The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday April 25, 2018 (NIV)

Judges 4-5

The Lord Calls Barak Through Deborah

After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did what the Lord considered evil. So the Lord used King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled at Hazor, to defeat them. The commander of King Jabin’s army was Sisera, who lived at Harosheth Haggoyim. The people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. King Jabin had 900 chariots made of iron and had cruelly oppressed Israel for 20 years.

Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet. She was the judge in Israel at that time. She used to sit under the Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. The people of Israel would come to her for legal decisions.

Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The Lord God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you. I will lead Sisera (the commander of Jabin’s army), his chariots, and troops to you at the Kishon River. I will hand him over to you.’”

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

Deborah replied, “Certainly, I’ll go with you. But you won’t win any honors for the way you’re going about this, because the Lord will use a woman to defeat Sisera.”

Barak Defeats Jabin

So Deborah started out for Kedesh with Barak. 10 Barak called the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten thousand men went to fight under his command. Deborah also went along with him.

11 Heber the Kenite had separated from the other Kenites (the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law). Heber went as far away as the oak tree at Zaanannim near Kedesh and set up his tent.

12 The report reached Sisera that Barak, son of Abinoam, had come to fight at Mount Tabor. 13 So Sisera summoned all his chariots (900 chariots made of iron) and all his troops from Harosheth Haggoyim to come to the Kishon River.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Attack! This is the day the Lord will hand Sisera over to you. The Lord will go ahead of you.”

So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men behind him. 15 The Lord threw Sisera, all his chariots, and his whole army into a panic in front of Barak’s deadly assault. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth Haggoyim. So Sisera’s whole army was killed in combat. Not one man survived.

17 Meanwhile, Sisera fled on foot toward the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera did this because King Jabin of Hazor and Heber’s family were on peaceful terms. 18 When Jael came out of her tent, she met Sisera. She told him, “Sir, come in here! Come into my tent. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she hid him under a tent curtain.

19 Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink. I’m thirsty.” But instead she gave him milk to drink and covered him up again.

20 He said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent. If anyone comes and asks if there has been a man around here, tell them no.”

21 When Sisera had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion, Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and walked quietly toward him with a hammer in her hand. She hammered the tent peg through his temples into the ground. So Sisera died.

22 Barak was still pursuing Sisera. When Jael came out of her tent, she met him. She said to him, “Come in! I have something to show you—the man you’ve been looking for.” So Barak went into her tent. He saw Sisera lying there dead with the tent peg through his temples.

23 So on that day, God used the people of Israel to crush the power of King Jabin of Canaan. 24 The Israelites became stronger and stronger until they destroyed him.

The Victory Song of Deborah and Barak

On that day Deborah and Barak, son of Abinoam, sang this song:

Praise the Lord!
Men in Israel vowed to fight,
and people volunteered for service.

Listen, you kings!
Open your ears, you princes!
I will sing a song to the Lord.
I will make music to the Lord God of Israel.
O Lord,
when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the country of Edom,
the earth quaked,
the sky poured,
the clouds burst,
and the mountains shook
in the presence of the Lord God of Sinai,
in the presence of the Lord God of Israel.

In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of Jael,
roads were deserted.
Those who traveled took back roads.
Villages in Israel were deserted—
deserted until I, Deborah, took a stand—
took a stand as a mother of Israel.
When the people chose new gods,
war broke out inside the city gates.
Not a weapon was seen among 40,000 in Israel.

My heart goes out to Israel’s commanders,
to those people who volunteered.
Praise the Lord!
10 You people who ride on brown donkeys,
who sit on saddle blankets,
and who walk on the road—think.
11 Listen to the voices of those singing at the wells.[a]
Over and over again they repeat
the victories of the Lord,
the victories for his villages in Israel.
Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates.

12 Get up! Get up, Deborah!
Get up! Get up and create a song!

Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.
13 Then those mighty men who were left came down.
The Lord’s people went into battle for me against the mighty soldiers.
14 Those who had settled in Amalek’s country
came down from Ephraim.
Benjamin came with its troops
after Ephraim.
Commanders from Machir went into battle.
The officers from Zebulun also went.
15 Issachar’s commanders were with Deborah.
They were also with Barak,
sent into the valley under his command.

Among Reuben’s divisions important men had second thoughts.
16 Why did you sit between the saddlebags?
Was it to listen to the shepherds playing their flutes?
Reuben’s divisions of important men had second thoughts.
17 Gilead remained east of the Jordan River.
And Dan . . . Why did he stay by the ships?
Asher sat on the seashore and remained along the inlets.
18 But Zebulun mocked death,
and Naphtali risked his life on the battlefield.

19 Kings came and fought.
Then the kings of Canaan fought.
They fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo.
But they didn’t carry off any rich loot.
20 The stars fought from heaven.
They fought against Sisera from their heavenly paths.
21 The Kishon River swept them away—
that old river, the Kishon.

I must march on with strength!

22 Then the horses’ hoofs pounded.
The mighty war horses galloped on and on.
23 “Curse Meroz!” said the Messenger of the Lord.
“Bitterly curse those who live there!
They did not come to help the Lord,
to help the Lord and his heroes.”
24 Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite,
should be the most blessed woman,
the most blessed woman living in a tent.
25 Sisera asked for water.
She gave him milk.
She offered him buttermilk in a royal bowl.
26 She reached for a tent peg with one hand,
for a workman’s hammer with the other.
She struck Sisera.
She crushed his head.
She shattered and pierced his temples.
27 He sank.
He fell.
He lay between her feet!
He sank.
He fell between her feet.
Where he sank, he fell dead.

28 Sisera’s mother looked through her window
and cried as she peered through the lattice.
“Why is his chariot taking so long?
Why don’t I hear the clatter of his chariots?”
29 Her wisest servants gave her an answer.
But she kept repeating to herself,
30 “They’re really finding and dividing the loot:
A girl or two for each soldier,
colorful clothes for Sisera,
colorful, embroidered clothes,
and two pieces of colorful, embroidered cloth
for the neck of the looter.”

31 May all your enemies die like that, O Lord.
But may those who love the Lord
be like the sun when it rises in all its brightness.

So the land had peace for 40 years.

Footnotes:

  1. Judges 5:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Luke 22:35-53

35 Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?”

“Not a thing!” they answered.

36 Then he said to them, “But now, the person who has a wallet and a traveling bag should take them along. The person who doesn’t have a sword should sell his coat and buy one. 37 I can guarantee that the Scripture passage which says, ‘He was counted with criminals,’ must find its fulfillment in me. Indeed, whatever is written about me will come true.”

38 The disciples said, “Lord, look! Here are two swords!”

Then Jesus said to them, “That’s enough!”

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane(A)

39 Jesus went out of the city to the Mount of Olives as he usually did. His disciples followed him. 40 When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t be tempted.”

41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if it is your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine.”

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 So he prayed very hard in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.[a]

45 When Jesus ended his prayer, he got up and went to the disciples. He found them asleep and overcome with sadness. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up, and pray that you won’t be tempted.”

Jesus Is Arrested(B)

47 While he was still speaking to the disciples, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus to kiss him.

48 Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you intend to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 The men who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen. So they asked him, “Lord, should we use our swords to fight?” 50 One of the disciples cut off the right ear of the chief priest’s servant.

51 But Jesus said, “Stop! That’s enough of this.” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple guards, and leaders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53 I was with you in the temple courtyard every day and you didn’t try to arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules.”

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 22:44 Some manuscripts and translations omit verses 43 and 44.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Psalm 94

Psalm 94

O Lord, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, appear!
Arise, O Judge of the earth.
Give arrogant people what they deserve.
How long, O Lord, will wicked people triumph?
How long?

They ramble.
They speak arrogantly.
All troublemakers brag about themselves.
They crush your people, O Lord.
They make those who belong to you suffer.
They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.
They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.
The God of Jacob doesn’t even pay attention to it.”

Pay attention, you stupid people!
When will you become wise, you fools?
God created ears.
Do you think he can’t hear?
He formed eyes.
Do you think he can’t see?
10 He disciplines nations.
Do you think he can’t punish?
He teaches people.
Do you think he doesn’t know anything?
11 The Lord knows that people’s thoughts are pointless.

12 O Lord, blessed is the person
whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.
13 You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble
while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

14 The Lord will never desert his people
or abandon those who belong to him.
15 The decisions of judges will again become fair,
and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.[a]

16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?
17 If the Lord had not come to help me,
my soul would have quickly fallen silent in death.

18 When I said, “My feet are slipping,”
your mercy, O Lord, continued to hold me up.
19 When I worried about many things,
your assuring words soothed my soul.

20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things
able to be your partners?
21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people.
They condemn innocent people to death.
22 The Lord has become my stronghold.
My God has become my rock of refuge.
23 He has turned their own wickedness against them.
He will destroy them because of their sins.
The Lord our God will destroy them.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 94:15 English equivalent of this verse difficult.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Proverbs 14:3-4

Because of a stubborn fool’s words a whip is lifted against him,
but wise people are protected by their speech.

Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is empty,
but the strength of an ox produces plentiful harvests.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

04/24/2018 DAB Transcript

Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalms 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 14:1-2

Today is the 24th day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and, as is the case every day, It’s a pleasure to be here with you to take the next step forward. That’s what we’ve come to do, the next step, the next step forward as we continue to move through the Scriptures this year. And we’re kind of launching ourselves into the book of Judges, which is essentially the story of what happens after Joshua, what happens after the people get into the land and begin settling it. And, so, we’ll pick up today where we left off yesterday. We’re reading from the God’s Word translation. Judges chapter 2 verse 10 through 3 verse 31.

Commentary:

Alright. So, we are moving in, now have been introduced to a couple of Judges. Some of the stories in the book of Judges will meet these people who were very, very influential over the culture for their lifetime, but all of that will be encapsulated into just a very small couple paragraphs. Others will chase their stories down and get full detail. And the book of Judges isn’t particularly a flowery book. It’s the story of what happens after Joshua. And, so, we’re going to cover quite a few generations of back-and-forth. And the children of Israel are in the Promised Land but they are doing exactly what they were warned against. And, I mean, if we remember the book of Deuteronomy, we remember Moses going at length in great detail over every possible eventuality and warned them about the trajectories that they could choose once they get into the land. Joshua did the same thing and here we are and they’re making these choices that are leading them away from God and into idolatry and mixture that they were warned about. So, from a macro level, here we are. The children of Israel have been, you know, chasing the Promised Land since the beginning of the Bible. Now they’re in the Promised Land and everything that they’ve been warned about they’re doing. So, let’s just watch where the road goes because this is a mirror of our own lives. And we do the same thing, right? We can do what we know is wrong willfully, continually, habitually and it goes somewhere and it’s not good and then we turn around and blame God or everyone else. And, so, you know, let’s just watch this playout in the book of Judges.

And then, of course, in the book of Luke we are at, you know, we’re entering into the passion story once again through Luke’s eyes.

And then we come to Psalm 92 and 93, which are beautiful, beautiful Psalms to read. But right up at the top, right in the beginning of Psalm 92, embedded just almost as like a little secret is a tip, a practice, one that if we will put it into practice in our lives will most assuredly change the atmosphere of our days. ‘It is good’, the psalmist says, ‘it is good to announce your mercy in the morning and your faithfulness in the evening.’ It’s good to announce these things. In other words, it’s good to wake up and as your brain kind of engages and your heart and your body all get reunited from a good night’s sleep and you get up and you get moving. It’s good to declare the mercy of the Lord that is new every morning over your life, over your family, over the world, over all of the events of the day. It is good to announce God’s mercy in the morning according to the Psalms. And it’s good to announce His faithfulness in the evening, right? At the end of the day when you can look back and see that you have basked and bathed in the mercy of the Lord all day long and He has been faithful. This practice in the morning and in the evening would only ever orient our heart to God. And according to the Psalms it’s good. This is a good idea. This is a good thing to do. So, that’s simple enough. Write that one down. Begin to put that in practice. Try it the rest of this week. See what it does inside of you and continue it forward and you’ll find that every morning and every evening you are orienting your heart back to God and paying attention to what is happening in your life.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, we invite You into that by first saying, Your mercy is new every morning and we see that and we declare that and we announce Your mercy. And Your faithfulness, Father, it chases us through every day. You are always with us. We are not always paying attention. But You are always with us. You are faithful in so many things that we don’t even take the time to observe. But we’re working on that and we invite Your Holy Spirit to help us so that at the end of each day we can announce Your faithfulness. And we can do it specifically. We can see the specific ways that as we’ve become aware of Your presence and listened to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, that we’ve seen You be faithful. So, come Holy Spirit as we begin to pay attention to these little instructions that do so much inside of us. Come, Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hey everybody it’s Margo from Australia. I was actually going to call in about something else today but I’ve just heard on today’s reading, oh, darn it, I’ve forgotten her name from Arizona. Anyway, her husband has cancer and his name is Boyd, I remember that. And it occurs to me that of all the calls and of all the prayer requests we get on here, this is the one, this is the sharpest call of most vital significance. I want you to know beautiful lady I am praying for Boyd. He has cancer and is dying and he may not know the Lord. So, this is…this is a crucial prayer request. And I want to encourage everyone right now, stop what you’re doing and pray for Boyd because this is a man who may die without knowing Jesus. So, I’m praying, I’m believing in Jesus’ name that the Lord will reveal Himself, reveal His face to Boyd and Boyd will make a genuine, 100% devoted commitment to Jesus before he dies. And I’m going to commit to keep praying for that. And I’m really asking everyone else to do the same. This is…this is, as I’ve said, the most important type of prayer request that we could ever receive. God bless you. Have a lovely day. Bye for now.

Hello DABbers. This is EZ and I wanted to reach out because I heard in the community prayer, the prayers for the infant named Pierce who has just had a terrible, terrible time. And I wanted to kind of use this as kind of a lead in to say, what is going to say the other day, it was just to share just a small bit of my story. I was 1 pound when I was born. I was 4 months premature. I dropped down to underneath the pound. I had pneumonia, head bleeds, seizures, meningitis - all at the same time, simultaneously. It was a giant international news story. CNN covered it. We got letters and phone calls from all over the world, including a beautiful, incredible letter from Pres. Reagan when he was still in the White House. Those of you who are old enough to remember, know what a great communicator he was. And it was something that if Brian wants me to I’ll send it in and let him read it…on the program. It’s amazing. Basically, that there is a purpose. And as long as there is life there is hope. And one day we will all understand why I and now Pierce have gone through the things what we’ve gone through. I never looked at it as a struggle. I came home 4 months later. They found out I was going to stay blind, which I have. But I have succeeded by the grace and power of God, the faith of people all over, and an amazing family and friends. And I believe firmly that he will do the same because when you are enveloped and surrounded by prayers and you are surrounded by the peace that passes all understanding, the plan that He has for you is going to come to fruition no matter what adversity is thrown at you. I am living proof of it. And I claim that promise now for Pierce. I just…

Hello Daily Audio Bible. This is __ calling from Syracuse New York. And I just heard Vicki call in from Arizona about her husband who is dying from cancer. And the Lord just really prompted me to call back because I had called a month ago. And Vicki, I’m in the same boat. My 55-year-old wife of almost 28 years is dying from a horrible, horrible type with ovarian cancer. And it’s so sad to see her body just decaying and just being corrupted. And I guess, to be honest with you, my hope lies in the Scripture that I’ve just been searching day and night and it’s there. And there’s a beautiful piece in Corinthians. ‘Therefore, we don’t lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are renewed day by day for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.’ And I, just absolutely amazed at the power that comes from the Scriptures. And even later in Corinthians, when Paul was talking about the resurrection, he said, ‘so it is with the resurrection of the dead, that what is sown is perishable but what is raised is imperishable. What is sown in dishonor is raised in glory.’ So, Vicki, just keep looking to God, keep looking to Jesus Christ. He is the answer. Love you so much and my prayers are with you. God bless you. Bye-bye family.

Hi. This is Nancy from Delaware. I wanted to pray for Vicki who called in on April 22nd from Arizona. She was praying for salvation for her husband of 37 years. Vicki, I just want to tell you, I prayed for 35 years and three years ago my husband gave his life the Sunday before he died. I would pursue him with the gospel and have faith that God did promise you’ll have full salvation. So many people prayed for my husband as I know they probably have pray for yours. And just keep believing that before he leaves this world that the good Lord is going to take him. I was with my husband in a miraculous way the day he died. And after everybody left I was alone with him as he died and it was such a blessing. __ such hourly. And I just wanted to encourage you from somebody. I was married 35 years with my husband. And I know __  you and I just wanted to encourage you. Keep praying. God is so good. And I know he’ll hear your prayers. God bless you Vicki.

Daily Audio Bible brothers and sisters. I want to thank you so much for being a part of my spiritual family. I also want to remind those of us that worry about our family and our children and our friends about their everlasting lives, that we have to trust in the Lord. And if they’ve been saved then we have to believe in their salvation and not fret over it because their spiritual journey is not our spiritual journey and their relationship with Christ is not the same as ours. So, we just have to believe in that. Do not waste a moment of your time and your love of that person worrying about their salvation. Love them, walk in love, let them see Christ in you and maybe you will be able to start to see Christ in them. Love each other. Thank you so much brothers and sisters for letting me be a part of this family, even though normally I just listen. And I pray for you. And I am so thankful. I’ve been a part of this family for 11+ years and it has truly been a blessing to my life. Talk to you guys later. Love you.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday April 24, 2018 (NIV)

Judges 2:10-3:31

10 That whole generation had joined their ancestors in death. So another generation grew up after them. They had no personal experience with the Lord or with what he had done for Israel.

The Sin of the Next Generation

11 The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. They began to serve other gods—the Baals. 12 The Israelites abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, the God who brought them out of Egypt. They followed the other gods of the people around them. They worshiped these gods, and that made the Lord angry. 13 They abandoned the Lord to serve the god Baal and the goddess Astarte. 14 So the Lord became angry with the people of Israel. He handed them over to people who robbed them. He also used their enemies around them to defeat them. They could no longer stand up against their enemies. 15 Whenever the Israelites went to war, the power of the Lord brought disaster on them. This was what the Lord said he would do in an oath. So he made them suffer a great deal.

16 Then the Lord would send judges[a] to rescue them from those who robbed them. 17 But the people wouldn’t listen to the judges. The Israelites chased after other gods as though they were prostitutes and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors who had obeyed the Lord’s commands. They refused to be like their ancestors. 18 But when the Lord appointed judges for the Israelites, he was with each judge. The Lord rescued them from their enemies as long as that judge was alive. The Lord was moved by the groaning of those who were tormented and oppressed. 19 But after each judge died, the people went back to their old ways and acted more corruptly than their parents. They followed, served, and worshiped other gods. They never gave up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

The Lord Allows the Nations to Stay in Order to Test His People

20 The Lord became angry with Israel. He said, “Because the people of this nation have rejected the promise I gave their ancestors and have not obeyed me, 21 I will no longer force out the nations Joshua left behind when he died. 22 I will test the people of Israel with these nations to see whether or not they will carefully follow the Lord’s ways as their ancestors did.” 23 So the Lord let these nations stay. He had not handed them over to Joshua or forced them out quickly.

These are the nations the Lord left behind to test all the Israelites who had not experienced any war in Canaan. The Lord left them to teach Israel’s descendants about war, at least those who had known nothing about it in the past. He left the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon to the border of Hamath. These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out if they would obey the commands the Lord had given their ancestors through Moses.

The People Fail the Test

So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. The Israelites allowed their sons and daughters to marry these people. Israel also served their gods.

Othniel Defeats Cushan Rishathaim

The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. They forgot the Lord their God and served other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Asherahs. The Lord became angry with the people of Israel. He used King Cushan Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim to defeat them. So Israel served Cushan Rishathaim for eight years.

Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. The Lord sent a savior to rescue them. It was Othniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz. 10 When the Lord’s Spirit came over him, he became the judge of Israel. He went out to war. The Lord handed King Cushan Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim over to him, and Othniel overpowered him. 11 So there was finally peace in the land for 40 years. Then Othniel, son of Kenaz, died.

Ehud Defeats Moab

12 Once again, the people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. So the Lord made King Eglon of Moab stronger than Israel, because Israel did what the Lord considered evil. 13 Eglon got the Ammonites and the Amalekites to help him, and they defeated the Israelites and occupied the City of Palms. 14 The Israelites served King Eglon of Moab for 18 years.

15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. The Lord sent a savior to rescue them. It was Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. (Ehud was the son of Gera.)

The people sent him with their tax payment to King Eglon of Moab. 16 Ehud made a two-edged dagger for himself. He fastened it to his right side under his clothes. 17 Then he brought the tax payment to King Eglon. (Eglon was a very fat man.) 18 When Ehud had finished delivering the payment, he sent back the men who had carried it. 19 However, Ehud turned around at the stone idols near Gilgal and returned to Eglon. He said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king replied, “Keep quiet!” Then all his advisers left the room.

20 Ehud came up to him as he sat alone in his room on the roof. He said to the king, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his throne, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right side, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. 22 Even the handle went in after the blade. Eglon’s fat covered the blade because Ehud didn’t pull the dagger out. The blade stuck out in back. [b] 23 Ehud left the room.[c] (He had closed and locked the doors of the room before he left.)

24 After Ehud went out, Eglon’s advisers came in. They were surprised that the doors were locked. “He must be using the toilet,” they said. 25 They waited and waited, but Eglon didn’t open the doors. So they took the key and opened the door. They were shocked to see their ruler lying on the floor, dead.

26 While they had been waiting, Ehud escaped. He went past the stone idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a ram’s horn in the mountains of Ephraim to summon the troops. So the troops of Israel came down from the mountains with him, and he led them. 28 He told them, “Follow me! The Lord will hand your enemy Moab over to you.”

They followed him and captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River that led to Moab and refused to let anyone cross. 29 At that time they killed about ten thousand of Moab’s best fighting men. Not one of them escaped. 30 The power of Moab was crushed by Israel that day. So there was finally peace in the land for 80 years.

Shamgar Defeats the Philistines

31 After Ehud came Shamgar, son of Anath. He killed 600 Philistines with a sharp stick used for herding oxen. So he, too, rescued Israel.

Footnotes:

  1. Judges 2:16 The judges served as God-appointed political/religious leaders of Israel.
  2. Judges 3:23 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
  3. Judges 3:23 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Luke 22:14-34

14 When it was time to eat the Passover meal, Jesus and the apostles were at the table. 15 Jesus said to them, “I’ve had a deep desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I can guarantee that I won’t eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in God’s kingdom.” 17 Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He said, “Take this, and share it. 18 I can guarantee that from now on I won’t drink this wine until God’s kingdom comes.”

The Lord’s Supper(A)

19 Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me.”

20 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new promise[a] made with my blood.”

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him(B)

21 “The hand of the one who will betray me is with me on the table. 22 The Son of Man is going to die the way it has been planned for him. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays him.”

23 So they began to discuss with each other who could do such a thing.

An Argument about Greatness

24 Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest.

25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of nations have power over their people, and those in authority call themselves friends of the people. 26 But you’re not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant. 27 Who’s the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn’t it really the person who sits at the table? But I’m among you as a servant.

28 “You have stood by me in the troubles that have tested me. 29 So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I’m giving it to you. 30 You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will also sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(C)

31 Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.”

33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I’m ready to go to prison with you and to die with you.”

34 Jesus replied, “Peter, I can guarantee that the rooster won’t crow tonight until you say three times that you don’t know me.”

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 22:20 Or “testament,” or “covenant.”
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Psalm 92-93

Psalm 92

A psalm; a song; for the day of rest—a holy day.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to praise your name, O Most High.
It is good to announce your mercy in the morning
and your faithfulness in the evening
on a ten-stringed instrument and a harp
and with a melody on a lyre.

You made me find joy in what you have done, O Lord.
I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands.
How spectacular are your works, O Lord!
How very deep are your thoughts!

A stupid person cannot know
and a fool cannot understand
that wicked people sprout like grass
and all troublemakers blossom like flowers,
only to be destroyed forever.

But you, O Lord, are highly honored forever.
Now look at your enemies, O Lord.
Now look at your enemies.
They disappear, and all troublemakers are scattered.

10 But you make me as strong as a wild bull,
and soothing lotion is poured on me.
11 My eyes gloat over those who spy on me.
My ears hear the cries of evildoers attacking me.

12 Righteous people flourish like palm trees
and grow tall like the cedars in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the Lord’s house.
They blossom in our God’s courtyards.
14 Even when they are old, they still bear fruit.
They are always healthy and fresh.
15 They make it known that the Lord is decent.
He is my rock.
He is never unfair.

Psalm 93

The Lord rules as king! He is clothed with majesty.
The Lord has clothed himself; he has armed himself with power.
The world was set in place; it cannot be moved.

Your throne was set in place a long time ago.
You are eternal.

The ocean rises, O Lord.
The ocean rises with a roar.
The ocean rises with its pounding waves.
The Lord above is mighty—
mightier than the sound of raging water,
mightier than the foaming waves of the sea.

Your written testimonies are completely reliable.
O Lord, holiness is what makes your house beautiful for days without end.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Proverbs 14:1-2

Wise People Live Righteously

The wisest of women builds up her home,
but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands.
Whoever lives right fears the Lord,
but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

04/23/2018 DAB Transcript

Judges1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Ps 90:1-91:16, Pr 13:24-25

Today is the 23rd day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is great to be here with you today as we take the steps into our work week and the steps further into the Scriptures. And today’s step will take us into a new book. We concluded the book of Joshua yesterday, which was a high point because finally, after of such a long journey we got to across the Jordan into the Promised Land. And we just spent our time in Joshua watching the taking and settling of the Promised Land, which brings us now to the beginning of the book of Judges.

Introduction to the Book of Judges:

The book of Judges, there’s no way to know exactly who the author of this book is, but the tradition is that the prophet Samuel chronicled this. Plenty of scholars don’t really feel that’s possible, that Samuel be the sole author of the book. And, so, they assume that there are many sources that collectively made up the stories of the judges. And we’re going to head into some somber territory. The book of Judges is way more somber than the book of Joshua with all of its drama. Judges is what comes next. And we’re going to watch the children of Israel as they fall away and then suffer some of the consequences of that falling away and that back-and-forth that becomes their story. So, the book of judgment, I mean, it’s called Judges, right? But it’s a book of judgment per se. It’s not called Judges because of warnings and judgments that God passes on to the children of Israel. It’s called judges because it’s the story of the 13 judges that led the children of Israel after Joshua. So, you know, Joshua’s the supreme leader of the children of Israel as they came into the Promised Land. Moses had been there leader before that. They didn’t have a king though. So, after Joshua dies, there’s nobody like him. And, so, they were ruled by these judges. And the culminating story in the book of Judges illustrates how one thing builds on another. Each decision, bearing weight on a great outcome. How subtle decisions by seemingly unrelated and really relatively unimportant people ended up bringing on the terrible annihilation of an entire tribe of Israel. But we’ll get to that. The book of Judges was probably composed around 1000 B.C. So, it’s obviously several thousand years ago. And I think the irony is that, although we’re looking back across several thousand years, we’re not going to have any problems finding ourselves in this book. It resonates with all of our stories. We’ve all had the back-and-forth, right? The ebb and flow in our relationship with God. We’ve all fallen away and returned. And we’ve been able to experience some of the repercussions of our decisions. At the same time God’s heart, His love, His heart toward us is never not reaching, it’s never not outstretched, His words are never not return to Me, come home, please come back. And we’ll watch this in the book of Judges. And God’s love is no less profound toward us now than it was then. So, we begin. Judges chapter 1 verse 1 through 2 verse 9. And we’re reading from the God’s word translation this week.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. And as we begin the book of Judges and we’ve talked about it and kind of have the lay of the land, we also understand that we’re moving into another era and that we’re going to cover a lot of territory and years. And, so, we invite Your Holy Spirit to show us that over these years the ebb and flow, the changes that happen in the land of Israel, are remarkably and accurately, showing us the pathways of our own hearts. Come, Holy Spirit. We pray in these next days. And instruct and guide us. 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. So, be sure to check it out.

I’m starting to have…I’ve got such a scratchy voice, the last couple of days. I’ve been just fighting some…fighting a cold, but I feel like…like I’m over the top. It’s weird. Some years, some years I don’t get sick at all. Some years back to back to back colds. Probably has a lot to do with what my kids bring to me. I feel like I’ve just gotten over a cold and then gotten another one within a month, man, since just before we went Israel. But I feel like this one’s about…this ones about run its course. I thank you for your prayers, prayers over everything that is the Daily Audio Bible and the community that we share together. Thank you for your prayers.

You can find out everything that you want about Daily Audio Bible and engage at dailyaudiobible.com. Prayer Wall is there. Resources are there.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that there as well. There’s a link on the homepage and I thank you for your partnership, profoundly, and very humbly. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if you prefer that, is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill 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 Prayer and Praise:

Hi DAB family. This is Remona calling from Alabama. I want to say that I love you all and I appreciate everyone, those who are in front of the camera and those who are behind and just the entire family. This is such a blessing to me on a daily basis, even the days that I skip and start to catch up, which I don’t feel at all condemned, but I am just so thankful for this community of believers and even nonbelievers. Welcome all. I wanted to call in. I was listening to the April 2nd broadcast. And a lady, she sounded as if she was from the UK, she asked for prayer because she said she’s always done things in her own strength. And how does she allow the Lord to do stuff for her. And I just wanted to let you know that you have not been operating in your own strength even though you think you have. Everything that you have done in your life has been graced to you and it’s actually God. So, just go ahead and start thanking Him. Thank Him for your heartbeat because we don’t make it pump on our own. Thank Him for your lungs. Thank Him for you being able to open those doors for yourself without allowing other people because everything that you do, the strength that you have to have your very being, comes from the Lord. So, you’ve actually already been moving in His strength. So, just go ahead and start thanking, thanking Him for everything that you can think of and then He will, because you ask and we are praying and believing, He will show you. I love you all. Once again Remona from Alabama. God bless.

Hi. This is Melody Faith. I’m calling from Canada. I’m calling today because I heard Prophetic Intercessor from North Carolina pray for those battling depression, suicidal thoughts. The word she prayed caught my attention, resonated with me. Specifically, she said these words, ‘there is hope, God is the lifter of your head, He is the strength of your days, there is purpose and destiny and God has you in the midst of His hands. God is going to give you beauty for ashes, joy is coming in the morning, and know that God is fighting for you, in you, and through you, and that your greatest moments yet are before you and not behind you.’ I’ve been carrying a burden for my son that has really been weighing me down to the point where I find it hard to pray for him. And he needs prayer. He is addicted to drugs in a big way, not just one but many. Because of that he is very depressed and so he continues to self-medicate. We’d seen him last weekend, hadn’t seen him for about 12 weeks. He was very thin. He spent most of his time sleeping. He has a court appearance coming up and yes, my husband and I are very concerned. I’m asking you family, will you help me to pray for this burden. Please pray for Jarrod. He needs Jesus. He used to love the Lord and was a real soul winner. Please pray that the chains will be broken. Also, at this point, it sounds funny, but it’s a big deal to a mom, please pray that he gets a haircut before court. Thank you, family. Thank you, Prophetic Intercessor for being obedient. And thanks to Brian and the team. God, bless.

[singing] There is no shadow you won’t light up, no mountain you won’t climb up coming after me. No wall you won’t kick down, lie you won’t tear down coming after me. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine. I couldn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it. Still You give yourself to me. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God [singing ends]. That was kind of the theme song at the More Gathering and it has permeated my whole body, seeping into my bones. There’s so much more that I could say about More Gathering but words are inadequate to describe the way our God showed up with purpose to heal, to uplift, to educate, just to share love that was on display. You know that are papa was totally present. And when you’ve had that experience you just want to tell everybody about it. I was actually on the phone with my girlfriend for over an hour telling her of my experience. I think I have her on board to come with me next year. And it was so good to meet you Brian and Jill and China, to meet you guys in person. That was really awesome. You guys rock. Hats off to Tyler, who did an amazing job as did everyone on the planning team. And I can’t end without mentioning how wonderful it was to form friendships with so many of my DAB sisters. Rachel in Houston, it was really nice meeting you. I love you sister. Thank you for those kind words. Now, I haven’t called in for a while and I am racing to catch up with my Daily Audio friends but I’m still praying for our children, especially those with addiction and mental illness and for my sister who had a court case on April 11th. That’s all for now because I think I’m running out of time and this is…

Hi. This is Stephanie the Lord’s Chic from Oklahoma and I want to reach out to Prophetic Intercessor who called and prayed for people with depression and suicidal thoughts on the 18th. Sister, I think you saved my life and the life of my marriage. I was at the point where I was going to suicide my marriage. I have been hated and bullied, I guess, by my husband’s grown children for 13 years now and I just reached a breaking point last Sunday. And that spirit of heaviness that you prayed against was so incredibly intense. And I was really considering just leaving the marriage just to preserve my sanity. I was going to give up something, someone, that I loved dearly just to get away. And you’ve given me a renewed sense of hope and I thank you so much. I actually laid the cell phone on my chest on speakerphone and prayed that prayer repeatedly and I could feel that spirit of heaviness lift and I thank you. Bless you sister. Bye-bye.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family members. This is Abby, Abby calling from Maryland. This is my first time calling this year but I have been staying plugged into the camp, campfire, you know, listening to the word of God and I have been truly blessed. I give God the glory for Brian and Jill and China. What an amazing thing China’s doing. And also just getting a chance to hear Ezekiel the other day. It was just a blessing and just reminded us how we just need to put our total trust in God, knowing that He cares for us and be like little children just like Ezekiel. It was just so awesome listening to his voice. And Brian, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you pour into our lives. And God bless you, that He reward you in a way that no man can. I’m calling to encourage people and our friends on the prayer line. I am calling especially for Anne from North Carolina. Please know that there’s value in your life. There is value in your life. Choose to speak right over your life and all will be well with you. May God watch over you, may He grant you the desires of your heart. And every other person also who calls in every day, I lift you all up into the hands of our Almighty God who’s here for you. May He keep you and watch over you. May His peace surround you all. In Jesus’ name. Thank you all. I truly can say that I love you all from the bottom of my heart. And may God continue to keep us all. In Jesus name. Have a wonderful day. Bye.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible listeners. Today is April 21st and I am calling from Dallas Texas. My name is Dammy. I’m a first-time caller. I just want to pray for the lady that called today that said her husband was leaving her. I just want to let her know she’s loved and I’m sending prayer and touch to her. And no matter how hard it gets she’s going to get through this. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday April 23, 2018 (NIV)

Judges 1:1-2:9

Israel Fails to Force Out the Canaanites

After Joshua’s death the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who will go first to fight the Canaanites for us?”

The Lord answered, “Judah’s troops will go first. I am about to hand the Canaanites over to you.”

The tribe of Judah said to the tribe of Simeon, “Come with us into the territory given to us when we drew lots, and together we will fight the people of Canaan. Then we’ll go with you into your territory.” So the tribe of Simeon went along with Judah.

Judah Attempts to Force Out the Canaanites

Judah’s troops went into battle, and the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They defeated 10,000 men at Bezek. At Bezek they also caught up with Adoni Bezek. They fought him and defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites. Adoni Bezek fled. Judah’s troops chased him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni Bezek said, “Seventy kings who had their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up food under my table. God has paid me back for what I did to them.” Judah’s troops brought Adoni Bezek to Jerusalem, where he died.

The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They killed everyone there and set the city on fire. After that, the men of Judah went to fight the Canaanites who lived in the mountains, the Negev, and the foothills. 10 Then they went to fight the Canaanites who lived at Hebron. (In the past Hebron was called Kiriath Arba.) There they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 From there Judah’s troops went to fight the people living at Debir. (In the past Debir was called Kiriath Sepher.) 12 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to whoever defeats Kiriath Sepher and captures it.” 13 Then Othniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured it. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife. 14 When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”

15 She answered, “Give me a blessing. Since you’ve given me some dry land, also give me some springs.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

16 The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went with the people of Judah from the City of Palms into the desert of Judah. There they lived with the people of Judah in the Negev near Arad.

17 The tribe of Judah went to fight along with the tribe of Simeon, their close relatives. They defeated the Canaanites who lived in Zephath and claimed it for the Lord by destroying it. So the city was called Hormah [Claimed for Destruction]. 18 Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron with their territories. 19 The Lord was with the men of Judah so that they were able to take possession of the mountains. But they could not force out the people living in the valley who had chariots made of iron. 20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who forced out the three sons of Anak.

21 The men of Benjamin did not force out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. The Jebusites still live with the tribe of Benjamin in Jerusalem today.

22 The descendants of Joseph also went into battle against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 They sent men to spy on Bethel. (In the past the city was called Luz.) 24 The spies saw a man coming out of the city. They told him, “Show us how we can get into the city, and we’ll treat you kindly.” 25 He showed them. So they got into the city and killed everyone there. But they let that man and his whole family go free. 26 The man went to the land of the Hittites. There he built a city and called it Luz. The city still has that name today.

27 Now, the tribe of Manasseh did not force out the people of Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo or their villages. The Canaanites were determined to live in this land. 28 When the Israelites were strong enough, they made the Canaanites do forced labor. But they did not force all of them out.

29 The tribe of Ephraim did not force out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites continued to live with them in Gezer.

30 The tribe of Zebulun did not force out those who lived at Kitron or Nahalol. So the Canaanites continued to live with them and were made to do forced labor.

31 The tribe of Asher did not force out those who lived at Acco or Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob. 32 So the tribe of Asher continued to live with the Canaanites because they did not force them out.

33 The tribe of Naphtali did not force out those who lived at Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath. So they continued to live with the Canaanites. But the people of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were made to do forced labor.

34 The Amorites forced the tribe of Dan into the mountains and would not let them come down into the valley.

35 The Amorites were determined to live at Har Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the tribes of Joseph became stronger, they made the Amorites do forced labor. 36 The territory of the Amorites extended from the Akrabbim Pass—from Selah northward.

The Messenger of the Lord Reacts to Israel’s Failure

The Messenger of the Lord went from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt into the land that I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my promise[a] to you. You must never make a treaty with the people who live in this land. You must tear down their altars.’ But you didn’t obey me. What do you think you’re doing? So I have this to say, ‘I will not force them out of your way. They will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’”

While the Messenger of the Lord was saying this to all the people of Israel, they began to cry loudly. So they called that place Bochim [Those Who Cry]. They offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

The Death of Joshua

Now, Joshua sent the people of Israel home. So each family went to take possession of the territory they had inherited. The people served the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and throughout the lifetimes of the leaders who had outlived him and who had seen all the spectacular works the Lord had done for Israel. The Lord’s servant Joshua, son of Nun, died at the age of 110. He was buried at Timnath Heres within the territory he had inherited. This was in the mountains of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.

Footnotes:

  1. Judges 2:1 Or “covenant.”
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Luke 21:29-22:13

29 Then Jesus used this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree or any other tree. 30 As soon as leaves grow on them, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that God’s kingdom is near.

32 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all this takes place. 33 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear

34 “Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise 35 like a trap that catches a bird. That day will surprise all people who live on the earth. 36 Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”

37 During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there. 38 All of the people would get up early to hear him speak in the temple courtyard.

The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)

22 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was near. The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.

Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles. Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus. They were pleased and agreed to give him some money. So Judas promised to do it. He kept looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when there was no crowd.

The Passover(B)

The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb had to be killed. Jesus sent Peter and John and told them, “Go, prepare the Passover lamb for us to eat.”

They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

10 He told them, “Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house that the teacher asks, ‘Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs and show you a large furnished room. Get things ready there.”

13 The disciples left. They found everything as Jesus had told them and prepared the Passover.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Psalm 90-91

O Lord, you have been our refuge throughout every generation.
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God.
You are God from everlasting to everlasting.

You turn mortals back into dust
and say, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day,
like yesterday—already past—
like an hour in the night.
You sweep mortals away.
They are a dream.
They sprout again in the morning like cut grass.
In the morning they blossom and sprout.
In the evening they wither and dry up.

Indeed, your anger consumes us.
Your rage terrifies us.
You have set our sins in front of you.
You have put our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury.
We live out our years like one long sigh.
10 Each of us lives for 70 years—
or even 80 if we are in good health.
But the best of them[a] bring trouble and misery.
Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who fully understands the power of your anger?
A person fears you more when he better understands your fury.[b]
12 Teach us to number each of our days
so that we may grow in wisdom.

13 Return, Lord! How long . . . ?
Change your plans about us, your servants.
14 Satisfy us every morning with your mercy
so that we may sing joyfully and rejoice all our days.
15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer,
for as many years as we have experienced evil.
16 Let us, your servants, see what you can do.
Let our children see your glorious power.
17 Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us.
Make us successful in everything we do.
Yes, make us successful in everything we do.

Psalm 91

Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord,
You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps
and from deadly plagues.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.
His truth is your shield and armor.

You do not need to fear
terrors of the night,
arrows that fly during the day,
plagues that roam the dark,
epidemics that strike at noon.
They will not come near you,
even though a thousand may fall dead beside you
or ten thousand at your right side.

You only have to look with your eyes
to see the punishment of wicked people.

You, O Lord, are my refuge!

You have made the Most High your home.
10 No harm will come to you.
No sickness will come near your house.
11 He will put his angels in charge of you
to protect you in all your ways.
12 They will carry you in their hands
so that you never hit your foot against a rock.
13 You will step on lions and cobras.
You will trample young lions and snakes.

14 Because you love me, I will rescue you.
I will protect you because you know my name.
15 When you call to me, I will answer you.
I will be with you when you are in trouble.
I will save you and honor you.
16 I will satisfy you with a long life.
I will show you how I will save you.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 90:10 Hebrew meaning of “the best of them” uncertain.
  2. Psalm 90:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Proverbs 13:24-25

24 Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him,
but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on.
25 A righteous person eats to satisfy his appetite,
but the bellies of wicked people are always empty.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

22/04/2018

Joshua 24; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23

Today is the 22nd day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. Here we are stepping through the threshold into a brand new week that is unlived, right? So it’s brand new, shiny and sparkly. It’s a gift that we get to unwrap slowly day by day as the week unveils itself. And we get to choose how we’re gonna live it. And one of the ways that we make wise choices is to continue the rhythm of the Scripture in our lives and allow God’s word to speak into this week. And so that’s what we’ve come to do. This week we’ll read from the God’s Word translation. And today we will conclude the book of Joshua by reading the final chapter. Chapter 24.

Commentary

Okay, so as we begin this new week, we concluded the book of Joshua. And in concluding the book of Joshua, we also had to say goodbye to Joshua, who lived faithfully. And he lived an incredibly adventurous life but all the way until he was 110 years old. And then as his final days approached, we watched what he did. He followed in the footsteps of Moses who had mentored him into leadership. And he had his own final declarations to say, reminding the people who they were, where they’d come from and the path that was in front of them. Moses did all of this on the other side of the Jordan River. And that is all captured in the entire book of Deuteronomy. Joshua essentially followed in those footsteps from the other side of the Jordan River in the promised land as a reminder. And at the end of Joshua’s life, he told Israel’s leaders to choose, right? To choose whether they would serve the Lord and forever reject anything else, renewing the covenant. And the people affirmed their allegiance to God. And then Joshua dropped the bomb kind of. And this is the part where it’s all of the sudden no longer a story that’s ancient history. Now it’s a story about our own lives. Joshua asked the people to choose who they were going to serve. And of course, he said the famous words: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And all the people were like, of course, who else would we serve? And then Joshua said something striking. You are a witness to your own decision. What makes this powerful is that the people were agreeing that their lives would serve as a witness against them if they were untrue. It wouldn’t take anyone else’s verdict. The way they lived their lives would be the witness, which makes it a fascinating way to look at our own lives. We are the witnesses for or against our faith based on the way we actually live our lives, right? Because we can present an image of just about anything. But underneath all of that is the truth. And the way we live into our relationships today, the way we conduct our conversations today, all of the thoughts, words and deeds of our lives will be a witness for or against us. The words we choose to say today will be a witness. When we lay our head down to rest this evening, we will have testified to what we really believe about knowing and walking with God. So let’s take this to heart as we move into this shiny sparkly new week. And understand that our lives are the greatest witness for or against what we say we believe. And may we come to the same conclusion the children of Israel did so long ago: we will serve the Lord our God. We will obey only him.

Prayer

And Father, that is our declaration. And we won’t be able to stay true to that without a collaboration. Without the guidance and counsel of your Holy Spirit that is always available. And we collaborate by opening ourselves and paying attention. Slowing down enough to walk with you. To be with you in all of our choices and decisions. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.

Dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what’s going on. So be sure to check in. Check it out.

Dive into community. Find out where we are on social media. Visit the prayer wall. Check out the Daily Audio Bible shop for resources that are made for this journey through the Scriptures in a year. So check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible that can be done at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There is a link that just lives on the homepage. And thank you. Thank you for your partnership. We would for sure not be here if we didn’t do this together. So thank you. So there’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Bible app, you can press the give button in the upper right-hand corner. Or if you prefer, the mailing address is P.O Box 1996, Spring Hill, Tennessee, 37174. And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, there are numbers you can call depending on where you are in the world. Of course, doesn’t matter where you are in the world you can call any of these numbers. But they’re located in places that are central so you pick. If you’re in the Americas
 877-942-4253 is the number to dial. If you are in the UK or Europe, 44-20-3608-8078 is the number. And if you are in Australia or the lands down under, 61-3-8820-5459 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 Prayer and Praise

Hey Daily Audio Bible family. It’s James the teacher in LA. And I’m actually calling in to respond to Margo in Australia who called talking about your relationship between believers and unbelievers. Really, it’s not a response so much as it’s a testimony. And I’m agreeing with you. Gosh, I don’t know how many years ago now. I was not a believer and I met someone in college who was or she claimed that she was and say that she was. But (inaudible) and we started a relationship. And, honestly, for a long long time I believed that no one was ever going to have a relationship with me. And so I clung to that thing for dear life. It became my idol. (inaudible). And she got advice from a Christian friend who happened to be my best friend telling her to break it off because I’m an unbeliever. So my best friend told my girlfriend to dump me. And if it hadn’t have been for that, I wouldn’t have gotten saved. I wouldn’t have been driven into the arms of Jesus. I wouldn’t have been broken enough. And seeing the genuine love in her eyes and the tears when she told me that she needed to let me go because she didn’t know where I was going to end up in eternity, it triggered something in me that I don’t think anything else on earth would have. So guys, you just may save someone’s life. Obedience, yeah.  Alright, I love you guys.  Talk to you soon. Bye.

Hey everyone. This is Mel. M-E-L from central Florida. And I wanted to call in today and read to you a prayer that I recently received and found out about two weekends ago at a church retreat that I went to and it’s called the Prayer of Transformation and I know a lot of you… I hope this helps a lot of you or cause I know change is hard and transformation is not the most easy thing to go through so I’m gonna read the prayer and I hope you guys enjoy (it).

Loving Father, Here I am.  You made from the (inaudible) that I am right now. I trust that you have an incredible plan for me. Transform me.  Transform my life. Everything is on the table.  Take what you want to take and give what you want to give.  Transform me into the person you created me to be. The very best version of myself. So I can live the life you have envisioned for me. I hold nothing back. I make myself one hundred percent available to you. Lead me. Guide me. And show me what it is you are calling me to. And fill me with the courage and grace to do it. Amen. Well I hope you all can take something from this as I have. It really helped me. I read it everyday. I’ll post it on the Daily Audio Bible friends (page). DAB Facebook friends page or whatever it’s called. And I hope that… Like I said, I hope it helps somebody out there. I hope you all also have a blessed day. Thank you.

Hi. This is Vicky from Arizona. And I’m calling because my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Right now he’s at the end stages of lung cancer. And he has never cried out for Jesus yet. I’ve been believing for this man for 37 years. He got saved when we first were married, but does not walk with Jesus. And I just want prayers that he would when he takes his final breath that he will go home and be with the Lord. That’s the cry of my heart. And if everybody could just lift him up. (inaudible) going through a lot of intense suffering right now. And our whole family is just watching him slowly succumb to this disease. So when Brian was talking this morning about hope deferred makes the heart sick I thought that that is me because I have hope for his salvation and deliverance. For these years I have seen the fruit of my prayer. And I just want that reassurance that God is gonna take him into his arms when he takes his last breath. So if you could pray just peace for our family as we walk through this. Somehow we’ll have the miracle but I don’t even know what the miracle is. And I just want God’s will to be done in our life. And I thank you all for praying. Thank you.

This is Dave from North Carolina. I wanted to thank you for your message where you shared with us Ezekiel and his simple faith the other day. That was so awesome. But mainly I wanted to call because of what you said today Brian about hope. This truly was something that God was speaking to me through you. And that verse, hope deferred makes the heart sick but when desire comes.. That is something I’ve heard many times through the financial peace class with Dave Ramsey. And there was a time when I did not have hope financially but today or recently I’ve had fear and anxiety related to different issues with my personal relationships as well as with my work. And your message really helped clarify where that fear’s coming from. It truly is coming from deferred hope. And I’m just appreciative so much. And II just encourage everyone who didn’t hear the message on the 19th who has any anxiety or fear about anything to listen to that - Brian’s comments about hope. Because putting all our hope in God truly is the answer to any anxiety or fear we have in life. So appreciate you all. Have a great day.

Hi family. I am Grateful To Be A Mother and I’m calling in today to encourage my sister anonymous. I’ve been married for 40 years. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I continue to make mistakes. But I’ve had a lot of wise people to give me advice. Sometimes our marriages are balloons and fireworks and sometimes it’s just work. Because marriage is just like many other things in our lives. It goes through phases and there are seasons. So sometimes you’re in the season of winter. But be encourage because spring is next. Sometimes the thing that attracts us to a person becomes the very thing that offends us. And I believe that somehow that is the work of Satan. I want to pray for us, family. Father God, we thank you for all things. We thank you for being all things in our lives. We thank you for blessing us and giving us direction. I pray, Father, for the people in our lives that get on our nerves. I ask you Lord to let us see them through fresh eyes. To let us see them the way that you do and that we can see their redeeming qualities. And I also pray,  Lord, that you give them a fresh look at us because there are probably things that they can see in us that they don’t appreciate as well. Thank you, Father, for giving us a fresh look allowing us to cherish the people in our lives and to learn more to love…

Good morning DAB family. This is Joyful Noise from Southern California, I’m gonna talk really fast because I heard a couple of women call in and crying out for  their marriages and I just want to share with you, that was so me. Between years seven and like ten, I spent  entirely too much time looking at what was wrong with my marriage. We will be celebrating, by God’s grace, 25 years of marriage this summer. And we are not perfect. My husband and I decided to work through a lot of things through prayer and supplication, making our requests known to God. There is a poem that…it’s not a poem but but it’s just a little letter to, an open letter to husbands that I shared a couple of weeks ago and I just wanna encourage you, anonymous. And then the other lady that was calling in saying you’ve been married seven years and your heart is breaking because you feel abandoned. Your husband I guess is choosing a different church and there’s some conflict around that. But I just wanna encourage you the mystery and the beauty of marriage is God’s will. (He’s)  there to reconcile if we will only humble ourselves. Humble ourselves. So I know that I don’t have a lot of time, but one thing that Lisa the Encourager brought to my attention a couple of months ago is we kept going  through these Scriptures about God’s outstretched arm. Is God strong enough? I dunno. Is he strong enough? Do we believe that he’s strong enough? And Brian called it out as well. So I just want to share with you these Scriptures. I’m gonna be praying for you because on the other side of this, God’s gonna be glorified, his plan is reconciliation. That’s why he sent his son to die to reconcile a dark world back to a glorious saviour and a glorious Father in heaven. So God’s strong  enough to get you through this. We just have to discern God’s will, right? So Psalm 136:12: with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, his mercy endures forever. His mercy’s over you and over what you’re feeling about your marriage

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday April 22, 2018 (NIV)

Joshua 24

Joshua Adds an Agreement to the Book of God’s Teachings

24 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called together Israel’s leaders, chiefs, judges, and officers, and they presented themselves to God.

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Long ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and served other gods. But I took your ancestor Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates River. I led him through all of Canaan and gave him many descendants. I also gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the mountains in Seir as his own. However, Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.

“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with plagues. Later I led you out. When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, you came to the sea. The Egyptians with their chariots and horsemen chased your ancestors to the Red Sea. When your ancestors cried out to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea flow back and cover them. You saw for yourselves what I did to Egypt. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.

“After that I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived on the east side of the Jordan River. They fought you. However, I handed them over to you. So you took their land, and I destroyed them in front of you. Then Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, fought Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you. 10 But I refused to listen to Balaam. All he could do was bless you. So I saved you from his power.

11 “Then you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho, the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites fought you. But I handed them over to you. 12 I sent hornets ahead of you to force out the two kings of the Amorites ahead of you. These things didn’t happen because of your battle skills or fighting ability. 13 So I gave you a land that you hadn’t farmed, cities to live in that you hadn’t built, vineyards and olive groves that you hadn’t planted. So you ate all you wanted!

14 “Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. 15 But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the Lord.”

16 The people responded, “It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the Lord to serve other gods. 17 The Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. He did these spectacular signs right before our eyes. He guarded us wherever we went, especially as we passed through other nations. 18 The Lord forced out all the people ahead of us, including the Amorites who lived in this land. We, too, will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

19 But Joshua answered the people, “Since the Lord is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve him. He is a God who does not tolerate rivals. He will not forgive your rebellious acts and sins. 20 If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you.”

21 The people answered Joshua, “No! We will only serve the Lord!”

22 Joshua said to the people, “You have testified that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

They answered, “Yes, we have!”

23 “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the Lord God of Israel.”

24 The people replied to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

25 That day Joshua made an agreement for the people and set up laws and rules for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these things in the Book of God’s Teachings. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree at the Lord’s holy place. 27 Joshua told all the people, “This stone will stand as a witness for us. It has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It will stand as a witness for you. You cannot deceive your God.” 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own property.

The Deaths of Joshua and Eleazar

29 After these events, the Lord’s servant Joshua, son of Nun, died. He was 110 years old. 30 He was buried on his own land at Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.

31 Israel served the Lord as long as Joshua and the older leaders, who outlived him and who knew everything the Lord had done for Israel, were alive.

32 Joseph’s bones, which the people of Israel had brought from Egypt, were buried at Shechem. They were placed in the plot of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. The plot was inherited by Joseph’s descendants.

33 Aaron’s son Eleazar also died. He was buried on the hill that had been given to his son Phinehas in the mountains of Ephraim.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Luke 21:1-28

A Widow’s Contribution(A)

21 Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

Jesus Teaches His Disciples(B)

Some of the disciples were talking about the temple complex. They noted that it was built with fine stones and decorated with beautiful gifts. So Jesus said, “About these buildings that you see—the time will come when not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

The disciples asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will occur?”

Jesus said, “Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them!

“When you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t be terrified! These things must happen first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10 Then Jesus continued, “Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and dreadful diseases in various places. Terrifying sights and miraculous signs will come from the sky.

12 “Before all these things happen, people will arrest and persecute you. They will hand you over to their synagogues and put you into their prisons. They will drag you in front of kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will be your opportunity to testify to them. 14 So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.

16 “Even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and kill some of you. 17 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. 18 But not a hair on your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance you will save your life.

20 “When you see armies camped around Jerusalem, realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed. 21 Then those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those of you in Jerusalem should leave it. Those of you in the fields shouldn’t go back into them. 22 This will be a time of vengeance. Everything that is written about it will come true.

23 “How horrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Indeed, the land will suffer very hard times, and its people will be punished. 24 Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations to do this are over.

25 “Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.

27 “Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 “When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near.”

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Psalm 89:38-52

38 But you have despised, rejected,
and become angry with your anointed one.
39 You have refused to recognize the promise to your servant
and have thrown his crown into the dirt.
40 You have broken through all his walls
and have laid his fortified cities in ruins.
41 (Everyone who passed by robbed him.
He has become the object of his neighbors’ scorn.)
42 You held the right hand of his enemies high
and made all of his adversaries rejoice.
43 You even took his sword out of his hand
and failed to support him in battle.
44 You put an end to his splendor
and hurled his throne to the ground.
45 You cut short the days of his youth
and covered him with shame. Selah

46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your anger continue to burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my life is!
Have you created Adam’s descendants for no reason?
48 Can a mortal go on living and never see death?
Who can set himself free from the power of the grave? Selah
49 Where is the evidence of your mercy, Lord?
You swore an oath to David
on the basis of your faithfulness.

50 Remember, O Lord,[a] how your servant[b] has been insulted.
Remember how I have carried in my heart the insults from so many people.
51 Your enemies insulted me.
They insulted your Messiah[c] every step he took.

52 Thank the Lord forever.
Amen and amen!

BOOK FOUR

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

A prayer by Moses, the man of God.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 89:50 Many Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts “Lord.”
  2. Psalm 89:50 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “your servants.”
  3. Psalm 89:51 Or “anointed one.”
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Proverbs 13:20-23

20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise,
but whoever associates with fools will suffer.
21 Disaster hunts down sinners,
but righteous people are rewarded with good.
22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.

23 When poor people are able to plow, there is much food,
but a person is swept away where there is no justice.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

4/21/2018 DAB Transcript

Joshua 22:21-23:16; Luke 20:27-47; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 13:17-19

Today is the 21st day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is fantastic to be here with you today as we prepare to close down another week. And this is obviously 21 days into the month of April. So three weeks into this month. And we’re well on our way. And we are well on our way in the book of Joshua, which is where we’re spending our Old Testament time right now. We will be concluding the book of Joshua here. Not today, but in a couple of days. And we kind of left ourselves with a cliffhanger yesterday. Potential civil war among the different tribes of Israel as the two and a half tribes began to migrate back across the Jordan River to the land that they had inherited. They built a large altar which has everyone up in arms so we’re reading from the Contemporary English Version this week, which is today. Joshua chapter 22 verse 21 through 23 verse 16.

Prayer
Father, we thank you for your word. And we thank you that you have brought us through another complete week as we take this journey 52 weeks long, 365 days. The adventure of a lifetime that transforms us from the inside out and changes our lives. We thank you for this journey that we are on. And we ask that your Holy Spirit plant in our lives what we’ve heard, not only today but what we’ve heard this week. Allow our hearts to be good soil as we surrender to you. May the fruit of the Spirit grow within us a hundredfold. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements

Dailyaudiobible.com is home base. It’s the website. It’s where you find out what’s going on around here. So be sure to check in and check it out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, the website’s also the place to go. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the give button in the upper right-hand corner. Or if you prefer, the mailing address is P.O Box 1996, Spring Hill, 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 and that’s it for this week. I’m Brian. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community praise and prayer requests

Hi.  This is Vicious Soldier. I was just calling to pray for some of the Dabbers.  I wanted to say hi to Pastor Gene. It was so good to hear your prayer and I’m praying with you on Sharon and Asia and Micah and those that you prayed for. I also want to pray for Rebecca on the heart and I want to pray for the anonymous sister who was speaking about her husband being arrogant. Don’t let the enemy take away your joy. You gotta pray from… The Bible says a sanctified woman sanctifies her husband. Sometimes they don’t even know that they’re being arrogant and the enemy don’t want you to make it past that twenty years. Hang in there my sister. I pray with you that God changes the heart of your husband and that he sees that he needs the Lord and to let the Lord have his way and that the arrogance will go away. Gracious father, we just praise you today. We magnify you, we glorify you. Lord, for my sisters that are going through or having the challenge. Those are my Dabber’s friends and my Dabber’s family. Lord, you have your way in the name of Jesus. Lord, you heal those who are going through depression. The one that said she was ready to give up. Oh Lord, tell her to hold on a little bit longer. That when we feel that we’re weak, that God, that’s when God is strong because he’s carrying us. Lord, you touch people. Lord, you strengthen her. Let the floodgates of heaven open and touch them. And bless ‘em Lord in a mighty and special way. Give them the desires of their heart and let them keep their trust in you. You said you wouldn’t hold any good thing from anyone that loves you. Lord, you know the healing of the ones that are going through depression. You know the ones that are having heart problems. You know the ones that are having challenges in their marriages. Lord, you come in the midst, father. You are able to do exceedingly. You are still the same God yesterday today and tomorrow no matter how the world change. You are still…

Hi DAB family. It’s James here from the UK and haven’t rung in for a while. And was touched on today’s DAB podcast. There was a lady that rang in…on the 16th I think it was. And she was just talking about.  She was just being really honest.  I mean, you know, it just really struck me that sometimes we kind of hide behind our prayers and she was just really all out there being really real about stuff. And I just, I just really connect with that prayer. I could really connect with that request. And I could just really sense exhaustion really. And she was really struggling to try and fan the flames of the relationship she had with her husband and she felt a real sense of continual arrogance from her husband. You know, I can imagine that that would be really really tough for many many years. And my wife and I have been together for sixteen years now. Got three kids. There are days when things are just difficult. And my wife’s…. She really is. But we’re so different in terms of people types and character types. We see the world in very different ways sometimes. So we do need prayer for our relationships, for our marriages and I pray for you. I know you didn’t leave your name, but I’m just gonna lift you up to the Lord. Father God, we just ask that you would please continue to break the chains that bind us in our marriages. To give us that ability to speak openly and assuredly with a grounded center in you, Father God, with our spouses. We just want the courage to have those conversations and move into situations where we know there could be conflict. Holy spirit, we bring you into that moment and we ask Father God…

Hello family. This is Teresa from Florida. I want to thank God again for you guys. You have saved my life. The last six months or so I’ve been going through a lot. Anyway, it’s over now. My husband told me today on Tuesday the 18th, 17th of the month. Anyway, he told me that it’s over. That he’s done trying. He’s going to be with the other woman. He’s trying to be very admirable about this. Trying to make sure that I don’t struggle too much financially during this transition so I can find a new place to live. I don’t even know, I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried so hard, I’ve worked so hard. I’ve prayed so much and you guys have prayed with me and I know I’m gonna be fine. I thank God for that and I thank God for this family and for the realization that I’m gonna be fine. And I need your prayers. I need your prayers for strength, for patience, for not doing what my carnal…

Good morning Daily Audio Bible This is Mic from Rhode Island. And I just listened to the April 16th podcast. Oh my. I wanted to call in and say thank you to Ezekiel for his important message. That wonderful message at the end of the podcast when Brian you let him sit in your lap and talk for a little bit. What a cute little guy he must be. But his message, and your message Brian to, about trust. Trusting Jesus. And that’s exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Ezekiel. I’ve been on this roller coaster of worry and frustration, exasperation about taxes and my healthcare.  You know, things that everybody I’m sure fears. But I’ve gotta just step back and trust in Jesus trust in God. Because, you know, I got up this morning and the sun is still shining. It’s a brand new day.  As Brian says, a shiny new day.  And I don’t know, just hearing the voice of a child, hearing Ezekiel speak this morning really really rang true with me, so thank you, thank you,  thank you, thank you Ezekiel And I hope you guys all have a great day and I love you all. Okay. Bye.

Hi Daily Audio Bible community. I just want to say first of all this is my first time calling in. This is Susan from Texas and I appreciate all of you and your prayers. I love Brian and Jill and all that they do for this wonderful community. So thank you for that. My prayers concern that I’m calling it about actually is for my son. He is a teenager and we have recently found some disturbing things on his phone. We are trying to process that, work through it, walk him through it and get him on the path to making Godly choices. Thinking about his future, not getting caught up in the things of this world tries to sabotage him with. I would just appreciate prayers for him. His name is Christopher. And I just thank you all for your prayers and concern. I wish you a blessed week. Thanks.

This is Anne from Charlotte, North Carolina and I just heard the prayers of (inaudible) from North Carolina. And I’m receiving that prayer for myself. And I thank you calling and praying it. And I don’t even know what to say, but I’m just really struggling. I struggle everyday with grief and missing my children who hate me. The last several days I’ve been volunteering for a pro-life group. The center for Bio ethical reform on the UNCC campus and I got to share the gospel with people, with students, as well as the message of the value of life and I’m sure that’s why I’m under extra attack because I just I don’t value, I don’t think I value my own life. I used to be a top sales person nationally and now I. can’t sell anything to anyone and I don’t know what to do with my life and I’m so embarrassed to be calling in and doing this. But thank you for the prayer and I’m real thankful for Daily Audio Bible. It’s one of the things that keeps me going every single day. Thank you.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday April 21, 2018 (NIV)

Joshua 22:21-23:16

21 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh answered:

22 The Lord is the greatest God! We ask him to be our witness, because he knows whether or not we were rebellious or unfaithful when we built that altar. If we were unfaithful, then we pray that God won’t rescue us today. Let us tell you why we built that altar, 23 and we ask the Lord to punish us if we are lying. We didn’t build it so we could turn our backs on the Lord. We didn’t even build it so we could offer animal or grain sacrifices to please the Lord or ask his blessing.

24-25 We built that altar because we were worried. Someday your descendants might tell our descendants, “The Lord made the Jordan River the boundary between us Israelites and you people of Reuben and Gad. The Lord is Israel’s God, but you’re not part of Israel, so you can’t take part in worshiping the Lord.”

Your descendants might say that and try to make our descendants stop worshiping and obeying the Lord. 26 That’s why we decided to build the altar. It isn’t for offering sacrifices, not even sacrifices to please the Lord.[a] 27-29 To build another altar for offering sacrifices would be the same as turning our backs on the Lord and rebelling against him. We could never do that! No, we built the altar to remind us and you and the generations to come that we will worship the Lord. And so we will keep bringing our sacrifices to the Lord’s altar, there in front of his sacred tent. Now your descendants will never be able to say to our descendants, “You can’t worship the Lord.”

But if they do say this, our descendants can answer back, “Look at this altar our ancestors built! It’s like the Lord’s altar, but it isn’t for offering sacrifices. It’s here to remind us and you that we belong to the Lord, just as much as you do.”

30-31 Phinehas and the clan leaders were pleased when they heard the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh explain why they had built the altar. Then Phinehas told them, “Today we know that the Lord is helping us. You have not been unfaithful to him, and this means that the Lord will not be angry with us.”

32 Phinehas and the clan leaders left Gilead and went back to Canaan to tell the Israelites about their meeting with the Reuben and Gad tribes. 33 The Israelites were happy and praised God. There was no more talk about going to war and wiping out the tribes of Reuben and Gad.

34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “A Reminder to Us All That the Lord Is Our God.”[b]

Joshua’s Farewell Speech

23 The Lord let Israel live in peace with its neighbors for a long time, and Joshua lived to a ripe old age. One day he called a meeting of the leaders of the tribes of Israel, including the old men, the judges, and the officials. Then he told them:

I am now very old. You have seen how the Lord your God fought for you and helped you defeat the nations who lived in this land. 4-5 There are still some nations left, but the Lord has promised you their land. So when you attack them, he will make them run away. I have already divided their land among your tribes, as I did with the land of the nations I defeated between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Be sure that you carefully obey everything written in The Book of the Law[c] of Moses and do exactly what it says.

Don’t have anything to do with the nations that live around you. Don’t worship their gods or pray to their idols or make promises in the names of their gods. Be as faithful to the Lord as you have always been.

When you attacked powerful nations, the Lord made them run away, and no one has ever been able to stand up to you. 10 Any one of you can defeat a thousand enemy soldiers, because the Lord God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 Be sure to always love the Lord your God. 12-13 Don’t ever turn your backs on him by marrying people from the nations that are left in the land. Don’t even make friends with them. I tell you that if you are friendly with those nations, the Lord won’t chase them away when you attack. Instead, they’ll be like a trap for your feet, a whip on your back, and thorns in your eyes. And finally, none of you will be left in this good land that the Lord has given you.

14 I will soon die, as everyone must. But deep in your hearts you know that the Lord has kept every promise he ever made to you. Not one of them has been broken. 15-16 Yes, when the Lord makes a promise, he does what he has promised. But when he makes a threat, he will also do what he has threatened. The Lord is our God. He gave us this wonderful land and made an agreement with us that we would worship only him. But if you worship other gods, it will make the Lord furious. He will start getting rid of you, and soon not one of you will be left in this good land that he has given you.

Footnotes:

  1. 22.26 sacrifices to please the Lord: See the note at 8.30-32.
  2. 22.34 named. . . God: Or “gave a name to the altar. They explained, <This altar is here to remind us all that the Lord is our God> “; most Hebrew manuscripts. A few Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation “named the altar <Reminder.’ They explained, <This altar is here to remind us all that the Lord is our God.’ “
  3. 23.6 Law: See the note at 8.30-32.

Luke 20:27-47

Life in the Future World

27 The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So some of them came to Jesus 28 and said:

Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother.

29 There were once seven brothers. The first one married, but died without having any children. 30 The second one married his brother’s widow, and he also died without having any children. 31 The same thing happened to the third one. Finally, all seven brothers married that woman and died without having any children. 32 At last the woman died. 33 When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? All seven brothers had married her.

34 Jesus answered:

The people in this world get married. 35 But in the future world no one who is worthy to rise from death will either marry 36 or die. They will be like the angels and will be God’s children, because they have been raised to life.

37 In the story about the burning bush, Moses clearly shows that people will live again. He said, “The Lord is the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”[a] 38 So the Lord isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living. This means that everyone is alive as far as God is concerned.

39 Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses said, “Teacher, you have given a good answer!” 40 From then on, no one dared to ask Jesus any questions.

About David’s Son

41 Jesus asked, “Why do people say that the Messiah will be the son of King David?[b] 42 In the book of Psalms, David himself says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right side[c]
43 until I make your enemies
into a footstool for you.’

44 David spoke of the Messiah as his Lord, so how can the Messiah be his son?”

Jesus and the Teachers of the Law of Moses

45 While everyone was listening to Jesus, he said to his disciples:

46 Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes, and they like to be greeted in the market. They want the front seats in the meeting places and the best seats at banquets. 47 But they cheat widows out of their homes and then pray long prayers just to show off. These teachers will be punished most of all.

Footnotes:

  1. 20.37 “The Lord is the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” : Jesus argues that if God is worshiped by these three, they must be alive, because he is the God of the living.
  2. 20.41 the son of King David: See the note at 18.38.
  3. 20.42 right side: The place of power and honor.

Psalm 89:14-37

14 Your kingdom is ruled
by justice and fairness
with love and faithfulness
leading the way.

15 Our Lord, you bless those
who join in the festival
and walk in the brightness
of your presence.
16 We are happy all day
because of you,
and your saving power
brings honor to us.
17 Your own glorious power
makes us strong,
and because of your kindness,
our strength increases.
18 Our Lord and our King,
the Holy One of Israel,
you are truly our shield.

19 In a vision, you once said
to your faithful followers:
“I have helped a mighty hero.
I chose him from my people
and made him famous.
20 David, my servant, is the one
I chose to be king,
21 and I will always be there
to help and strengthen him.

22 “No enemy will outsmart David,
and he won’t be defeated
by any hateful people.
23 I will strike down and crush
his troublesome enemies.
24 He will always be able
to depend on my love,
and I will make him strong
with my own power.
25 I will let him rule the lands
across the rivers and seas.
26 He will say to me,
‘You are my Father
and my God,
as well as the mighty rock[a]
where I am safe.'

27 “I have chosen David
as my first-born son,
and he will be the ruler
of all kings on earth.
28 My love for him will last,
and my agreement with him
will never be broken.

29 “One of David’s descendants
will always be king,
and his family will rule
until the sky disappears.
30 Suppose some of his children
should reject my Law
and refuse my instructions.
31 Or suppose they should disobey
all of my teachings.
32 Then I will correct
and punish them
because of their sins.
33 But I will always love David
and faithfully keep all
of my promises to him.

34 “I won’t break my agreement
or go back on my word.
35 I have sworn once and for all
by my own holy name,
and I won’t lie to David.
36 His family will always rule.
I will let his kingdom last
as long as the sun 37 and moon
appear in the sky.”

Footnotes:

  1. 89.26 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

Proverbs 13:17-19

17 Whoever delivers your message
can make things better
or worse for you.

18 All who refuse correction
will be poor and disgraced;
all who accept correction
will be praised.
19 It’s a good feeling
to get what you want,
but only a stupid fool
hates to turn from evil.

4/20/2018 Transcript

Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 88:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16

Today is the 20th day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. And it is a pleasure and it is an honor to be here with you today for the next step forward through the Scriptures as we continue to navigate our way through the peaks and valleys that the Bible takes us through as well as allowing the Scriptures to speak to the peaks and valleys of our lives. So it is a pleasure and an honor to be here. We’re reading from the Contemporary English Version this week. And we’ve been navigating for a bit now through the book of Joshua, which finally took us into the promised land. And we’re rounding the corner on the book of Joshua. A few more days and we will be through it. But we’re not there yet. Today Joshua chapter 21 verse 1 through 22 verse 20.

Commentary

Okay. So in the book of Joshua, the two and a half tribes that were given land on the other side of the Jordan River back when we were on the trail with Moses before the children of Israel ever came into the promised land… They have finally been given their leave. They’ve done their duty. They’ve become rich in the process and they get to go home. And so they do. But when they get to the Jordan River, they build this huge altar, which is causing quite a stir. In fact, so much of a stir that we have… Well, we’re gonna get the precipice of civil war. And if that breaks out, that’s gonna be a nasty battle indeed. Because these two and a half tribes who are going back across the Jordan,  these are battle-tested warriors at this point. They have been at war with their brothers taking the land all along. So this breaks out, it’s not gonna be a good scene. The other tribes, of course, send representatives along with a priest to confront them and that’s where we kind of end today. Why have you done this? Why have you built this altar? Don’t you know what’s going to happen? Don’t you know that when we turn our backs on God he holds us all responsible? What is going on here?  And so the Bible gives us a little bit of a cliffhanger. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out where the story goes.

In the Gospel of Luke, people are asking Jesus similar kinds of questions. Who gives you the right to do the things that you are doing? By whose authority are you doing these things? It’s one of these moments.  And obviously the Scriptures tell us that Jesus (never) rolls his eyes or anything like that. We find moments where he’s exasperated. But it sort of seems like  one of those kinds of moments where  he’s gotta be thinking, is this a serious question?  I mean, the things that are being done are revealing the kingdom of God in this world. People are being restored So Tom didn’t give me the right to do these things. Jane didn’t give me the right to do these things. What kind of a question is this? Of course, Jesus knows what’s going on and there’s an incredible amount of envy and an incredible amount of fear around Jesus because he’s upsetting the apple car.  He’s messing with the authority lines. That wouldn’t be that big of a deal except for people are following Jesus now. And very very similar things had happened with John the Baptist. And this is starting to be a problem. Jesus, on the other hand, you know what I mean? We see so many instances where Jesus is asked a confrontational question and he answers back with a question. Or it seems like he answers the question in a way that’s like, he’s not answering that question. What Jesus is doing, and one of the things about being Christ-like that we need to observe in our own lives, is that Jesus is taking a moment to look at what’s really going on, right? These guys didn’t just come to Jesus and say, hey we were just curious, how is it that you have this kind of power? Can you share with us how it is that God has anointed you in this way? How did that happen? How did you get this authority? From a serious perspective, they’re confronting Jesus with the accusation embedded into the question. And the accusation is, God did not give you this authority, so who did? And embedded within that is a barb. You are not who you say you are. You are an impostor. You are deceiving and tricking these people through magic and we know your game. That’s sort of the insinuation there, right?  So Jesus knows they’re not coming and asking a straight up question from an honest place. So he knows that he can’t simply say my father gave me this authority. This is what I came to do. Because what good is that going to do? They’re not going to be like Oh oh oh, okay, cool. We were just wondering. Like that’s not how this is gonna go. So Jesus sees the entirety of the situation. And he responds to the truth of the situation. In this case, he asks a question that is going to reveal to the people around and to the people asking the question themselves their own heart in this matter. So he asks, who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God or was it a human being? Alright. A no win situation. They had asked Jesus a no win question. He couldn’t just say, my father gave me this authority. That wasn’t the answer they were looking for. It was a confrontation. So he flips it back around upon them and puts them in the situation they were trying to put him in. And Jesus wasn’t trying to humiliate them or embarrass them in any way. He was simply trying to pull out what was really going on. And when we realize that we have been given the spirit of the risen Christ, the mind of Christ, that if we will slow down, take a beat, invite the Holy Spirit to show us what’s really going on, we can be much more Christ like, much more like Jesus in our lives than when we just get all defensive or reactionary. How are we acting in these instances? Which brings us to the Proverbs, which invites us to consider how we’re acting. If you have good sense, the Proverb tells us, you will act sensibly, right? You will be sensible. If you have good sense the byproduct is that you will be sensible. But fools act like fools. So let’s look at the way that we act today. How do we respond in situations today? What is our reaction? What are our impulses? It will tell us a lot.

Prayer

And we invite you, Holy Spirit, into that. Cause a lot of the time we react defensively or any number of ways that may in fact be foolish because we didn’t just take a second to really try to understand the heart of the matter. And we don’t see examples of that happening in your life Jesus. And we wanna be like you in this world as your body, the living breathing body of Christ in this world. We wanna take our place in that story. And that will require that we be like you. And we can’t do that without your Holy Spirit obviously. So come Holy Spirit. Show us the ways that we’re living disconnected from you and oblivious to what is truly going on. We ask this 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.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com.  There’s a link on the homepage. I say it everyday, thank you because there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful that we’re even here. That we’re able to do this everyday and make it available everyday. So thank you for your partnership in helping that to continue another day.  There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the give button in the upper right-hand corner.  Or if you prefer, the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996, Spring Hill, Tennessee,  37174. And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment,  877-942-4253.

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

Community prayer and praise

Hi all. I’m calling about the sister that called anonymously about her marriage. And oh dear sister. And you aren’t the only one. There are so many of us husbands and wives that no matter how long we’ve been in a relationship, we are just ready to give it up because we’ve done all we can. We’ve done all we could. We’ve tried and tried and tried again and it just weared us thin. The thing is now, dear sister, to just love him and to continue on. You still have a life to live even though you’re in a relationship. So I’m not sure where you are in your life, but he has been as he is that maybe you can grow as you are and move on on that and that will make it easier for you to accept or maybe make it easier for him to grow. I’m praying for you and all those like you, for relationships I know are so hard. In Jesus name, dear brothers and sisters.

Hey Daily Audio Bible. It’s Stanley from Maryland. Man, I just listened to the program and heard little Ezekiel talking to Brian, to the DAB community. And I know it was so, words can’t describe. I just think about my life and, you know, being a child, what that was like. And it’s just a beautiful beautiful thing to happen. So I really am appreciative about that and just remembering that God is waiting for me to.  He always has his arms open, you know?  I can always run to him. And it is true. I feel like I’ve always believed the lie that no one’s here for me. I’ve gotta figure things out all by myself. I’ve gotta do things and do it all by myself. What if… Just what an amazing amazing experience that was. I just want to thank you Brian. Thank you Ezekiel. Thank you God. And thank you community for just being here and sharing this time and these experiences together. God bless everyone. Bye.

My beautiful family. This is Pastor Gene from Bradenton Florida. God bless you. Please join me in prayer here. Father, you are such a good God and we love you so much. Plant this from our ( inaudible)  oh God  and may your Holy Spirit help us to pray. Father, I thank you for each and every one of my sisters who went to the More Gathering. Father, I know by my own experience that right after you return Satan will try to steal the seed that has been planted. I pray against that in the name of Jesus. I pray that my sisters will see clearly the ( inaudible) of the enemy and will refuse to let go of the truth and the liberation and the freedom that you’ve given them this weekend. Father, I thank you for my brother Robert from Indiana. Oh God I bless him. (inaudible sentence)
Oh God, I thank you that he is giving out what he received, Father, that led him to Christ. Thank you. Thank you for his passion. I pray with all of my heart, O God, that you will move mightily among them  and that you will do a special work in their lives.
To be continued

Hey DAB family. It’s Dr.  John from Jordan New York. Just wanted to let you know about Cinnamon and thank you for your prayers for her. She had to undergo an emergency C-section. Yes, you can do C-sections on sheep. And she came through that OK,  but we lost both of the lambs. The vet is considering it a miracle that she survived. She didn’t think she would be able to save Cinnamon. She thought she might be able to save the lambs. But they both died because her uterus is twisted. So thank you for your prayers on that. Thank you for your prayers for my mom. She has officially gone into hospice. She was doing little bit better. And now she’s very comfortable. She’s waiting to meet her Lord and savior. She can’t wait. But it’s gonna be a little bit for my dad to.. He’s getting used to this so we have to wait on him. So I think that’s the hold up and why mom’s still around. So pray for my dad that he will come to acceptance in terms of my mom dying and he’ll be prepared and have the people around that he needs. Thank you very much family. Love you very much. Buh-bye.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is Teresa in Florida. It’s 10 pm on April the 16th. I’m on my way to work. My husband told me before I left to go out the door, a little before that I guess, he doesn’t love me. He doesn’t have any feelings. He loves me but he doesn’t have any feelings for me. I’ve been trying so hard. Anyway, I need some prayer. I feel guilty for even asking as I know everything anyway. I didn’t feel guilty. I know this is what I’m supposed to do. I need your prayers. Pray for my strength

Hi,  good evening everyone. This is Shondra calling from Maryland.  I was calling because I was listening to the community prayer. I believe it was from the fourteenth. And to be honest I came on just to listen and I have some things going on and I was hurt, angry, frustrated and I was still gonna listen to the community prayer. However, once I was just sitting there listening, I felt like the loads and the weights were lifted off of me. And I would encourage anyone else who may be going through something and they don’t know where to go where to turn just to listen. Just like the introduction says.