth;

you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

6Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;

your own lips testify against you.

7"Are you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

8Do you listen in on God's council?

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9What do you know that we do not know?

What insights do you have that we do not have?

10The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,

men even older than your father.

11Are God's consolations not enough for you,

words spoken gently to you?

12Why has your heart carried you away,

and why do your eyes flash,

13so that you vent your rage against God [17]

and pour out such words from your mouth?

14"What is man, that he could be pure,

or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?

15If God places no trust in his holy ones,

if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

16how much less man, who is vile and corrupt,

who drinks up evil like water!

17"Listen to me and I will explain to you;

let me tell you what I have seen,

18what wise men have declared,

hiding nothing received from their fathers

19(to whom alone the land was given

when no alien passed among them):

20All his days the wicked man suffers torment,

the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.

21Terrifying sounds fill his ears;

when all seems well, marauders attack him.

22He despairs of escaping the darkness;

he is marked for the sword.

23He wanders about--food for vulturesA;

he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24Distress and anguish fill him with terror;

they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,

25because he shakes his fist at God [18]

and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

26defiantly charging against him

with a thick, strong shield.

27"Though his face is covered with fat

and his waist bulges with flesh,

28he will inhabit ruined towns

and houses where no one lives,

houses crumbling to rubble.

29He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,

nor will his possessions spread over the land.

30He will not escape the darkness;

a flame will wither his shoots,

and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.

31Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,

for he will get nothing in return.

32Before his time he will be paid in full,

and his branches will not flourish.

33He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,

like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.

34For the company of the godless will be barren,

and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.

35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;

their womb fashions deceit." [19]

NEW TESTAMENT

1 CORINTHIANS 15:29 - 58

29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

"Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die."D

33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.

35But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"E; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall weF bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."G

55"Where, O death, is your victory? [20]

Where, O death, is your sting?"H

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.[21]

^{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

Thursday, October 22, 2009

June 4

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John 3:16-21