Month: November 2017

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11/20/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 40:28-41:26, James 4:1-17, Psalms 118:19-29, Proverbs 28:3-5

Today is the 20th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today, back in the rolling hills of Tennessee. And we had a great time in Louisiana yesterday. Thanks for everyone coming out and saying hello. It was so good, so good to see some of you again and so good to meet so many of you for the first time. So, we’re diving into our brand-new work week . We’re reading from the New International Version this week and continuing our journey through the book of Ezekiel and the Letter of James in the New Testament. But first, Ezekiel chapter 40 verse 28 through 41 verse 26.

Alright. In the book of James, we had a short reading but still packs a punch and can be a swift kick in the pants because James is super direct and clear about what he’s saying. But what he’s saying can be a challenge to our postures and behaviors. So, let’s just take a quick look. We begin with a question: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Right? What causes that tension within you that erupts into conflict? And James says, doesn’t that come from the desires that are at war within yourself? Right? Doesn’t it basically boil down to that you are not getting what you want or that you think you deserve? So, you use domination tactics to take it by force. And this isn’t like stealing or pilfering or robbing or looting. This is how you are trying to obtain what you think is missing inside yourself. And, oh, opening up that door is so complicated. Ironically, it’s not quite as complicated for James. James is basically saying, you’re not going to get what you think you need out of somebody else. Like, what is missing inside of you isn’t something you can force someone else to give you or be for you. James says, you do not have because you do not ask God. And when you do ask God you don’t get what you’re looking for because you’re asking with the wrong motives. And this becomes an interesting opportunity for us to examine the terrain of our own inner hearts. And it quickly exposes the ways in which we are living self-absorbed. And this happens because we’re taking our cues from the world. Or in other words, we’re trying to get our identity, we’re following the way the culture works. And, according to James, this puts us at enmity with God. And enmity is like opposition or hostility. And, so, the net-net is that, when we’re looking to other people to fill a void or to provide something to us that we think that we want or need or deserve, and are putting the burden on someone else to provide what only God can give, then we’ve got it so backwards that were at odds with God because He has put his Spirit within us to dwell in us. And we’re basically saying, that’s not going to cut it, that’s not enough for us, and we’re turning elsewhere, which makes Him jealous, in the same way that if you were to come home today and tell your spouse you are not enough for me, so I am receiving identity and pleasure from someone else, which will only cause fights and quarrels. And James is saying, this is where that emotional and spiritual conflict comes from. So, James offers instructions for getting out of that vortex that’s only going to just keep spinning us but never going to get us anywhere. And those instructions are, ‘submit yourself to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you’. If you will simply come near to God, and His Spirit is within you too, so He’s incredibly close, come near to that and He will come near to you. And that’s a very popular verse. And we quote it to each other all of the time. It’s very, very encouraging, but that’s not all James is saying, which is so often the case with very encouraging promise versus. That’s not all that he’s saying. He’s saying, to make that shift, to do that kind of turn, requires a very humble awareness. And that humble awareness will bring you to a place of repentance where you’re actually feeling the weightiness of what you’re doing. So, to give the whole thought in context, James says, submit yourselves then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you, come near to God and he will come near to you, wash your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded, grieve, mourn and wail, change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom, humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. So, James is saying, you’ve got to see what’s happening here, and you’ve got to own it, and you’ve got to let it be what it is, and grieve it, and repent, and change. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. And that is the first priority to orienting things properly. And then James continues on in this idea of conflict between each other. ‘Brothers and sisters do not slander one another’, which is essentially to say, do not skew the truth about someone in order to damage them or to cut them down. And this includes our spouses by the way. And James has some strong language for that kind of behavior. ‘There is only one lawgiver and judge’, James says. And that is the one who is able to save and destroy and that’s not you. Or to quote James, ‘you, who are you to judge your neighbor’. So, James is, very directly, discussing conflict in the things that like keep us all twisted up inside of ourselves and the ways in which we look to other people to fill voids or other circumstances or positions that we can get ourselves into, to fill those things, when they can only be filled by God. And God has been gracious enough to put his Spirit within us and we’re ignoring it. And, of course, that’s going to cause conflict. And then James turns to another thing that causes these kinds of conflicts, this adoption of the world’s system, he turns to our plans. So, he’s like, when you say, ‘today or tomorrow we’ll go to the city or that, like, we’ll make our plans, and we’ll go there, we’ll make some money, and we’ll do some business’, as a way of fulfilling something that is missing, filling something is missing within us, that is causing conflict, then we’re missing the point again. And we can see that James is touching everything - thoughts, words, and deeds. Right? The things about us. And in regards to all of our well laid plans, James says, you don’t even know what’s going to happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. So, James is saying, you know, making all these plans without acknowledging God in it all is simply you blustering and boasting in your own strength and it won’t work. Or to quote James again, ‘As it is you boast in your arrogant schemes and all such boasting is evil. If anyone, then knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it then it is sin for them’. Alight. So it’s a short reading, like I said, but there’s a lot packed in there, a lot for us to consider, a big mirror that’s full-length in front of us for us to examine ourselves. And what is being described is a posture of heart that is humble enough to understand that what is broken and what is missing inside of us can only be filled by God. And we must acknowledge God and include God and collaborate with God in everything. And that has to be the first reaction in all things. That is the first place that we go before we say that thing that we shouldn’t say that’s degrading or that’s going to cut down our spouse or somebody else that we’re after. Right? Now, that we’re in conflict with? The first order of business is to submit ourselves to God and understand that His Holy Spirit indwells us and move in collaboration with the Holy Spirit rather than causing more conflict that is ultimately only about the things we find as shortcomings in ourselves or the other places that we run, to all of our plans and schemes without acknowledging God first and inviting his counsel and collaboration, His Spirit within us, speaking and leading us into all truth. And James brings these things to the surface because we can think we’re going along just fine and then we encounter something like what’s written in James and go, ah, not so much. Like, I’m involved in a lot of this stuff and the Scriptures are making it clear to me that that’s not going to work. And, so, I have a fork in the road, which way am I going to go? And the grace of God in all of this is that we have a choice at all. We don’t have to continue in this vortex. It’s just going to keep spinning us inside and out. But we have the Spirit of God within us to lead us and guide us in all things.

Prayer:

Father we come into Your presence with that in mind because the truth is, we’re guilty of everything that’s written about in James today. And this leads us to a place of repentance, a place of us actually sitting with and owning and naming what we’re doing that is putting us at enmity with You, that is putting us in conflict with You. And if we’re in conflict with You, there is no way out of that. It is contrary to how we were made. So, come Holy Spirit and allow us to sit with these things, bring these conversations that shouldn’t have happened to mind and give us the courage to ask for forgiveness. Bring to mind the roads and paths that we wandered down inviting You to come with us, but you were never leading us there in the first place. All our schemes and plans that didn’t work out and that we blamed You for, You were never leading us there in the first place. There’s much to repent of as we consider this and we invite Your Holy Spirit into this and we take it soberly because we want to change. We don’t want this anymore. And here you are, speaking us to Your word saying, here is the way, walk in it. And, so, we grab Your hand and ask You to lead us forward. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Community Prayers and Praise Reports

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is John calling from Bethlehem Pennsylvania. I hope you guys are all doing well. I just wanted to respond to a prayer request that had come in on the 11/15 podcast, today. The woman didn’t leave her name but she was, you were, asking for prayer over your husband. You talked about the loss of your two daughters to gun violence and now that your husband has been diagnosed with cancer. You talked about the anxiety and the pain you’re feeling, understandably, but that you called, because God led you to call the Daily Audio Bible and ask for prayer. So, I wanted to let you know that I’m lifting you up in prayer. Family, pray with me, please. God, You know this person and who they are and what they’ve been through and you haven’t done this to them, Lord. These are things that happen to us in our lives because life is temporary, life is a test, and it’s about our trust. It’s about trust in You, heavenly Father, in Your son, Jesus, and the promise that You have for us. Lord, God, we ask You to show Your tender mercy, and Your outstretched, caring, loving hand over this family, to lift them up and encourage them. Heavenly Father, nothing is impossible with You. You are a supernatural healer and a supernatural God. This family has been through so much. We ask that you heal John. We know that you can perform a miracle for this family and we thank You for that. We come to You humbly, Father God, for this healing and for reconciliation, for full restoration for John and for…

Hello. My name is Linda and I’m calling from Spokane Washington. I just really wanted to ask for prayer for my daughter Maddison. She’s 18 and…just…ya…she…I just pray that God would just come to her and speak to her clearly and allow her to know that she can’t do things on her own Lord, that she just can’t do things on her own. And to stop rebelling so much and admit that…you know…she needs help. And I believe she’s saved, she’s just going through a really rough time. And for me as well to…ya…everything that goes with that. I also would like prayer for James. He struggles with addiction and he is in rehabilitation but I would just pray that God would do mighty work in that as well and for direction for me in both of those circumstances. Ya, I just know that there’s so many prayers out there. But I just thank you for listening. And thanks again.

His this is Toni Nichols from Germany, the Lords Facilitator in Health. And l wanted to say, I have a praise report. I called, not long ago, talking about how we are persecuted and how when you’re a strong Christian there is a power force. So, to give you a little more information, I’ve been under a strong spiritual attack for 6-½ years in the workplace. And I wanted to say that even though I was just sharing information about the counterforce, Satan being the counterforce, I know you guys pray. There are people out there in our DAB community that prayed. Why do I say that? Because today, 6-½ years later, the Lord redeemed me using one of his strong warriors. And so, I want you to know that the only thing that changed was that I reached out to you just to talk a little bit about it. I just made reference to it. And I know that there are people who prayed. So, it’s just such a major thing and I want to thank you. I will say, I want you to know too, that in these 6-½ years I will tell you I always try to do the right thing and I leaned on the Lord. And He redeemed. And He redeemed me. And I say that very humbly because any time we say that is humbling. God bless you. Bye.

Hi family. It’s Drew from the Bay Area, as you know me. You know I used to be Andrew from the Bay Area but the Holy Spirit has led me to call for Jill, Jill Parr. Your music came on and I was praying for you this morning and thinking how you support this ministry behind the scenes and how the Holy Spirit wants us to pray for you. And we know that God deserves all the glory and that He’s given you your powerful, beautiful voice, Spirit filled. But you don’t get enough credit for what you do for Brian and Zeki or maybe you do. But family, I just think we should pray for Jill. And if you don’t have her music, you’re missing out. But let me just say, you can call me uncle Drew. I have nieces and nephews - Laura and Casey and Garett – and I love them dearly. And I have been a great uncle as I could be because there is Southern California, but for all you young ladies and even older ladies, my Shari from Canada, I’m uncle Drew and I give you a big hug. And Jill, I give you a big brotherly hug and say thank you. Thank you for taking care of your family and our family behind the scenes. And all those others that the do the work behind the scenes. We love you. We really, really love you and we appreciate all you do. Okay. Bye for now.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday November 20, 2017 (NIV)

Ezekiel 40:28-41:26

The Gates to the Inner Court

28 Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements(A) as the others. 29 Its alcoves,(B) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(C) 30 (The porticoes(D) of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31 Its portico(E) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.(F)

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements(G) as the others. 33 Its alcoves,(H) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its portico(I) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate(J) and measured it. It had the same measurements(K) as the others, 36 as did its alcoves,(L) its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37 Its portico[a](M) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.(N)

The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings(O) were washed. 39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings,(P) sin offerings[b](Q) and guilt offerings(R) were slaughtered.(S) 40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. 41 So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. 42 There were also four tables of dressed stone(T) for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.[c] On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.(U) 43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth[d] long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

The Rooms for the Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one[e] at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south[f] gate and facing north. 45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,(V) 46 and the room facing north(W) is for the priests who guard the altar.(X) These are the sons of Zadok,(Y) who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.(Z)”

47 Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.(AA)

The New Temple

48 He brought me to the portico of the temple(AB) and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits[g] and its projecting walls were[h] three cubits[i] wide on either side. 49 The portico(AC) was twenty cubits[j] wide, and twelve[k] cubits[l] from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,[m] and there were pillars(AD) on each side of the jambs.

41 Then the man brought me to the main hall(AE) and measured the jambs; the width of the jambs was six cubits[n] on each side.[o] 2 The entrance was ten cubits[p] wide, and the projecting walls on each side of it were five cubits[q] wide. He also measured the main hall; it was forty cubits long and twenty cubits wide.[r](AF)

3 Then he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the jambs of the entrance; each was two cubits[s] wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the projecting walls on each side of it were seven cubits[t] wide. 4 And he measured the length of the inner sanctuary; it was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits across the end of the main hall.(AG) He said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.(AH)”

5 Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was six cubits thick, and each side room around the temple was four cubits[u] wide. 6 The side rooms were on three levels, one above another, thirty(AI) on each level. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports were not inserted into the wall of the temple.(AJ) 7 The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway(AK) went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor.

8 I saw that the temple had a raised base all around it, forming the foundation of the side rooms. It was the length of the rod, six long cubits. 9 The outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits thick. The open area between the side rooms of the temple 10 and the priests’ rooms was twenty cubits wide all around the temple. 11 There were entrances to the side rooms from the open area, one on the north and another on the south; and the base adjoining the open area was five cubits wide all around.

12 The building facing the temple courtyard on the west side was seventy cubits[v] wide. The wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its length was ninety cubits.[w]

13 Then he measured the temple; it was a hundred cubits[x] long, and the temple courtyard and the building with its walls were also a hundred cubits long. 14 The width of the temple courtyard on the east, including the front of the temple, was a hundred cubits.(AL)

15 Then he measured the length of the building facing the courtyard at the rear of the temple, including its galleries(AM) on each side; it was a hundred cubits.

The main hall, the inner sanctuary and the portico facing the court, 16 as well as the thresholds and the narrow windows(AN) and galleries around the three of them—everything beyond and including the threshold was covered with wood. The floor, the wall up to the windows, and the windows were covered.(AO) 17 In the space above the outside of the entrance to the inner sanctuary and on the walls at regular intervals all around the inner and outer sanctuary 18 were carved(AP) cherubim(AQ) and palm trees.(AR) Palm trees alternated with cherubim. Each cherub had two faces:(AS) 19 the face of a human being toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the whole temple.(AT) 20 From the floor to the area above the entrance, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the main hall.

21 The main hall(AU) had a rectangular doorframe, and the one at the front of the Most Holy Place was similar. 22 There was a wooden altar(AV) three cubits[y] high and two cubits square[z]; its corners, its base[aa] and its sides were of wood. The man said to me, “This is the table(AW) that is before the Lord.” 23 Both the main hall(AX) and the Most Holy Place had double doors.(AY) 24 Each door had two leaves—two hinged leaves(AZ) for each door. 25 And on the doors of the main hall were carved cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls, and there was a wooden overhang on the front of the portico. 26 On the sidewalls of the portico were narrow windows with palm trees carved on each side. The side rooms of the temple also had overhangs.(BA)

Footnotes:

  1. Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs
  2. Ezekiel 40:39 Or purification offerings
  3. Ezekiel 40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high
  4. Ezekiel 40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters
  5. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were
  6. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
  7. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
  8. Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was
  9. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters
  10. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
  11. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
  12. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
  13. Ezekiel 40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it
  14. Ezekiel 41:1 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verses 3, 5 and 8
  15. Ezekiel 41:1 One Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts side, the width of the tent
  16. Ezekiel 41:2 That is, about 18 feet or about 5.3 meters
  17. Ezekiel 41:2 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verses 9, 11 and 12
  18. Ezekiel 41:2 That is, about 70 feet long and 35 feet wide or about 21 meters long and 11 meters wide
  19. Ezekiel 41:3 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1.1 meters; also in verse 22
  20. Ezekiel 41:3 That is, about 12 feet or about 3.7 meters
  21. Ezekiel 41:5 That is, about 7 feet or about 2.1 meters
  22. Ezekiel 41:12 That is, about 123 feet or about 37 meters
  23. Ezekiel 41:12 That is, about 158 feet or about 48 meters
  24. Ezekiel 41:13 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 14 and 15
  25. Ezekiel 41:22 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.5 meters
  26. Ezekiel 41:22 Septuagint; Hebrew long
  27. Ezekiel 41:22 Septuagint; Hebrew length

Cross references:

  1. Ezekiel 40:28 : ver 35
  2. Ezekiel 40:29 : ver 7
  3. Ezekiel 40:29 : ver 25
  4. Ezekiel 40:30 : ver 21
  5. Ezekiel 40:31 : ver 22
  6. Ezekiel 40:31 : ver 34, 37
  7. Ezekiel 40:32 : S ver 24
  8. Ezekiel 40:33 : ver 7
  9. Ezekiel 40:34 : ver 22
  10. Ezekiel 40:35 : Eze 44:4; 47:2
  11. Ezekiel 40:35 : S ver 24
  12. Ezekiel 40:36 : ver 7
  13. Ezekiel 40:37 : ver 22
  14. Ezekiel 40:37 : ver 34
  15. Ezekiel 40:38 : S 2Ch 4:6; Eze 42:13
  16. Ezekiel 40:39 : Eze 46:2
  17. Ezekiel 40:39 : Lev 4:3, 28
  18. Ezekiel 40:39 : S Lev 7:1
  19. Ezekiel 40:39 : ver 42
  20. Ezekiel 40:42 : Ex 20:25
  21. Ezekiel 40:42 : ver 39
  22. Ezekiel 40:45 : 1Ch 9:23
  23. Ezekiel 40:46 : Eze 42:13
  24. Ezekiel 40:46 : Nu 18:5
  25. Ezekiel 40:46 : S 2Sa 8:17; S Ezr 7:2
  26. Ezekiel 40:46 : Nu 16:5; Eze 43:19; 44:15; 45:4; 48:11
  27. Ezekiel 40:47 : Eze 41:13-14
  28. Ezekiel 40:48 : 1Ki 6:2
  29. Ezekiel 40:49 : ver 22; 1Ki 6:3
  30. Ezekiel 40:49 : S 1Ki 7:15
  31. Ezekiel 41:1 : ver 23
  32. Ezekiel 41:2 : 2Ch 3:3
  33. Ezekiel 41:4 : 1Ki 6:20
  34. Ezekiel 41:4 : S Ex 26:33; Heb 9:3-8
  35. Ezekiel 41:6 : Eze 40:17
  36. Ezekiel 41:6 : S 1Ki 6:5
  37. Ezekiel 41:7 : 1Ki 6:8
  38. Ezekiel 41:14 : Eze 40:47
  39. Ezekiel 41:15 : Eze 42:3
  40. Ezekiel 41:16 : 1Ki 6:4
  41. Ezekiel 41:16 : ver 25-26; 1Ki 6:15; Eze 42:3
  42. Ezekiel 41:18 : S 1Ki 6:18
  43. Ezekiel 41:18 : Ex 37:7; S 2Ch 3:7
  44. Ezekiel 41:18 : S 1Ki 6:29; 7:36
  45. Ezekiel 41:18 : Eze 10:21
  46. Ezekiel 41:19 : S Eze 10:14
  47. Ezekiel 41:21 : ver 1
  48. Ezekiel 41:22 : S Ex 30:1
  49. Ezekiel 41:22 : S Ex 25:23; S Eze 23:41
  50. Ezekiel 41:23 : ver 1
  51. Ezekiel 41:23 : 1Ki 6:32
  52. Ezekiel 41:24 : 1Ki 6:34
  53. Ezekiel 41:26 : ver 15-16; Eze 40:16
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels(A) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(B) within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.(C) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive,(D) because you ask with wrong motives,(E) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous(F) people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world(G) means enmity against God?(H) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(I) 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?(J) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[c](K)

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(L) and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.(M) Wash your hands,(N) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(O) you double-minded.(P) 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(Q) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(R)

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(S) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them(T) speaks against the law(U) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(V) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(W) the one who is able to save and destroy.(X) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(Y)

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen,(Z) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(AA) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(AB) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(AC) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(AD) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(AE)

Footnotes:

  1. James 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
  2. James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
  3. James 4:6 Prov. 3:34
  4. James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

Cross references:

  1. James 4:1 : Tit 3:9
  2. James 4:1 : S Ro 7:23
  3. James 4:2 : Mt 5:21, 22; Jas 5:6; 1Jn 3:15
  4. James 4:3 : Ps 18:41; S Mt 7:7
  5. James 4:3 : Ps 66:18; 1Jn 3:22; 5:14
  6. James 4:4 : Isa 54:5; Jer 3:20; Hos 2:2-5; 3:1; 9:1
  7. James 4:4 : S Jas 1:27
  8. James 4:4 : Ro 8:7; 1Jn 2:15
  9. James 4:4 : Jn 15:19
  10. James 4:5 : 1Co 6:19
  11. James 4:6 : Pr 3:34; S Mt 23:12
  12. James 4:7 : Eph 4:27; 6:11; 1Pe 5:6-9
  13. James 4:8 : Ps 73:28; Zec 1:3; Mal 3:7; Heb 7:19
  14. James 4:8 : Isa 1:16
  15. James 4:8 : Ps 24:4; Jer 4:14
  16. James 4:8 : Ps 119:113; Jas 1:8
  17. James 4:9 : Lk 6:25
  18. James 4:10 : ver 6; Job 5:11; 1Pe 5:6
  19. James 4:11 : Ro 1:30; 2Co 12:20; 1Pe 2:1
  20. James 4:11 : S Mt 7:1
  21. James 4:11 : Jas 2:8
  22. James 4:11 : Jas 1:22
  23. James 4:12 : Isa 33:22; S Jas 5:9
  24. James 4:12 : Mt 10:28
  25. James 4:12 : S Mt 7:1
  26. James 4:13 : Jas 5:1
  27. James 4:13 : Pr 27:1; Lk 12:18-20
  28. James 4:14 : Job 7:7; Ps 39:5; 102:3; 144:4; Isa 2:22
  29. James 4:15 : S Ac 18:21
  30. James 4:16 : 1Co 5:6
  31. James 4:17 : Lk 12:47; Jn 9:41
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 118:19-29

19 Open for me the gates(A) of the righteous;
I will enter(B) and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord(C)
through which the righteous may enter.(D)
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;(E)
you have become my salvation.(F)

22 The stone(G) the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;(H)
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous(I) in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.(J)

25 Lord, save us!(K)
Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes(L) in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[a](M)
27 The Lord is God,(N)
and he has made his light shine(O) on us.
With boughs in hand,(P) join in the festal procession
up[b] to the horns of the altar.(Q)

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God,(R) and I will exalt(S) you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 118:26 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. Psalm 118:27 Or Bind the festal sacrifice with ropes / and take it

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 118:19 : S Ps 24:7
  2. Psalm 118:19 : Ps 100:4
  3. Psalm 118:20 : Ps 122:1-2
  4. Psalm 118:20 : Ps 15:1-2; 24:3-4; Rev 22:14
  5. Psalm 118:21 : S ver 5
  6. Psalm 118:21 : Ps 27:1
  7. Psalm 118:22 : Isa 8:14
  8. Psalm 118:22 : Isa 17:10; 19:13; 28:16; Zec 4:7; 10:4; Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17*; S Ac 4:11*; 1Pe 2:7*
  9. Psalm 118:23 : Mt 21:42*; Mk 12:11*
  10. Psalm 118:24 : S Ps 70:4
  11. Psalm 118:25 : S Ps 28:9; 116:4
  12. Psalm 118:26 : S Mt 11:3; 21:9*; 23:39*; Mk 11:9*; Lk 13:35*; 19:38*; Jn 12:13*
  13. Psalm 118:26 : Ps 129:8
  14. Psalm 118:27 : S 1Ki 18:21
  15. Psalm 118:27 : Ps 27:1; Isa 58:10; 60:1, 19, 20; Mal 4:2; 1Pe 2:9
  16. Psalm 118:27 : S Lev 23:40
  17. Psalm 118:27 : Ex 27:2
  18. Psalm 118:28 : S Ge 28:21; S Ps 16:2; 63:1; Isa 25:1
  19. Psalm 118:28 : S Ex 15:2
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 28:3-5

3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Posted on

11/19/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 39:1-40:27; James 2:18-3:18; Psalms 118:1-18; Proverbs 28:2

Today is the 19th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you at the shiny threshold of a brand-new week. And greetings from Louisiana, from the deep South, from the Shreveport area. We’re excited to bring the Sneezing Jesus message this morning, but we can talk about that at the end. Looking out in front of us for the week, we will touch for different books of the Bible this week. We’ll complete the book of Ezekiel before the week is out and move our way into Daniel. And we’re in the book of James in the New Testament. We’ll complete that and get into first Peter. So, that’s kind of the outlook for the week. And let’s dive in. And we’re reading from the New International Version this week. Ezekiel chapter 39 verse 1 through 40 verse 27 today.

Prayer:

Okay. So, we have to talk about the book of James at the threshold of this brand-new week because the implications are fairly profound, what’s being said here, profound enough for us to snap ourselves to attention. The first shot across the bow is that you can’t just say you have faith, you can’t just declare you are a person of faith, and that there’s nothing in your life to back that up, like, it has not transformed you because that’s not real. That’s like you walking around saying that you are wealthy when you have a negative balance in your bank account. Just because you say it doesn’t make it true. Or to stick to the themes found in James, you can’t oppress the orphan and the widow and then claim that you are full of faith. It’s not true. You can’t compartmentalize your spirituality and wherever you put your faith into a segment of your life that doesn’t touch any other part of your life. Your faith informs everything and it informs your thoughts, words and deeds. It affects the way you operate in the world profoundly or it’s not really there. And you can’t say you believe in God but live as if there is no God. That won’t work either. Or as James says, you believe that there is one God, good. Good for you, even the demons believe that and shudder. And, so, to summarize his point, James says, a body that is without its spirit is a corpse. It’s dead. And in the same way faith, without it transforming the way you behave, without it affecting your deeds, is dead. And, so, we can see that James is very direct. He’s not messing around at all with this letter. It becomes a mirror into our own souls as the Bible often does, but this is like a full-length mirror because were being clearly told that if we claim to have faith but it is not affecting our behavior, it is not transforming the way that we live our lives, then it’s dead. And we have to examine ourselves in this. And we can stop there, as if someone had thrown ice water in our faces to wake us up and contemplate this, but James isn’t done. He turns to a practical example of what this looks like when he turns the conversation to what comes out of our mouths. He talks about how a small bit in the mouth of a horse can turn the entire large powerful animal or the way in which a small rudder can steer the course of a large ship. And then tells us that’s how our little tongs, these little things that live behind our teeth, inside of our mouth, steer the trajectory of our body and our entire life and then summarizes his point in a clear and concise way - with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Okay. So, if you skated through the faith checkpoint that we just talked about with his full-length mirror in front of you and you’re like, now, my faith actually does change the way that I do things, and then we get to the words bit of this and we realize, oh my gosh, I really do have the capability of worshiping God and cursing my brothers and sisters out of the same mouth. I’ve done that. And according to the Scriptures this should not be. So, if nothing else, at this point James should have our attention. And he’s not done. He has one more point in this trifecta of confrontation that we find in the book of James today for us to ponder. And that is this, if you think you‘re wise and have understanding then it should be evident, it should be visible in your life, but if you’re harboring bitterness and envy and selfish ambition in your heart, if you’re keeping that compartmentalized and keeping it inside you, then you need to understand that that’s not coming from heaven, it’s unspiritual and demonic. And it being called demonic here, this isn’t just, like, you know, a word from Greek that could have many different meanings. Like, that’s a literal translation, demonic. And James says, where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. And where is the there that you find disorder and every evil practice? Inside you. That’s pretty stark. That’s full-length mirror stuff. And then he contrasts that disorder with the wisdom that comes from heaven and describes that which should embody all believers who profess faith - the wisdom that comes from heaven is, for starters, pure, then peace loving, and considerate, and submissive, and full of mercy and good fruit, and impartial, and sincere. Peace makers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. And that contrast brings us to a fork in the road as the Bible so often does. We can see where the two paths are going to lead. Do we want to be led into the unspiritual and demonic, into disorder in every evil practice or do we want to follow the path of righteousness? The choice is ours to make.

Prayer:

Father we have plenty to contemplate and we invite Your Holy Spirit into that contemplation into the ways that we follow the well-worn paths of our lives and behave accordingly and the things that should not be. And we invite Your Holy Spirit into that. We surrender all of that to You. Come Holy Spirit and lead us into all truth. Lead us on the path of righteousness. Show us what You are after in this. Come Jesus. We pray in your name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

And what’s going on today is that we’re in Louisiana and looking forward to being at River Valley church in Bossier City this morning. Looking forward to spending time among friends today. So, looking forward to seeing some of you.

And, of course, we’ve just launched ourselves into Thanksgiving week. I know that’s not how it is all over the world, but that’s how it is here in the United States and that usually launches us into the holiday season. So, this is a big week and we’ll talk about that as we go.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that dailyaudiobible.com. There’s a link, it’s right on the homepage. Thank you deeply for your partnership. If you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Springhill Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports

Hi. This is Melody from Canada and today was the reading about discipline in Hebrews. And it really struck me about piano practice because I know that God has given me a gift of music to bless others with and I just recently started piano lessons again and it’s been really hard to practice. Just kicking my butt and trying to get myself to practice is really hard and it kind of makes sense now in that passage about resistance and things not always being easy. So, I would ask that for prayer that I would be able to discipline myself and with joy. I’m a teacher and I know that if I try to force my kids to do something than its not really fun and it won’t work very well. So, I just want to motivate myself to do that and also break through any obstacles so that I can be a blessing. Thanks so much. Bye.

Good day Daily Audio Bible family. This is Pamela, the teacher / pastor’s wife, calling from Huntington, NY. I just want to give a praise report. First of all, hello to everyone. Thanking God for Brian and his wonderful wife and family, taking their time and ministering to us on a daily basis. I so appreciate it. It’s such a blessing to my life. But, at any rate, I want to move quickly. I have a praise report. I came home work and was exhausted and wanted to make a cup of tea. And I put the kettle on. I went to bed just to lie down but I ending up sleeping all night, and to my surprise, I got up the next morning, and I just thank God, that the tea kettle was still going. All the water was gone and it was still on. It had burned. It leaked…leaked for nine hours but it never caught on fire. And the pot didn’t even burn. And I just give God the praise. I give him the glory and the honor for protecting me and my family as we slept. Danger, He protects us from seen and unseen. And I’m just so grateful. And I just want to give this praise report, how God allowed an angel to protect us. My house did not catch on fire. And I will never do that again. Just praying for everyone. God bless you everyone. Have a great day. Bye.

Hi. This is His 100th Sheep and I’m from Maine and it’s 15th of November and I am calling for a dear sister in Christ who just left a message that she and her husband had lost two daughters to gun violence and now her husband is facing cancer. And she was asking for our prayers. My dear sister, I want to let you know that I will pray for you and I know that many people who heard your cry are going to pray for you. I’m glad that you listen to the dream that that pointed you in the direction of DAB for prayer. Stay with us and keep us updated.

Hi Daily Audio Bible community. This is Ashley. I just wanted to offer some thanks to this community for helping with loneliness. I’m divorced and I know that I have sought comfort in very and sinful ways to kind of combat my loneliness and it has only brought me a lot of pain and sadness. And hearing ways that other people are drawing closer to God to help with loneliness instead of committing sin is very uplifting for me and very helpful. So, I just wanted to offer my praise and thanks that you guys are there and that you are helping me. Thank you. Bye.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday November 19, 2017 (NIV)

Ezekiel 39:1-40:27

39 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog(A) and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of[a] Meshek(B) and Tubal.(C) 2 I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north(D) and send you against the mountains of Israel.(E) 3 Then I will strike your bow(F) from your left hand and make your arrows(G) drop from your right hand. 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds(H) and to the wild animals.(I) 5 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.(J) 6 I will send fire(K) on Magog(L) and on those who live in safety in the coastlands,(M) and they will know(N) that I am the Lord.

7 “‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned,(O) and the nations will know(P) that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel.(Q) 8 It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord. This is the day(R) I have spoken of.

9 “‘Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows,(S) the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.(T) 10 They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder(U) those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign Lord.(V)

11 “‘On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried(W) there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog.[b](X)

12 “‘For seven months the Israelites will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.(Y) 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory(Z) will be a memorable day for them, declares the Sovereign Lord. 14 People will be continually employed in cleansing the land. They will spread out across the land and, along with others, they will bury any bodies that are lying on the ground.

“‘After the seven months they will carry out a more detailed search. 15 As they go through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will leave a marker beside it until the gravediggers bury it in the Valley of Hamon Gog, 16 near a town called Hamonah.[c] And so they will cleanse the land.’

17 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call out to every kind of bird(AA) and all the wild animals: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood.(AB) 18 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams and lambs, goats and bulls—all of them fattened animals from Bashan.(AC) 19 At the sacrifice(AD) I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk. 20 At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.(AE)

21 “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay on them.(AF) 22 From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.(AG) 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them.(AH)

25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob[d](AI) and will have compassion(AJ) on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name.(AK) 26 They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety(AL) in their land with no one to make them afraid.(AM) 27 When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations.(AN) 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them(AO) to their own land, not leaving any behind.(AP) 29 I will no longer hide my face(AQ) from them, for I will pour out my Spirit(AR) on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AS)”

The Temple Area Restored

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city(AT)—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me(AU) and he took me there. 2 In visions(AV) of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain,(AW) on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze;(AX) he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod(AY) in his hand. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you,(AZ) for that is why you have been brought here. Tell(BA) the people of Israel everything you see.(BB)”

The East Gate to the Outer Court

5 I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits,[e] each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured(BC) the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.

6 Then he went to the east gate.(BD) He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. 7 The alcoves(BE) for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits[f] thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.

8 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; 9 it[g] was eight cubits[h] deep and its jambs were two cubits[i] thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10 Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.[j] 12 In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits[k] from one parapet opening to the opposite one. 14 He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits.[l] The measurement was up to the portico[m] facing the courtyard.[n](BF) 15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.[o] 16 The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.(BG)

The Outer Court

17 Then he brought me into the outer court.(BH) There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms(BI) along the pavement.(BJ) 18 It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court;(BK) it was a hundred cubits[p](BL) on the east side as well as on the north.

The North Gate

20 Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21 Its alcoves(BM)—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico(BN) had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22 Its openings, its portico(BO) and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.(BP) 23 There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.(BQ)

The South Gate

24 Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements(BR) as the others. 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(BS) 26 Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.(BT) 27 The inner court(BU) also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.(BV)

Footnotes:

  1. Ezekiel 39:1 Or Gog, prince of Rosh,
  2. Ezekiel 39:11 Hamon Gog means hordes of Gog.
  3. Ezekiel 39:16 Hamonah means horde.
  4. Ezekiel 39:25 Or now bring Jacob back from captivity
  5. Ezekiel 40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48.
  6. Ezekiel 40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48
  7. Ezekiel 40:9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. 9 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it
  8. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters
  9. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter
  10. Ezekiel 40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long
  11. Ezekiel 40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36
  12. Ezekiel 40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters
  13. Ezekiel 40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall
  14. Ezekiel 40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  15. Ezekiel 40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36
  16. Ezekiel 40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47

Cross references:

  1. Ezekiel 39:1 : Rev 20:8
  2. Ezekiel 39:1 : S Ge 10:2
  3. Ezekiel 39:1 : S Eze 27:13; S 38:2, 3
  4. Ezekiel 39:2 : S Eze 32:30
  5. Ezekiel 39:2 : S Eze 38:4, 15
  6. Ezekiel 39:3 : Hos 1:5; Am 2:15
  7. Ezekiel 39:3 : Ps 76:3
  8. Ezekiel 39:4 : S Ge 40:19
  9. Ezekiel 39:4 : ver 17-20; S Jer 25:33; S Eze 29:5; S 33:27
  10. Ezekiel 39:5 : S Eze 32:4
  11. Ezekiel 39:6 : S Eze 30:8; Rev 20:9
  12. Ezekiel 39:6 : S Ge 10:2
  13. Ezekiel 39:6 : S Jer 25:22
  14. Ezekiel 39:6 : S Ex 6:7
  15. Ezekiel 39:7 : S Ex 20:7; S Eze 13:19
  16. Ezekiel 39:7 : S Isa 49:26
  17. Ezekiel 39:7 : S Isa 12:6; S 54:5; S Eze 20:9; S 36:16, 23
  18. Ezekiel 39:8 : Eze 7:6
  19. Ezekiel 39:9 : Ps 76:3
  20. Ezekiel 39:9 : S Ps 46:9
  21. Ezekiel 39:10 : S Ex 3:22
  22. Ezekiel 39:10 : S Isa 14:2; S 33:1; Hab 2:8
  23. Ezekiel 39:11 : S Isa 34:3
  24. Ezekiel 39:11 : S Eze 38:2
  25. Ezekiel 39:12 : Dt 21:23
  26. Ezekiel 39:13 : Eze 28:22
  27. Ezekiel 39:17 : S Job 15:23
  28. Ezekiel 39:17 : S Eze 32:4
  29. Ezekiel 39:18 : S Ps 22:12; Jer 51:40
  30. Ezekiel 39:19 : S Lev 3:9
  31. Ezekiel 39:20 : S Isa 56:9; S Jer 12:9; Rev 19:17-18
  32. Ezekiel 39:21 : Ex 9:16; Isa 37:20; S Eze 38:16
  33. Ezekiel 39:23 : Isa 1:15; 59:2; S Jer 22:8-9; S 44:23
  34. Ezekiel 39:24 : 2Ki 17:23; Jer 2:17, 19; 4:18; S Eze 7:22; Da 9:7
  35. Ezekiel 39:25 : S Jer 33:7
  36. Ezekiel 39:25 : S Jer 30:18
  37. Ezekiel 39:25 : Isa 27:12-13; S Eze 16:53
  38. Ezekiel 39:26 : S 1Ki 4:25; S Jer 32:37; S Eze 38:8
  39. Ezekiel 39:26 : Isa 17:2; Eze 34:28; Mic 4:4
  40. Ezekiel 39:27 : S Eze 37:21
  41. Ezekiel 39:28 : Ps 147:2
  42. Ezekiel 39:28 : S Eze 36:23, 36
  43. Ezekiel 39:29 : S Dt 31:17
  44. Ezekiel 39:29 : S Isa 11:2; S Eze 37:9; S Ac 2:17
  45. Ezekiel 39:29 : S Eze 16:42
  46. Ezekiel 40:1 : S 2Ki 25:7; Jer 39:1-10; 52:4-11
  47. Ezekiel 40:1 : S Eze 1:3; S 29:17
  48. Ezekiel 40:2 : S Ex 24:10; Da 7:1, 7
  49. Ezekiel 40:2 : S Jer 31:12; S Eze 17:22; Rev 21:10
  50. Ezekiel 40:3 : S Eze 1:7; Rev 1:15
  51. Ezekiel 40:3 : Eze 47:3; Zec 2:1-2; Rev 11:1; 21:15
  52. Ezekiel 40:4 : S Dt 6:6
  53. Ezekiel 40:4 : Jer 26:2
  54. Ezekiel 40:4 : Eze 44:5
  55. Ezekiel 40:5 : Eze 42:20
  56. Ezekiel 40:6 : S Eze 8:16
  57. Ezekiel 40:7 : ver 36
  58. Ezekiel 40:14 : S Ex 27:9
  59. Ezekiel 40:16 : ver 21-22; 2Ch 3:5; Eze 41:26
  60. Ezekiel 40:17 : Rev 11:2
  61. Ezekiel 40:17 : Eze 41:6
  62. Ezekiel 40:17 : Eze 42:1
  63. Ezekiel 40:19 : Eze 46:1
  64. Ezekiel 40:19 : ver 23, 27
  65. Ezekiel 40:21 : ver 7
  66. Ezekiel 40:21 : ver 30
  67. Ezekiel 40:22 : ver 49
  68. Ezekiel 40:22 : S ver 16, 26
  69. Ezekiel 40:23 : S ver 19
  70. Ezekiel 40:24 : ver 32, 35
  71. Ezekiel 40:25 : ver 33
  72. Ezekiel 40:26 : S ver 22
  73. Ezekiel 40:27 : ver 32
  74. Ezekiel 40:27 : S ver 19
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

James 2:18-3

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,(A) and I will show you my faith(B) by my deeds.(C) 19 You believe that there is one God.(D) Good! Even the demons believe that(E)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(F) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(G) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(H) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(I) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b](J) and he was called God’s friend.(K) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(L) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(M)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,(N) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(O) more strictly.(P) 2 We all stumble(Q) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(R) is perfect,(S) able to keep their whole body in check.(T)

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(U) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(V) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(W) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(X) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(Y)

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(Z)

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(AA) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(AB) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(AC) by their good life, by deeds(AD) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(AE) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(AF) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(AG) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(AH) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(AI) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(AJ) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(AK) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(AL) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(AM) 18 Peacemakers(AN) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AO)

Footnotes:

  1. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
  2. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6

Cross references:

  1. James 2:18 : Ro 3:28
  2. James 2:18 : Heb 11
  3. James 2:18 : Mt 7:16, 17; Jas 3:13
  4. James 2:19 : Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29; 1Co 8:4-6
  5. James 2:19 : Mt 8:29; Lk 4:34
  6. James 2:20 : ver 17, 26
  7. James 2:21 : Ge 22:9, 12
  8. James 2:22 : Heb 11:17
  9. James 2:22 : 1Th 1:3
  10. James 2:23 : Ge 15:6; S Ro 4:3
  11. James 2:23 : 2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8
  12. James 2:25 : S Heb 11:31
  13. James 2:26 : ver 17, 20
  14. James 3:1 : S Eph 4:11
  15. James 3:1 : S Mt 7:1
  16. James 3:1 : Ro 2:21
  17. James 3:2 : 1Ki 8:46; Ro 3:9-20; Jas 2:10; 1Jn 1:8
  18. James 3:2 : Ps 39:1; Pr 10:19; 1Pe 3:10
  19. James 3:2 : S Mt 12:37
  20. James 3:2 : Jas 1:26
  21. James 3:3 : Ps 32:9
  22. James 3:5 : Ps 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9
  23. James 3:6 : Pr 16:27
  24. James 3:6 : Mt 15:11, 18, 19
  25. James 3:6 : S Mt 5:22
  26. James 3:8 : Ps 140:3; Ro 3:13
  27. James 3:9 : Ge 1:26, 27; 1Co 11:7
  28. James 3:12 : Mt 7:16
  29. James 3:13 : Jas 2:18
  30. James 3:13 : S 1Pe 2:12
  31. James 3:14 : ver 16; 2Co 12:20
  32. James 3:14 : Jas 5:19
  33. James 3:15 : ver 17; Jas 1:17
  34. James 3:15 : 1Ti 4:1
  35. James 3:16 : ver 14; Gal 5:20, 21
  36. James 3:17 : 1Co 2:6; Jas 1:17
  37. James 3:17 : Heb 12:11
  38. James 3:17 : Lk 6:36
  39. James 3:17 : Ro 12:9
  40. James 3:18 : Mt 5:9; S Ro 14:19
  41. James 3:18 : Pr 11:18; Isa 32:17; Hos 10:12; Php 1:11
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 118:1-18

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the Lord,(A) for he is good;(B)
his love endures forever.(C)

2 Let Israel say:(D)
“His love endures forever.”(E)
3 Let the house of Aaron say:(F)
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord(G) say:
“His love endures forever.”

5 When hard pressed,(H) I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.(I)
6 The Lord is with me;(J) I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?(K)
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.(L)
I look in triumph on my enemies.(M)

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord(N)
than to trust in humans.(O)
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.(P)
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(Q)
11 They surrounded me(R) on every side,(S)
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,(T)
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;(U)
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(V)
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.(W)
14 The Lord is my strength(X) and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.(Y)

15 Shouts of joy(Z) and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand(AA) has done mighty things!(AB)
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die(AC) but live,
and will proclaim(AD) what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened(AE) me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.(AF)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 118:14 Or song

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 118:1 : S 1Ch 16:8
  2. Psalm 118:1 : S 2Ch 5:13; S 7:3
  3. Psalm 118:1 : S Ezr 3:11
  4. Psalm 118:2 : Ps 115:9
  5. Psalm 118:2 : Ps 106:1; 136:1-26
  6. Psalm 118:3 : Ex 30:30; Ps 115:10
  7. Psalm 118:4 : S Ps 115:11
  8. Psalm 118:5 : Ps 18:6; 31:7; 77:2; 120:1
  9. Psalm 118:5 : ver 21; Ps 34:4; 86:7; 116:1; 138:3
  10. Psalm 118:6 : S Dt 31:6; Heb 13:6*
  11. Psalm 118:6 : S Ps 56:4
  12. Psalm 118:7 : S Dt 33:29
  13. Psalm 118:7 : S Ps 54:7
  14. Psalm 118:8 : Ps 2:12; 5:11; 9:9; 37:3; 40:4; Isa 25:4; 57:13
  15. Psalm 118:8 : 2Ch 32:7-8; S Ps 108:12; S Isa 2:22
  16. Psalm 118:9 : Ps 146:3
  17. Psalm 118:10 : S Ps 37:9
  18. Psalm 118:11 : Ps 88:17
  19. Psalm 118:11 : Ps 3:6
  20. Psalm 118:12 : Dt 1:44
  21. Psalm 118:12 : S Ps 58:9
  22. Psalm 118:12 : Ps 37:9
  23. Psalm 118:13 : ver 7; 2Ch 18:31; Ps 86:17
  24. Psalm 118:14 : S Ex 15:2
  25. Psalm 118:14 : S Ps 62:2
  26. Psalm 118:15 : S Job 8:21; S Ps 106:5
  27. Psalm 118:15 : S Ex 15:6; Ps 89:13; 108:6
  28. Psalm 118:15 : Lk 1:51
  29. Psalm 118:17 : Hab 1:12
  30. Psalm 118:17 : S Dt 32:3; Ps 64:9; 71:16; 73:28
  31. Psalm 118:18 : Jer 31:18; 1Co 11:32; Heb 12:5
  32. Psalm 118:18 : Ps 86:13
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 28:2

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Posted on

11/18/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 37:1-38:23, James 1:19-2:17, Psalms 117:1-2, Proverbs 28:1

Today is the 18th of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today as we officially close down another one of the weeks that we have together in this year. And we’ve been reading from the Common English Bible this week, which is what we’ll do today and move our way into Ezekiel and then the book of James. But first, Ezekiel 37 verse 1 through 38 verse 23.

Commentary:

Alright. Let’s talk about Ezekiel chapter 37 for a quick minute before we talk about James because I just need a second to get over the spanking I just got from James, like, you know what I mean? So, Ezekiel 37, The Valley of the Dry Bones has always been a riveting picture to me - this vast field of bones, bleached by the sun of long dead people probably fell on a battlefield or fell as they tried to escape. Of course, this is happening in a vision that Ezekiel has been swept into. And so, these are bones, like, they’re long dead, it’s long over, and they’ve just been left, and God asks Ezekiel, what you think, can these bones live again? I mean, how would you answer a question like that, other than how Ezekiel did, which is, only You Lord would possibly know the answer. And God tells him to speak out, to call the bones together, to prophesy out to them. And he does. And as he is saying those words the bones begin to come back together and they become like full skeletons and then tendons and muscle and skin, like, cover them. And, so, now you have this vast horde of people who have been killed and were long dead all back together again, but they’re not alive. And then God invites Ezekiel to call to the four winds the breath of life. And that’s what he does. And life returns to these dead, long dead, bones, a great army. The imagery is so riveting because it’s calling back to life something that was long dead. I remember being in Washington DC, which is our nation’s capital, one year many, many years ago. I was with a friend and we went to Arlington Cemetery, which is our national military cemetery. And, you know, most states, probably all states, have them too. But this is a national Cemetery and I remember we were walking around and we found this tomb of the unknown soldier and found a bench and pulled out the Scriptures and spoke this out, not expecting mass resurrections, but just considering the church and the good news and how only the breath of life that comes from the mouth of God can bring back to life that which is dead. And several weeks after that, I was out on a walk talking to God about this when I felt the strong impression - I want you to build a wind farm. This was several years after the Daily Audio Bible started. It certainly wasn’t a vision like Ezekiel or anything like that. It’s just this impression. I saw people all over the world calling the breath of life from the four winds through prayer for one another, speaking life over one another. And I feel like every day when we get to the end of our reading for the day and the words of prayer and encouragement come in from all over the world and we hear them, that’s what we’re doing, and that’s what we are going to continue to do and it has become one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, the way that this community behaves toward one another, and the freedoms that we have extended toward one another, the grace that we have offered one another - to speak, out loud, the deepest darkest things in our lives without fear of retribution. To me, that’s calling the breath of life and it’s been a beautiful thing since we began to do it all those years ago. And if you’ve ever gotten our coffee or tea, you’ll notice that it’s called Wind Farm. Now you know why. And if you’ve ever seen the Daily Audio Bible logo and wondered, what is this, what is this, an airplane propeller, what is this? No, it’s four blades that make a windmill and as the four blades come together in the middle, it creates a cross. And now you know why. And Jill and I have a son, a five-year-old little boy, whose name is Ezekiel. And now you know why. And we would do well to remember this story in Ezekiel, chapter 37, because every day we have a choice to speak out death and darkness into this world and over people, even those that we love. We have no shortage of pointing out our failings to each other, but how often are we calling the breath of life over each other? And what would happen to the world if we all did?

Maybe we should listen to the words found in the book of James, ‘know this my dear brothers and sisters, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth in the growth of wickedness and welcome the word planted deep inside you, the very word that is able to save you’. You see, those are instructions, which means we have to participate, which means we have to turn our hearts in this direction, which is what James is saying. ‘You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves’. Then James goes on to say later in our reading, ‘claiming to have faith can’t save anyone. Faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity’, according to James. And of course, at length, we went through the book of Hebrews and learned that faith was the very thing that we need to navigate a new thing that God is doing in the world, a new covenant. And, so, may we build a wind farm together. Not only as the community of the Daily Audio Bible, but in everything that we do. May the Holy Spirit’s energy flow through us as it blows throughout the earth, bringing back to life that which has long been dead.

Prayer:

Father, what can we say? But Holy Spirit come and fall upon us. Restore to life what is dead inside of us, bring us back and help us to call the breath of life from all corners of this earth, understanding that it makes a profound difference in Your kingdom on this earth. Open our eyes. Help us to lift our eyes to the horizon and get our equilibrium back and get our balance back. We’ve been looking down so long, trudging along, moving forward, step-by-step, feeling like there’s no hope when there is. Give us the ears to hear the need around us. Help us to call life into it. Help us to not be hearers only but, by hearing, moved to action and may that action be the work of Your kingdom in this world. Come Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Announcements:

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If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There’s a link, it’s on the homepage. And I offer my humble, heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has ever clicked that link. This is how we are here. Thank you profoundly for your partnership. If you prefer the mail, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill, TN 37174.

And, of course, if you have a prayer request or comment, there are numbers that you can call. If you’re in the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number. In the UK and Europe 44-20-3608-8078 and in the Lands down under 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday November 18, 2017 (NIV)

Ezekiel 37-38

Valley of dry bones

37 The Lord’s power overcame me, and while I was in the Lord’s spirit, he led me out and set me down in the middle of a certain valley. It was full of bones. 2 He led me through them all around, and I saw that there were a great many of them on the valley floor, and they were very dry.

3 He asked me, “Human one, can these bones live again?”

I said, “Lord God, only you know.”

4 He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, Dry bones, hear the Lord’s word! 5 The Lord God proclaims to these bones: I am about to put breath in you, and you will live again. 6 I will put sinews on you, place flesh on you, and cover you with skin. When I put breath in you, and you come to life, you will know that I am the Lord.”

7 I prophesied just as I was commanded. There was a great noise as I was prophesying, then a great quaking, and the bones came together, bone by bone. 8 When I looked, suddenly there were sinews on them. The flesh appeared, and then they were covered over with skin. But there was still no breath in them.

9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, human one! Say to the breath, The Lord God proclaims: Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.”

10 I prophesied just as he commanded me. When the breath entered them, they came to life and stood on their feet, an extraordinarily large company.

11 He said to me, “Human one, these bones are the entire house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely finished.’ 12 So now, prophesy and say to them, The Lord God proclaims: I’m opening your graves! I will raise you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to Israel’s fertile land. 13 You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people. 14 I will put my breath[a] in you, and you will live. I will plant you on your fertile land, and you will know that I am the Lord. I’ve spoken, and I will do it. This is what the Lord says.”

Divided kingdom united

15 The Lord’s word came to me: 16 You, human one, take a stick, and write on it, “Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.” Take another stick and write on it, “Stick of Ephraim belonging to Joseph and everyone of the house of Israel associated with him.” 17 Join them to each other to make a single stick so that they become one stick in your hand. 18 When your people ask you, “Why won’t you tell us what these sticks mean to you?” 19 say to them, The Lord God proclaims: I’m taking Joseph’s stick, which has been in Ephraim’s hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I’m putting it with Judah’s stick, and I’m making them into a single stick so that they will be one stick in my hand. 20 When the two sticks that you’ve written on are in your hand in their sight, 21 speak to them, This is what the Lord God says: I will take the Israelites from among the nations where they’ve gone, I will gather them from all around, and I will bring them to their fertile land. 22 I will make them into a single nation in the land on Israel’s highlands. There will be just one king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or their worthless things or with any of their rebellions. I will deliver them from all the places where they sinned, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 My servant David will be king over them. There will be just one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my case laws and carefully observe my regulations. 25 They will live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where their ancestors lived. They will live on it, they and their children and their grandchildren, forever. My servant David will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace for them. It will be their covenant forever. I will grant it to them and allow them to increase. I will set my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling will be with them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 The nations will know that I, the Lord, make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.

Attack of Gog

38 The Lord’s word came to me: 2 Human one, face Gog in the land of Magog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy concerning him 3 and say, The Lord God proclaims: I challenge you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal! 4 I will turn you about, set hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, you and all your army, horses and riders, handsomely dressed, all of them, a great assembly, with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with you,[b] all of them equipped with shield and helmet. 6 Gomer and all his troops, Beth-togarmah from the far north and all his troops; many peoples are with you. 7 Stand ready and be prepared, you and all your assembly. You will watch out for those who gather against you.

8 After many days you will be called out. In future years you will enter a country that has been freed from the sword, a gathering from many peoples on the mountains of Israel, which had become a perpetual ruin. This country was brought out from the peoples, and all of them live securely. 9 You will invade like a sudden storm. You and all your troops, and the many peoples with you, will be like clouds covering the earth.

10 The Lord God proclaims: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. 11 You will say, “I will go up against the open country and come against a quiet people who all live securely without walls, bars, or doors 12 to take plunder and seize loot, to use my[c] power against the resettled waste places, against a people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring goods and cattle, and who live at the center[d] of the earth.” 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants and officials of Tarshish will say to you, “Have you come to take plunder and seize loot? Have you assembled your army to take silver and gold, to take goods and cattle, to engage in great looting?”

14 So now, prophesy, human one, and say to Gog, The Lord God proclaims: Isn’t that what you will decide to do[e] on that day, when my people Israel live securely? 15 You will come up from your place from the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding horses, a great assembly, a mighty army. 16 You will go up against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. But when this happens in future days, I will be the one who brings you up against my land, so that the nations may know me, Gog, when through you I show my holiness in their sight!

17 The Lord God proclaims: Are you the one about whom I spoke in former times through my servants, Israel’s prophets, the ones who prophesied for years in those days to bring you against them? 18 On that day, the day when Gog comes against Israel’s fertile land, my wrath will be aroused. This is what the Lord God says. 19 In my jealousy and blazing anger I declare: On that day, a great quaking will come over Israel’s fertile land. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, all the creatures crawling on the ground, and every living human being will quake in my presence. Mountains will be thrown down and cliffs will crumble; every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains. This is what the Lord God says! The swords of the warriors will be against each other, 22 and I will enter into judgment with him, with plague and blood. I will pour out flooding rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him, on all his troops, and on the many peoples with him. 23 So I will display my greatness, show my holiness, and make myself known in the sight of many nations. And they will know that I am the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Ezekiel 37:14 Or spirit
  2. Ezekiel 38:5 Cf 38:6; MT them
  3. Ezekiel 38:12 LXX; MT your
  4. Ezekiel 38:12 Or navel
  5. Ezekiel 38:14 Or you will know
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

James 1:19-2:17

Welcoming and doing the word

19 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. 20 This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you.

22 You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23 Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. 24 They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. 25 But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.

26 If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. 27 True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.

Don’t show favoritism

2 My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. 2 Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. 3 Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, “Here’s an excellent place. Sit here.” But to the poor person you say, “Stand over there”; or, “Here, sit at my feet.” 4 Wouldn’t you have shown favoritism among yourselves and become evil-minded judges?

5 My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who insult the good name spoken over you at your baptism?

8 You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself.[a] 9 But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. 10 Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. 11 The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder.[b] So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.

Showing faith

14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? 15 Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. 16 What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? 17 In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.

Footnotes:

  1. James 2:8 Lev 19:18
  2. James 2:11 Exod 20:13, 15 LXX (English: 20:13-14); Deut 5:17–18
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 117

Psalm 117

117 Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Worship him, all you peoples!
2 Because God’s faithful love toward us is strong,
the Lord’s faithfulness lasts forever!
Praise the Lord!

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 28:1

28 The wicked run away even though no one pursues them,
but the righteous are as confident as a lion.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

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11/17/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 35:1-36:.38, James 1:1-18 , Psalms 116:1-19, Proverbs 27:23-27

Today is the 17th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you today as we kind of move our way toward the back side of the week. And today we will continue our journey through the book of Ezekiel and then when we get to the New Testament, we’ll begin the book of James, and we’ll talk about that when we get there. But first, we’re reading from the common English Bible this week. Ezekiel chapter 35 verse 1 through 36 verse 38.

Alright. So, today we will begin the book of James as we move to our New Testament reading. This is an epistle or letter of James, and there are plenty of things that are very interesting about this book because throughout church history it’s been questioned in a number of ways. And it’s hard to place exactly when the book was written because it’s not exactly known which James authored the book, although there are plenty of traditions around this. There are several candidates; however, the one that seems to bubble to the top of the debate is James, the half-brother of Jesus, who, interestingly, did not believe that Jesus was the son of God during his earthly ministry, but he had a change of opinion when he saw Jesus raised from the dead. This James was a pillar of the early church, leader of the early church, the Jerusalem church. And with him as the author, it would put this book being written in the 40s. And if that is so then it would be one of the earliest New Testament writings. Other interesting facts about the book are that the reformer, Martin Luther, considered this epistle to not be a book found in the canon of the New Testament. His doctrine of Sola Fide or by faith alone seems to be called into question. In the book of James where he says that, faith without works is dead, and seems to support the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic view that grace and faith are what lead to salvation. Either way, I believe that it is in Christ alone that we are saved and perhaps this clarifies the works issue. When Jesus comes into our lives a fundamental shift takes place and that affects everything about us, including our behavior or our works. One thing is for certain, the book of James is a very direct and very bold book written to instruct and correct and even rebuke those who were falling away from their faith, who had allowed questions to cloud their minds under the threat of persecution. And if it had all be summed up, which is never the easiest thing to do, it would be like, live your life by faith and live your faith through what you do. It’s such a poignant message for today that in some ways, the book could’ve been written last week. So, let’s embrace this together. Buckle up. It’s a butt kicker. Let’s embrace the challenge that the book of James brings to our lives. It’s not enough to know what the word of God says. We can’t just know it, we have to live it.  And in living it we must answer it’s call to action. And, so, we begin. James chapter 1 verses 1 through 18.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. And here we are at a time just before things start to amp up and get so very busy, as we move into a season where we’re contemplating and rejoicing in Your arrival. And it’s a time of goodwill and good cheer to be sure. The entire world celebrates Your life and Your coming, but it’s also a very, very intense time. So, here we are, just a beat before all that gets going and want to thank You for all that we’ve been through and all that You have brought us through and all that we have gone through together with You so far this year and all that You have spoken to us from Your word. And we look forward to every day until the end of the year as we move our way to concluding reading the entire Bible. And we commit ourselves to not being overwhelmed by the season of joy but to stick to this rhythm, allowing You to speak into our lives each and every day through Your word. So, come Holy Spirit, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

Just a couple of days from now, day after tomorrow, we’ll be out on the road for the last time this year, bringing the Sneezing Jesus message in Louisiana. And we’ll be in Bossier City, Louisiana, just near Shreveport, at River Valley church. And we’re looking forward to that very much. So, if you are in that area be sure to come say hello. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the events section. And we’ll look for that.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There’s a link, it’s on the homepage. And I offer my humble, heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has ever clicked that link. This is how we are here. Thank you profoundly for your partnership. If you prefer the mail, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill, TN 37174.

And, of course, if you have a prayer request or comment, there are numbers that you can call. If you’re in the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number. In the UK and Europe 44-20-3608-8078 and in the Lands down under 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports

Hi. My name is Betty and I’ve been listening to the Daily Audio Bible since 2011. Today is November the 14th. My first time calling. I’m calling for my sister. Her name is Maria and she’s going through two procedures this week and we’re just asking you to join us in prayer for complete healing and restoration. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day.

Hello fellow DABbers this is Theo from Ohio. Praise the Lord for He is good. Bless you Brian and Jill for your global ministry now. It is as real and as personal to me as that of Ed and Kathy’s, my pastor and first lady of my church. To Joyful Noise, to Song of Joy, to Salvation is Mine, to Victoria Soldier, to Redeemed in Him, Lisa the Encourager, and Tony the Blind, your prayers, your poems, your professions of faith are awesome. They touch me and me and I know they must touch the entire family. Thank you. To Kristi of Kentucky, Julie of Maryland, Janice of Arizona, and Candice of Oregon, like Sarah, Jenn, Darrell, and Heather, you are on my prayer list too. Miguel, it seems as if your song of joy suggests that you are doing a little bit better. For Sandy of Arkansas, I stand in agreement with Monica of Missouri. Get out of that house. I say that to you as I would talk to my 18-year-old daughter. There is a difference between dating a male and dating a man. Men are providers and protectors and sacrificial. The definition of what a man is supposed to be to a woman is in Ephesians. He’s supposed to love his wife as Christ loved the church. And the first thing about that, he should be on his knees begging you to marry him. That has not come about. So, don’t try to change him, rather just pray for him. May God bless you and keep you in the hollow of his hand.

Hey there Daily Audio Bible family. This is Julie M. in North Louisiana and I’m really excited because Brian is going to be at our church this Sunday morning. So, if you live in the North Louisiana area, I just want to invite you to River Valley church at 10 o’clock Sunday because we are going to have a great time. He was here last year and we had an awesome day with him and his family. So, we can’t wait for this Sunday. Want to give a shout out to Annette A. I heard you say, Annette, that you are going to be here this Sunday from Oklahoma City and I can’t wait to meet you. Would you please find me and hug my neck? I feel like we would be best friends. I feel like I know you because I’ve prayed for you many times. You know, around here, we are kind of DAB-aholics. We listen to the DAB every day. Three years ago, I started listening to the DAB and two years ago I started a small group. So, we all listen together, listen every week, and meet once a week to talk about it. A year ago, one of the couples in our group started a Sneezing Jesus small group and they meet every week and discuss the book. And so, we have two groups here that meet at our church to talk about what God is doing and we love this ministry. We drink our Wind Farm coffee we drink out of our Clean Canteens we have a Global Campfire poster. And that’s because we love what God is doing through this ministry. Brian and Jill, we love you and we appreciate your work, your efforts, and everybody behind the scenes. We love you guys. So, I just wanted to pray for you, Brian. Lord, I just pray God You are anointing on Brian and protection over him as he travels. Lord, I pray, I thank You for the fire that You’ve put in his heart and may we all catch it and be part of this Global Campfire, God, is to spread Your word anywhere in the nation anytime day or night. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hi family. This is Shannon in Oregon and I am praying right now for Gloria. Gloria, you left a message saying, right now at this time, 10 o'clock on November 14th that you’re starting a hearing for your mom’s guardianship in Nevada. And, so, I am praying, singing over you this morning. And one of the songs I was singing was Victorious by Mandisa. So, I’m singing this over you know. [singing] With You on my side I am victorious. With you on my side I have got nothing to fear. I can walk through this valley with confidence knowing you will deliver me [singing stops].  Yes Lord, we ask for Your deliverance over your sister Gloria right now. Please empower her by Your Holy Spirit to speak the truth and love. And we ask that Your truth and Your love will win out. And that You will make a way for her mom to be able to come home with her if that’s Your will. Let Your will be done right now. On earth as it is in heaven and make a way for her brother to be transformed by Your love and Your power. Lord we love this family. We’re so thankful that we get to be part of the Daily Audio Bible family and lift each other up even though we’ve never met face to face. Our Spirits are already connected because we’re sons and daughters of You, we’re family in You. Thank You Lord. You are so good. I lift up my uncle to You, who has had just such a hard heart toward You and toward anybody who loves You. And I just ask that Holy Spirit would continue to draw…

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday November 17, 2017 (NIV)

Ezekiel 35-36

Against Edom

35 The Lord’s word came to me: 2 Human one, face Mount Seir, and prophesy against it. 3 Say to it, The Lord God proclaims:

I’m against you, Mount Seir!
I will use my power against you.
I will make you into a desolate wasteland,
4 I will turn your cities into ruins,
and you will become a desolation.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

5 Because you nursed an ancient grudge, you handed the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their distress, during their final punishment. 6 So now the Lord God proclaims: As surely as I live, I will prepare you for blood, and blood will pursue you. Because you don’t hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will turn Mount Seir into a desolate wasteland, when I cut off from it both passerby and homecomer. 8 I will fill its highlands—your hills and your valleys, and all your ravines—with its slain. Those who are slain by the sword will fall on them. 9 I will turn you into an eternal desolation. Your cities won’t be inhabited, and you will know that I am the Lord.

10 You said, “These two nations and these two territories are mine. We will take possession of them even if the Lord is there.” 11 Therefore, the Lord God proclaims: As surely as I live, I will act according to the anger and zeal you displayed when you dealt with them so hatefully. When I judge you, I will make myself known to them, 12 and you will know that I am the Lord. I’ve heard the lies and libels that you uttered against Israel’s highlands when you said, “They are laid waste. They’ve been given to us to consume.” 13 With your mouths you exalted yourselves against me and spoke your words against me. I myself heard it!

14 The Lord God proclaims: As the whole world rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation. 15 Just as you rejoiced over the house of Israel’s inheritance because it became desolate, so I will deal with you. Mount Seir, you will become a desolation, with all of Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Mountains of Israel

36 You, human one, prophesy to Israel’s mountains and say, Hear the Lord’s word, mountains of Israel! 2 The Lord God proclaims: The enemy mocked you and said, “The ancient heights belong to us.” 3 Therefore, prophesy and say, The Lord God proclaims: When the surviving nations pressed in and ravaged you from all around to lay claim to you, you became an object of the people’s slander and derision. 4 Hear the Lord God’s word, mountains of Israel! The Lord God proclaims to the mountains and the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, the desolate ruins and the abandoned cities that were contemptuously looted by the surviving nations all around you.

5 So now, says the Lord God, I will speak in my fiery passion against the surviving nations and against Edom, all those who gleefully and spitefully took my land for themselves as a possession only for plunder.[a] 6 Prophesy concerning Israel’s fertile land, and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, The Lord God proclaims: Because you endured the ridicule of the nations, my passion and fury lead me to speak. 7 So now the Lord God proclaims: I myself swear that the nations round about you will themselves suffer ridicule. 8 But you, mountains of Israel, will extend your branches and bear your fruit for my people Israel, because they will come home very soon. 9 Look, I’m here for you, and I will turn toward you, and you will be farmed and sown. 10 I will populate you with human beings, the whole house of Israel, all of them. The cities will be inhabited, the ruins rebuilt. 11 When I make people and animals increase on you, they will multiply and be fruitful. I will cause you to be inhabited as you were before. I will do more good for you than in the beginning, and you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will let people walk through you, my people Israel! They will lay claim to you, you will be their inheritance, and you will no longer deprive them of anything.

13 The Lord God proclaims: Because people say, “You are a devourer of human beings” and “You are depriving your nation,” 14 therefore, you will no longer devour human beings or deprive your nation of anything. This is what the Lord God says. 15 You won’t have to listen anymore to the taunts of the nations or endure the scorn of the peoples. And you will no longer deprive your nation of anything. This is what the Lord God says.

A new heart

16 The Lord’s word came to me: 17 Human one, when the house of Israel lived on their fertile land, they polluted it with their ways and deeds. Their ways before me were polluted like the blood of menstruation, 18 and so I poured out my fury on them for all the blood they had poured out on the land and for all the defilement of their idols. 19 When I scattered them to the nations and dispersed them into other lands, I judged them according to their ways and deeds. 20 But then when they entered the other nations, they degraded my holy name because it was said of them, “These are the Lord’s people, yet they had to leave his land.” 21 So I had compassion on my holy name, which the house of Israel degraded among the nations where they had gone.

22 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, The Lord God proclaims: House of Israel, I’m not acting for your sake but for the sake of my holy name, which you degraded among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will make my great name holy, which was degraded among the nations when you dishonored it among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord. This is what the Lord God says.

When I make myself holy among you in their sight, 24 I will take you from the nations, I will gather you from all the countries, and I will bring you to your own fertile land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be cleansed of all your pollution. I will cleanse you of all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stony heart from your body and replace it with a living one, 27 and I will give you my spirit so that you may walk according to my regulations and carefully observe my case laws. 28 Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness, and I will summon the grain and make it grow abundantly so that you won’t endure famine. 30 I will make abundant the orchards’ fruit and the fields’ produce so that you will never again endure the shame of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and no-good deeds, and you will feel disgust for yourselves because of your sinful and detestable practices. 32 Not for your sake do I act. This is what the Lord God proclaims. Let that be known to you! Be ashamed and be humiliated because of all your ways, house of Israel.

33 The Lord God proclaims: On the day that I cleanse you of all your guilt, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be farmed, and it won’t be like it was when it seemed a wasteland to all who passed by. 35 They will say, “This land, which was a desolation, has become like the garden of Eden.” And the cities that were ruined, ravaged, and razed are now fortified and inhabited. 36 The surviving nations around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was torn down and have planted what was made desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.

37 The Lord God proclaims: I will also allow the house of Israel to ask me to do this for them: that I increase them like a human flock. 38 Like the holy flock, like the flock of Jerusalem at its festivals, the ruined cities will be filled with a human flock. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Ezekiel 36:5 MT adds to drive it out.
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

James 1:1-18

Greeting

1 From James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To the twelve tribes who are scattered outside the land of Israel.

Greetings!

Stand firm

2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask. 6 Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind. 7 People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything from the Lord. 8 They are double-minded, unstable in all their ways.

9 Brothers and sisters who are poor should find satisfaction in their high status. 10 Those who are wealthy should find satisfaction in their low status, because they will die off like wildflowers. 11 The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass so that its flowers fall and its beauty is lost. Just like that, in the midst of their daily lives, the wealthy will waste away. 12 Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward.

Our cravings versus God’s gifts

13 No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14 Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. 15 Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. 18 He chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

116 I love the Lord because he hears
my requests for mercy.
2 I’ll call out to him as long as I live,
because he listens closely to me.
3 Death’s ropes bound me;
the distress of the grave[a] found me—
I came face-to-face with trouble and grief.
4 So I called on the Lord’s name:
“Lord, please save me!”[b]

5 The Lord is merciful and righteous;
our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord protects simple folk;
he saves me whenever I am brought down.
7 I tell myself, You can be at peace again,
because the Lord has been good to you.
8 You, God, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
and my foot from stumbling,
9 so I’ll walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
10 I have remained faithful, even when I said,
“I am suffering so badly!”
11 even when I said, out of fear,
“Everyone is a liar!”

12 What can I give back to the Lord
for all the good things he has done for me?
13 I’ll lift up the cup of salvation.
I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
14 I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people.
15 The death of the Lord’s faithful
is a costly loss in his eyes.

16 Oh yes, Lord, I am definitely your servant!
I am your servant and the son of your female servant—
you’ve freed me from my chains.
17 So I’ll offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you,
and I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
18 I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people,
19 in the courtyards of the Lord’s house,
which is in the center of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 116:3 Heb Sheol
  2. Psalm 116:4 Or my soul; also in 116:7-8
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 27:23-27

23 Know your flock well;
pay attention to your herds,
24 for no treasure lasts forever,
nor a crown generation after generation.
25 When the grass goes away, new growth appears,
and the plants of the hills are gathered,
26 then the lambs will provide your clothes,
and the goats will be the price of your fields.
27 There will be enough goat’s milk for your food,
for the food of your house,
and to nourish your young women.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

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11/16/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 33:1-34:31, Hebrews 13:1-25, Psalm 115:1-18, Proverbs 27:21-22

Today is the 16th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian, it is great to be here with you. And here we are, pretty much smack in the middle of the 11th month, which only leaves us a month and half left in the year 2017, if you can believe it. And we’re going to cover a lot of ground in that six weeks. When we get to the New Testament reading today we will conclude the book of Hebrews. But first, Ezekiel chapter 33 verse 1 through 34 verse 31. We’re reading from the Common English Bible this week.

Commentary:

Alight. So, we concluded the book of Hebrews today. And it’s conclusion, we had begun yesterday, with kind of postures up for our lives that continued today like: keep loving each other like family, don’t neglect to open your homes to guests, you don’t know who is coming in, you might even be entertaining an angel, remember those who have been imprisoned, remember them like you were in prison with them, and look at those who are being mistreated as if you were in their place, honor your marriage, adultery is going to take you nowhere, and you should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. And then Hebrews tells us what we have, the promise - I will never leave you or abandon you, which is far more valuable than currency. And then we’re told to remember though those who brought the good news to us in the first place and imitate their faith. And all of these things still apply to us today. And then finally we’re told not to be misled by the many strange teachings out there. And this is interesting because if we just look at our lives in the world today, we can say, yea, there’s all sorts of people saying all kinds of things out there. But where the writer of Hebrews goes is completely Hebrew. The writer of Hebrews is saying, don’t be misled by many strange teachings out there and then moves back toward the Jewish traditions, essentially saying that Jesus is the next step in the same story. And they do this by talking about an altar, and how, when a sacrifice is given, the high priest will take the blood in as an atonement for sin but the body of the animal be taken outside the camp and burned. And then showing how Jesus was taken outside the city walls and crucified. And then tells us, so, let’s go to him, outside the camp, bearing his shame. And we should remember this because all of the noise of all of our religious practices and rituals aren’t actually the things that get us anywhere. And sometimes we remember, we have to go outside the camp, bearing his shame in getting back to the core essentials of our relationship with Christ. And the writer of Hebrews counsel in this is, that we go outside the camp and continue to bear His shame and continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through Him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess His name. And may we remember this as we conclude our reading from the book of Hebrews this year. God has done a new thing through Jesus. A new covenant has been instituted, one that allows us to personally go into the holy of holies, to personally collaborate and have a relationship with God in our lives, a relationship that is built upon faith and hope in what we can’t see what we know is there. And may we hold on to the final words in the book of Hebrews, ‘may Grace be with all of you’. And may we not only read it as the conclusion of a letter but may we understand what’s being said, ‘may grace be with all of you’.

Prayer:

Father, we confess that without Your mercy and grace in our lives there is literally no telling where we would be. Were it not for Your kindness and Your sacrifice and a new covenant, we could never come into Your presence righteous and holy. And now there is no where we can flee from Your presence, nor would we want to. Come Holy Spirit, indwell us, fill us, guide us, lead us into all truth, rebuke, and correct us, and lead us on the narrow path that leads to life. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

Looking at the calendar, I’ve been saying this for a few days, a couple days from now, on the 19th, this Sunday we will be out on the road sharing the Sneezing Jesus message one final time this year and that will be in the Shreveport Louisiana area, Bossier City at River Valley church. So, if you are in the deep South, we would love to see you. Come say hello. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the events section. And we’ll look forward to that.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There’s a link, it’s on the homepage. It stays there. Thank you for clicking that link. Thank you for your partnership and allowing the Daily Audio Bible and the community that we have, that we share together every day to exist at all. Thank you for your partnership. If you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill, TN 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports

Hi guys. It’s June at Perseverance in Indonesia. I wanted to first say thank you to Shannon and Mellissa, I think, that I just heard on the November 11th call. Thank you for praying for teachers as well as be a reminder to go into the workplace ready for spiritual warfare and ready to conquer. So, that’s what I am going to pray for today. Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the opportunity to work and to go out on the mission field to glorify You, not in our own strength but by being the witnesses who can say, that’s a amazing and that’s because of God or this is a miracle and it’s only through God that it happened. Please help us to keep our eyes on that and to take them off of ourselves and the pain or the challenge that comes with being in spiritual warfare and help us to see it, to recognize it for what it is, and to turn to You and say, this is Yours, be glorified through it, and I know you will deliver me in it. In the name of Jesus, I pray for continued strength from You as each teacher who is a believer in You goes into the classroom. I ask that you will fully equip us, that we will fully surrender to You so that You can grow Your fruit of the Spirit in us and we can be empowered in those places that are broken and that are at a loss and all of the toxic and negative aspects of these…

Hi. This is Mermaid Girl South Carolina. I’m a long time listener but first time caller. Lately I have, for many and various reasons, kind of lost my joy. I’ve been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, which has caused me to gain weight and be depressed. I really am coveting your prayers that I will back the Lord, find His joy, find His and happiness, and handle all of my illnesses. I listen to you all pray for you all and I thank you very much. Love you. Bye-bye.

Hi. This is Lisa from Southern California. I’m new to the Daily Audio Bible but I want to say hello to all of the Daily Audio Bible family. I just want to say that you guys have encouraged me. I’ve been listening ever since the end of August and I’ve been encouraged by the Bible reading and the commentary, the prayers, and I want to thank the lady who called on November the 12th and was talking about our jobs and how we’re on assignment on our jobs. And it’s been pretty rough for me at my job and I was, you know, just really seeking the Lord on what I should do. It was a very hostile environment, but I began, one of the Daily Audio Bible programs told me to pray for my management and pray for my supervisor. And I began to do that and I’m seeing right now, the hand of God move at my job. So, I just want to say thank you all. I will continue to pray for all of you. I listen to you in the morning before I go to work and even when I’m on my off days. You guys are so much of an encouragement to me. Again, this is Lisa from Southern California. God bless you all. God bless you Brian. Have a wonderful day.

Hi beautiful family. This is Pastor Gene from Bradenton Florida. I would like us to lift in prayer, Pastor P.,  his wife, and that family. This is the pastoral family that suffered the attacks a few weeks ago, or maybe a couple of weeks ago, or last week, I don’t know where my mind is, the church in Texas, this happened while he was preaching. And, so, let’s just pray. Father, we just thank You for we are members of the same body and when one member is hurting all of us hurt. And Father I just want to lift up Pastor Paul P., his wife, his family. They lost, not only members of the congregation, but they lost their own 14-year-old daughter to that madman and I pray Father that Your comfort, Your peace, Your strength, Your courage will be with him and will be with every member of that congregation and every person that lost someone in that congregation. Like to quiet the voice of the enemy that is telling them that it is not worth it to follow God, that it’s not worth it to remain faithful because of what happened. I rebuke that in the name of Jesus. I thank You for the strength that You are giving Pastor P. to give glory to God, to point people God in the midst of this tragedy. And I pray that You will continue to use him and other voices that will come out of that tragedy and would testify of Your goodness and Your kindness. In the midst of the unthinkable tragedy, may what has happened, somehow, turn around and bring glory to Your name as You have promised and work for the good of those who love You as You have promised, Lord. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. I love you family. Pastor gene from Bradenton Florida. Bye.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday November 16, 2017 (NIV)

Ezekiel 33-34

The lookout

33 The Lord’s word came to me: 2 Human one, speak to your people and say to them: Suppose I bring a sword against a country, and the people of the land take a certain person from their assembly and make him their lookout. 3 When he sees the sword coming against the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people. 4 If they hear the sound of the trumpet but don’t heed the warning, when the sword comes and they are taken away, they are responsible for their blood. 5 They heard the sound of the trumpet but didn’t heed the warning, so their blood is on them. If they had paid attention to the warning, they would have saved their lives. 6 If the lookout sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet to warn the people, when the sword comes and takes away any of them, they are taken away in their sin, but I’ll hold the lookout responsible for their blood.

7 You, human one, I’ve made you a lookout for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear me speaking, you must give them warning from me. 8 If I pronounce a death sentence on wicked people, and you don’t warn them to turn from their way, they will die in their guilt, but I will hold you responsible for their blood. 9 But suppose you do warn the wicked of their ways so that they might turn from them. If they don’t turn from their ways, they will die in their guilt, but you will save your life.

10 You, human one, say to the house of Israel: This is what all of you are saying: “How our transgressions and our sins weigh on us! We waste away because of them. How can we live?” 11 Say to them, This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? If the wicked turn from their ways, they will live. Turn, completely turn from your wicked ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?

12 You, human one, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous doesn’t rescue them when they begin to sin. Nor does the wickedness of the wicked make them stumble if they turn from their wickedness. If the righteous sin, their righteousness won’t protect them. 13 Even if I’ve told the righteous they will live, none of their righteous deeds will be remembered if they trust in their righteousness and do wrong. They will die because of their evil deeds. 14 And even if I have pronounced a death sentence on the wicked, if they turn from sin and do what is just and right— 15 if they return pledges, make restitution for robbery, and walk in life-giving regulations in order not to sin—they will live and not die. 16 None of the sins they’ve committed will be remembered against them. They’ve done what is just and right, and they will live.

17 Yet your people say, “My Lord’s way doesn’t measure up.” Isn’t it their ways that don’t measure up? 18 When the righteous turn from their righteousness to do wrong, they will die because of it. 19 And when the wicked turn from their wickedness to do what is just and right, it is for that reason they will live. 20 Yet you say, “My Lord’s way doesn’t measure up.” I judge each one of you according to your ways, house of Israel!

News from Jerusalem

21 In the twelfth year, on the fifth day of the tenth month of our exile, a survivor from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has fallen!” 22 The Lord’s power was with me in the evening before the survivor arrived, and just before he arrived in the morning, God opened my mouth. So my mouth was opened, and I was no longer speechless.

23 The Lord’s word came to me: 24 Human one, those who live among those ruins in Israel’s fertile land are saying, “Abraham was just one man, and he inherited the land. We are many, so certainly the land has been given to us as an inheritance.”

25 So say to them, The Lord God proclaims: You eat with the blood, you lift your eyes to the idols, and you shed blood. Should you inherit the land? 26 You live by the sword, you observe detestable practices, and every one of you commits adultery.[a] Should you inherit the land?

27 Say to them, The Lord God proclaims: As surely as I live, those in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the countryside I will give to the wild beasts to consume, and those in the strongholds and caves will die of plague. 28 I will make the land an uninhabitable waste. Its proud strength will come to an end, and Israel’s highlands will become so deserted that no one will cross through them. 29 They will know that I am the Lord when I make the land an uninhabitable waste because of all their detestable practices.

A fickle audience

30 As for you, human one, your people talk about you beside the walls and in their doorways. One by one, they say to each other, “Let’s go hear what sort of message has come from the Lord.” 31 So they come to you as people do, and they sit before you as my people. They listen to your words, but they refuse to do them. Though they speak of their longing[b] for me, they act out of their own interests and opinions. 32 To them you are like a singer of love songs with a lovely voice and skilled technique. They listen to your words, but no one does them. 33 When this comes—and it is certainly coming—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

The good shepherd

34 The Lord’s word came to me: 2 Human one, prophesy against Israel’s shepherds. Prophesy and say to them, The Lord God proclaims to the shepherds: Doom to Israel’s shepherds who tended themselves! Shouldn’t shepherds tend the flock? 3 You drink the milk, you wear the wool, and you slaughter the fat animals, but you don’t tend the flock. 4 You don’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek out the lost; but instead you use force to rule them with injustice. 5 Without a shepherd, my flock was scattered; and when it was scattered, it became food for all the wild animals. 6 My flock strayed on all the mountains and on every high hill throughout all the earth. My flock was scattered, and there was no one to look for them or find them. 7 So now shepherds, hear the Lord’s word! 8 This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, without a shepherd, my flock became prey. My flock became food for all the wild animals. My shepherds didn’t seek out my flock. They tended themselves, but they didn’t tend my flock.

9 So, shepherds, hear the Lord’s word! 10 The Lord God proclaims: I’m against the shepherds! I will hold them accountable for my flock, and I will put an end to their tending the flock. The shepherds will no longer tend them, because I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and they will no longer be their food.

11 The Lord God proclaims: I myself will search for my flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out the flock when some in the flock have been scattered, so will I seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered during the time of clouds and thick darkness. 13 I will gather and lead them out from the countries and peoples, and I will bring them to their own fertile land. I will feed them on Israel’s highlands, along the riverbeds, and in all the inhabited places. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their sheepfold will be there, on Israel’s lofty highlands. On Israel’s highlands, they will lie down in a secure fold and feed on green pastures. 15 I myself will feed my flock and make them lie down. This is what the Lord God says. 16 I will seek out the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the wounded, and strengthen the weak. But the fat and the strong I will destroy, because I will tend my sheep[c] with justice.

17 As for you, my flock, the Lord God proclaims: I will judge between the rams and the bucks among the sheep and the goats. 18 Is feeding in good pasture or drinking clear water such a trivial thing that you should trample and muddy what is left with your feet? 19 But now my flock must feed on what your feet have trampled and drink water that your feet have muddied.

20 So the Lord God proclaims to them: I will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 You shove with shoulder and flank, and with your horns you ram all the weak sheep until you’ve scattered them outside. 22 But I will rescue my flock so that they will never again be prey. I will even judge between the sheep! 23 I will appoint for them a single shepherd, and he will feed them. My servant David will feed them. He will be their shepherd. 24 I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince. I, the Lord, have spoken. 25 I will make a covenant of peace for them, and I will banish the wild animals from the land. Then they will safely live in the desert and sleep in the forest. 26 I will give them and those around my hill a blessing by sending the rain in its season. They will be rains of blessing. 27 The trees in the field will bear fruit, and the earth will yield its harvest. They will be safe on their fertile land, and they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and deliver them from those who enslaved them. 28 The nations will no longer prey on them, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will live in safety, with no one to trouble them. 29 I will establish for them a place famous for what it grows. No longer will they experience famine in the land, nor will they bear the disgrace of the nations. 30 They will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are my people. This is what the Lord God says. 31 You are my flock, the flock of my pasture. You are human, and I am your God. This is what the Lord God says.

Footnotes:

  1. Ezekiel 33:26 Or defiles his neighbor's wife
  2. Ezekiel 33:31 Or love songs
  3. Ezekiel 34:16 Or them
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Hebrews 13

Our acts of service and sacrifice

13 Keep loving each other like family. 2 Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. 3 Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. 4 Marriage must be honored in every respect, with no cheating on the relationship, because God will judge the sexually immoral person and the person who commits adultery. 5 Your way of life should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.[a] 6 This is why we can confidently say,

The Lord is my helper,
and I won’t be afraid.
What can people do to me?[b]

7 Remember your leaders who spoke God’s word to you. Imitate their faith as you consider the way their lives turned out. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

9 Don’t be misled by the many strange teachings out there. It’s a good thing for the heart to be strengthened by grace rather than by food. Food doesn’t help those who live in this context. 10 We have an altar, and those who serve as priests in the meeting tent don’t have the right to eat from it. 11 The blood of the animals is carried into the holy of holies by the high priest as an offering for sin, and their bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy with his own blood.

13 So now, let’s go to him outside the camp, bearing his shame. 14 We don’t have a permanent city here, but rather we are looking for the city that is still to come.

15 So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess his name. 16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.

Closing greeting and blessing

17 Rely on your leaders and defer to them, because they watch over your whole being as people who are going to be held responsible for you. They need to be able to do this with pleasure and not with complaints about you, because that wouldn’t help you. 18 Pray for us. We’re sure that we have a good conscience, and we want to do the right thing in every way. 19 I’m particularly asking you to do this so that I can be returned to you quickly.

20 May the God of peace,
who brought back the great shepherd of the sheep,
our Lord Jesus,
from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21 equip you with every good thing to do his will,
by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory forever and always. Amen.

22 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to put up with this message of encouragement, since I’ve only written a short letter to you! 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, we will travel together to see you.

24 Greet your leaders and all of God’s holy people. The group from Italy greets you.

25 May grace be with all of you.

Footnotes:

  1. Hebrews 13:5 Deut 31:6; Gen 28:15
  2. Hebrews 13:6 Ps 118:6
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 115

Psalm 115

115 Not to us, Lord, not to us—
no, but to your own name give glory
because of your loyal love and faithfulness!

2 Why do the nations say,
“Where’s their God now?”
3 Our God is in heaven—
he can do whatever he wants!
4 Their idols are just silver and gold—
things made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but they can’t speak.
They have eyes, but they can’t see.
6 They have ears, but they can’t hear.
They have noses, but they can’t smell.
7 They have hands, but they can’t feel.
They have feet, but they can’t walk.
They can’t even make a noise in their throats!
8 Let the people who made these idols
and all who trust in them
become just like them!

9 But you, Israel, trust in the Lord!
God is their help and shield.
10 Trust in the Lord, house of Aaron!
God is their help and shield.
11 You who honor the Lord, trust in the Lord!
God is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
God will bless the house of Israel;
God will bless the house of Aaron;
13 God will bless those who honor the Lord—
from the smallest to the greatest.

14 May the Lord add to your numbers—
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth!
16 The highest heaven belongs to the Lord,
but he gave the earth to all people.
17 The dead don’t praise the Lord,
nor do those who go down to silence.
18 But us? We will bless the Lord
from now until forever from now!

Praise the Lord!

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 27:21-22

21 A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold,
so are people in the presence of someone who praises them.
22 Even if you grind fools in a mortar,
even grinding them along with the grain,
their folly won’t be driven from them.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible