THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION: May 7

Friday, October 23, 2009

May 7

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

MAY 7

PSALMS: 7, 37, 67, 97, 127

PROVERBS: 7

OLD TESTAMENT

2CHRONICLES 19:1 - 20:37

NEW TESTAMENT

ROMANS 10:14 - 11:12

PSALMS: 7

A shiggaionA of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;

save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2or they will tear me like a lion

and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this

and there is guilt on my hands--

4if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me

or without cause have robbed my foe--

5then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and make me sleep in the dust.

Selah

6Arise, O LORD, in your anger;

rise up against the rage of my enemies.

Awake, my God; decree justice.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around you.

Rule over them from on high;

8let the LORD judge the peoples.

Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity, O Most High.

9O righteous God,

who searches minds and hearts,

bring to an end the violence of the wicked

and make the righteous secure. [1]

10My shieldB is God Most High,

who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

a God who expresses his wrath every day.

12If he does not relent,

heC will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14He who is pregnant with evil

and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.

15He who digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit he has made.

16The trouble he causes recoils on himself;

his violence comes down on his own head.

17I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness

and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. [2]

PSALMS: 37

Of David.

1DoA not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret--it leads only to evil.

9For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy great peace. [3]

12The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken,

but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish:

The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,

they will vanish--vanish like smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be cut off.[4]

23If the LORD delights in a man's way,

he makes his steps firm;

24though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be blessed.

27Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the LORD loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,

but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29the righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

31The law of his God is in his heart;

his feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

seeking their very lives;

33but the LORD will not leave them in their power

or let them be condemned when brought to trial. [5]

34Wait for the LORD

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

there is a futureB for the man of peace.

38But all sinners will be destroyed;

the futureC of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The LORD helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him. [6]

PSALMS: 67

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

1May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face shine upon us,

Selah

2that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations.

3May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you.

4May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you rule the peoples justly

and guide the nations of the earth.

Selah

5May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you.

6Then the land will yield its harvest,

and God, our God, will bless us.

7God will bless us,

and all the ends of the earth will fear him. [7]

PSALMS: 97

1The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.

2Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3Fire goes before him

and consumes his foes on every side.

4His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

5The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

6The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.

7All who worship images are put to shame,

those who boast in idols--

worship him, all you gods!

8Zion hears and rejoices

and the villages of Judah are glad

because of your judgments, O LORD.

9For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

10Let those who love the LORD hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11Light is shed upon the righteous

and joy on the upright in heart.

12Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,

and praise his holy name. [8]

PSALMS: 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat--

for he grants sleep toA those he loves.

3Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him.

4Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

5Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate. [9]

PROVERBS: 7

71 My son, keep my words

and store up my commands within you.

2Keep my commands and you will live;

guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

3Bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

and call understanding your kinsman;

5they will keep you from the adulteress,

from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

6At the window of my house

I looked out through the lattice.

7I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the young men,

a youth who lacked judgment.

8He was going down the street near her corner,

walking along in the direction of her house

9at twilight, as the day was fading,

as the dark of night set in.

10Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11(She is loud and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

12now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)

13She took hold of him and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:

14"I have fellowship offeringsA at home;

today I fulfilled my vows.

15So I came out to meet you; [10]

I looked for you and have found you!

16I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;

let's enjoy ourselves with love!

19My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

20He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon."

21With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deerB stepping into a nooseC

23 till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.

24Now then, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to what I say.

25Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.

26Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

27Her house is a highway to the grave,D

leading down to the chambers of death. [11]

OLD TESTAMENT

2 CHRONICLES 19:1 - 20:37

191When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, "Should you help the wicked and loveA those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. 3There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."

4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6He told them, "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."

8In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. 9He gave them these orders: "You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. 10In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities--whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances--you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin.

11"Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the [12]tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the LORD be with those who do well."

201After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the MeunitesA came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

2Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom,B from the other side of the Sea.C It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6and said:

"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your [13]friend? 8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9`If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'

10"But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

13All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.

14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; [14]do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

18Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.

20Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of hisD holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

"Give thanks to the LORD,

for his love endures forever."

22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a [15]great amount of equipment and clothingE and also articles of value--more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of BeracahF to this day.

27Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.

29The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. 33The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

34The other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

35Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness.

36He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.G After these were [16]built at Ezion Geber, 37Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.H [17]

NEW TESTAMENT

ROMANS 10:14 - 11:12

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"G

16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"H 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world."I

19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;

I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."J

20And Isaiah boldly says,

"I was found by those who did not seek me;

I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."K

21But concerning Israel he says,

"All day long I have held out my hands

to a disobedient and obstinate people."L [18]

111I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel: 3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"A? 4And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."B 5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.C

7What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8as it is written:

"God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes so that they could not see

and ears so that they could not hear,

to this very day."D

9And David says:

"May their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever."E

[19]11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! [20]

^{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

Friday, October 23, 2009

May 7

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