Month: December 2018

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday December 12, 2018 (NIV)

Amos 7-9

Locusts, Fire and a Plumb Line

7 This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me:(A) He was preparing swarms of locusts(B) after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. 2 When they had stripped the land clean,(C) I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive?(D) He is so small!(E)”

3 So the Lord relented.(F)

“This will not happen,” the Lord said.(G)

4 This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire;(H) it dried up the great deep and devoured(I) the land. 5 Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!(J)”

6 So the Lord relented.(K)

“This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said.(L)

7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb,[a] with a plumb line[b] in his hand. 8 And the Lord asked me, “What do you see,(M) Amos?(N)”

“A plumb line,(O)” I replied.

Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.(P)

9 “The high places(Q) of Isaac will be destroyed
and the sanctuaries(R) of Israel will be ruined;
with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.(S)”

Amos and Amaziah

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel(T) sent a message to Jeroboam(U) king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy(V) against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.(W) 11 For this is what Amos is saying:

“‘Jeroboam will die by the sword,
and Israel will surely go into exile,(X)
away from their native land.’”(Y)

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer!(Z) Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.(AA) 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel,(AB) because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple(AC) of the kingdom.(AD)”

14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet(AE) nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.(AF) 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock(AG) and said to me, ‘Go,(AH) prophesy(AI) to my people Israel.’(AJ) 16 Now then, hear(AK) the word of the Lord. You say,

“‘Do not prophesy against(AL) Israel,
and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wife will become a prostitute(AM) in the city,
and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.
Your land will be measured and divided up,
and you yourself will die in a pagan[c] country.
And Israel will surely go into exile,(AN)
away from their native land.(AO)’”

A Basket of Ripe Fruit

8 This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me:(AP) a basket of ripe fruit. 2 “What do you see,(AQ) Amos?(AR)” he asked.

“A basket(AS) of ripe fruit,” I answered.

Then the Lord said to me, “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.(AT)

3 “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “the songs in the temple will turn to wailing.[d](AU) Many, many bodies—flung everywhere! Silence!(AV)”

4 Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor(AW) of the land,(AX)

5 saying,

“When will the New Moon(AY) be over
that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
that we may market(AZ) wheat?”(BA)—
skimping on the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating(BB) with dishonest scales,(BC)
6 buying the poor(BD) with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the sweepings with the wheat.(BE)

7 The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob:(BF) “I will never forget(BG) anything they have done.(BH)

8 “Will not the land tremble(BI) for this,
and all who live in it mourn?
The whole land will rise like the Nile;
it will be stirred up and then sink
like the river of Egypt.(BJ)

9 “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

“I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.(BK)
10 I will turn your religious festivals(BL) into mourning
and all your singing into weeping.(BM)
I will make all of you wear sackcloth(BN)
and shave(BO) your heads.
I will make that time like mourning for an only son(BP)
and the end of it like a bitter day.(BQ)

11 “The days are coming,”(BR) declares the Sovereign Lord,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine(BS) of hearing the words of the Lord.(BT)
12 People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it.(BU)

13 “In that day

“the lovely young women and strong young men(BV)
will faint because of thirst.(BW)
14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria(BX)—
who say, ‘As surely as your god lives, Dan,’(BY)
or, ‘As surely as the god[e] of Beersheba(BZ) lives’—
they will fall,(CA) never to rise again.(CB)”

Israel to Be Destroyed

9 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said:

“Strike the tops of the pillars
so that the thresholds shake.
Bring them down on the heads(CC) of all the people;
those who are left I will kill with the sword.
Not one will get away,
none will escape.(CD)
2 Though they dig down to the depths below,(CE)
from there my hand will take them.
Though they climb up to the heavens above,(CF)
from there I will bring them down.(CG)
3 Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,(CH)
there I will hunt them down and seize them.(CI)
Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea,(CJ)
there I will command the serpent(CK) to bite them.(CL)
4 Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,
there I will command the sword(CM) to slay them.

“I will keep my eye on them
for harm(CN) and not for good.(CO)”(CP)

5 The Lord, the Lord Almighty—
he touches the earth and it melts,(CQ)
and all who live in it mourn;
the whole land rises like the Nile,
then sinks like the river of Egypt;(CR)
6 he builds his lofty palace[f](CS) in the heavens
and sets its foundation[g] on the earth;
he calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the Lord is his name.(CT)

7 “Are not you Israelites
the same to me as the Cushites[h]?”(CU)
declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt,
the Philistines(CV) from Caphtor[i](CW)
and the Arameans from Kir?(CX)

8 “Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord
are on the sinful kingdom.
I will destroy(CY) it
from the face of the earth.
Yet I will not totally destroy
the descendants of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.(CZ)
9 “For I will give the command,
and I will shake the people of Israel
among all the nations
as grain(DA) is shaken in a sieve,(DB)
and not a pebble will reach the ground.(DC)
10 All the sinners among my people
will die by the sword,(DD)
all those who say,
‘Disaster will not overtake or meet us.’(DE)

Israel’s Restoration

11 “In that day

“I will restore David’s(DF) fallen shelter(DG)—
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins(DH)—
and will rebuild it as it used to be,(DI)
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom(DJ)
and all the nations that bear my name,[j](DK)”
declares the Lord, who will do these things.(DL)

13 “The days are coming,”(DM) declares the Lord,

“when the reaper(DN) will be overtaken by the plowman(DO)
and the planter by the one treading(DP) grapes.
New wine(DQ) will drip from the mountains
and flow from all the hills,(DR)
14 and I will bring(DS) my people Israel back from exile.[k](DT)

“They will rebuild the ruined cities(DU) and live in them.
They will plant vineyards(DV) and drink their wine;
they will make gardens and eat their fruit.(DW)
15 I will plant(DX) Israel in their own land,(DY)
never again to be uprooted(DZ)
from the land I have given them,”(EA)

says the Lord your God.(EB)

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 7:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 7:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain; also in verse 8.
  3. Amos 7:17 Hebrew an unclean
  4. Amos 8:3 Or “the temple singers will wail
  5. Amos 8:14 Hebrew the way
  6. Amos 9:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  7. Amos 9:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  8. Amos 9:7 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  9. Amos 9:7 That is, Crete
  10. Amos 9:12 Hebrew; Septuagint so that the remnant of people / and all the nations that bear my name may seek me
  11. Amos 9:14 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel

Cross references:

  1. Amos 7:1 : ver 7; Am 8:1
  2. Amos 7:1 : Ps 78:46; S Jer 51:14; S Joel 1:4
  3. Amos 7:2 : S Ex 10:15
  4. Amos 7:2 : S Isa 37:4
  5. Amos 7:2 : S Eze 11:13; S Am 4:9
  6. Amos 7:3 : S Ex 32:14; Dt 32:36; S Jer 18:8; 26:19
  7. Amos 7:3 : S Hos 11:8
  8. Amos 7:4 : S Isa 66:16; S Joel 1:19
  9. Amos 7:4 : Dt 32:22
  10. Amos 7:5 : S ver 1-2; Joel 2:17
  11. Amos 7:6 : S Ex 32:14; S Jer 18:8; Jnh 3:10
  12. Amos 7:6 : Jer 42:10; S Eze 9:8
  13. Amos 7:8 : Jer 1:11, 13
  14. Amos 7:8 : Am 8:2
  15. Amos 7:8 : S 2Ki 21:13
  16. Amos 7:8 : S Jer 15:6; Eze 7:2-9
  17. Amos 7:9 : S Lev 26:30
  18. Amos 7:9 : S Lev 26:31
  19. Amos 7:9 : S 1Ki 13:34; 2Ki 15:9; Isa 63:18; S Hos 10:8
  20. Amos 7:10 : S Jos 7:2
  21. Amos 7:10 : S 2Ki 14:23
  22. Amos 7:10 : Jer 38:4
  23. Amos 7:10 : 2Ki 14:24; Jer 26:8-11
  24. Amos 7:11 : S Am 5:27
  25. Amos 7:11 : Jer 36:16
  26. Amos 7:12 : S 1Sa 9:9
  27. Amos 7:12 : Mt 8:34
  28. Amos 7:13 : S Jos 7:2; S 1Ki 12:29
  29. Amos 7:13 : Jer 36:5
  30. Amos 7:13 : S Jer 20:2; S Am 2:12; Ac 4:18
  31. Amos 7:14 : S 1Sa 10:5; 2Ki 2:5; 4:38; Zec 13:5
  32. Amos 7:14 : S 1Ki 10:27; S Isa 9:10
  33. Amos 7:15 : S Ge 37:2; S 2Sa 7:8
  34. Amos 7:15 : S Isa 6:9
  35. Amos 7:15 : S Jer 26:12
  36. Amos 7:15 : Jer 7:1-2; S Eze 2:3-4
  37. Amos 7:16 : Jer 22:2
  38. Amos 7:16 : S Eze 20:46; Mic 2:6
  39. Amos 7:17 : S Hos 4:13
  40. Amos 7:17 : S Am 5:27
  41. Amos 7:17 : S 2Ki 17:6; S Eze 4:13; S Hos 9:3; Am 2:12-13
  42. Amos 8:1 : S Am 7:1
  43. Amos 8:2 : Jer 1:13; 24:3
  44. Amos 8:2 : Am 7:8
  45. Amos 8:2 : S Ge 40:16
  46. Amos 8:2 : S La 4:18; Eze 7:2-9
  47. Amos 8:3 : S Am 5:16
  48. Amos 8:3 : Am 6:10
  49. Amos 8:4 : S Pr 30:14
  50. Amos 8:4 : S Job 20:19; S Ps 14:4; S Am 2:7
  51. Amos 8:5 : S Nu 10:10
  52. Amos 8:5 : Isa 58:13
  53. Amos 8:5 : S Ne 10:31
  54. Amos 8:5 : S Ge 31:7
  55. Amos 8:5 : Dt 25:15; 2Ki 4:23; Ne 13:15-16; Eze 45:10-12; S Hos 12:7; Mic 6:10-11; Zec 5:6
  56. Amos 8:6 : Am 5:11
  57. Amos 8:6 : S Am 2:6; S 4:1
  58. Amos 8:7 : S Ps 47:4
  59. Amos 8:7 : S Hos 8:13
  60. Amos 8:7 : S Job 35:15
  61. Amos 8:8 : S Job 9:6; Jer 51:29
  62. Amos 8:8 : Ps 18:7; S Jer 46:8; Am 9:5
  63. Amos 8:9 : S Job 5:14; Isa 59:9-10; Jer 13:16; 15:9; S Eze 32:7; S Am 5:8; Mic 3:6; Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44-45
  64. Amos 8:10 : S Lev 26:31
  65. Amos 8:10 : S La 5:15; S Hos 2:11
  66. Amos 8:10 : S Joel 1:8
  67. Amos 8:10 : S Lev 13:40; S Isa 3:17
  68. Amos 8:10 : S Ge 21:16
  69. Amos 8:10 : S Jer 2:19; S Eze 7:18
  70. Amos 8:11 : Jer 30:3; 31:27
  71. Amos 8:11 : S Isa 30:20
  72. Amos 8:11 : S 1Sa 3:1; S 28:6; S 2Ch 15:3
  73. Amos 8:12 : S Eze 20:3, 31
  74. Amos 8:13 : S Isa 9:17
  75. Amos 8:13 : Isa 41:17; Hos 2:3
  76. Amos 8:14 : Mic 1:5
  77. Amos 8:14 : S 1Ki 12:29
  78. Amos 8:14 : S Am 5:5
  79. Amos 8:14 : S Ps 46:2
  80. Amos 8:14 : S Am 5:2
  81. Amos 9:1 : Ps 68:21
  82. Amos 9:1 : Jer 11:11
  83. Amos 9:2 : S Job 7:9; S Eze 26:20
  84. Amos 9:2 : Jer 51:53
  85. Amos 9:2 : Ob 1:4
  86. Amos 9:3 : Am 1:2
  87. Amos 9:3 : Ps 139:8-10
  88. Amos 9:3 : Ps 68:22
  89. Amos 9:3 : Isa 27:1
  90. Amos 9:3 : S Ge 49:17; S Job 11:20; Jer 16:16-17
  91. Amos 9:4 : S Lev 26:33; S Eze 5:12
  92. Amos 9:4 : S Jer 21:10
  93. Amos 9:4 : Jer 39:16; S Eze 15:7
  94. Amos 9:4 : S Jer 44:11
  95. Amos 9:5 : S Ps 46:2
  96. Amos 9:5 : S Am 8:8
  97. Amos 9:6 : Jer 43:9
  98. Amos 9:6 : Ps 104:1-3, 5-6, 13; S Am 5:8
  99. Amos 9:7 : S 2Ch 12:3; Isa 20:4; 43:3
  100. Amos 9:7 : S Ge 10:14
  101. Amos 9:7 : S Dt 2:23
  102. Amos 9:7 : S 2Ki 16:9; S Isa 22:6; S Am 2:10
  103. Amos 9:8 : S Jer 4:27
  104. Amos 9:8 : S Jer 44:27
  105. Amos 9:9 : Lk 22:31
  106. Amos 9:9 : Isa 30:28
  107. Amos 9:9 : S Jer 31:36; S Da 9:7
  108. Amos 9:10 : Jer 49:37
  109. Amos 9:10 : Jer 5:12; S 23:17; S Eze 20:38; S Am 6:3
  110. Amos 9:11 : S Isa 7:2
  111. Amos 9:11 : S Ge 26:22
  112. Amos 9:11 : Ps 53:6; S Isa 49:8
  113. Amos 9:11 : Ps 80:12; S Eze 17:24; Mic 7:8, 11; Zec 12:7; 14:10
  114. Amos 9:12 : S Nu 24:18
  115. Amos 9:12 : Isa 43:7; Jer 25:29
  116. Amos 9:12 : Ac 15:16-17*
  117. Amos 9:13 : Jer 31:38; 33:14
  118. Amos 9:13 : S Ru 2:3
  119. Amos 9:13 : Lev 26:5
  120. Amos 9:13 : S Jdg 9:27
  121. Amos 9:13 : S Joel 2:24
  122. Amos 9:13 : S Joel 3:18
  123. Amos 9:14 : S Jer 29:14
  124. Amos 9:14 : S Jer 33:7
  125. Amos 9:14 : S Isa 32:18; S 49:8; S 61:4
  126. Amos 9:14 : S 2Ki 19:29
  127. Amos 9:14 : S Isa 62:9; S Jer 30:18; S 31:28; Eze 28:25-26; S 34:13-14; S Am 5:11
  128. Amos 9:15 : S Ex 15:17; S Isa 60:21
  129. Amos 9:15 : S Jer 23:8
  130. Amos 9:15 : S Joel 3:20
  131. Amos 9:15 : S Isa 65:9; S Jer 3:18; Ob 1:17
  132. Amos 9:15 : S Jer 18:9; S 24:6; S 32:15; S Eze 28:26; S 34:25-28; S 37:12, 25
New International Version (NIV)

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

Revelation 3:7-22

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia(A) write:

These are the words of him who is holy(B) and true,(C) who holds the key of David.(D) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds.(E) See, I have placed before you an open door(F) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(G) 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(H) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(I) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(J) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(K) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(L) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(M) to test(N) the inhabitants of the earth.(O)

11 I am coming soon.(P) Hold on to what you have,(Q) so that no one will take your crown.(R) 12 The one who is victorious(S) I will make a pillar(T) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(U) and the name of the city of my God,(V) the new Jerusalem,(W) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(X) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(Y) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(Z) the ruler of God’s creation.(AA) 15 I know your deeds,(AB) that you are neither cold nor hot.(AC) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(AD) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(AE) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(AF) so you can become rich; and white clothes(AG) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(AH) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(AI) So be earnest and repent.(AJ) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(AK) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(AL) I will come in(AM) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(AN) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(AO) just as I was victorious(AP) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AQ) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 3:7 : Rev 1:11
  2. Revelation 3:7 : S Mk 1:24
  3. Revelation 3:7 : 1Jn 5:20; Rev 6:10; 19:11
  4. Revelation 3:7 : Isa 22:22; Mt 16:19
  5. Revelation 3:8 : S Rev 2:2
  6. Revelation 3:8 : S Ac 14:27
  7. Revelation 3:8 : Rev 2:13
  8. Revelation 3:9 : Rev 2:9
  9. Revelation 3:9 : Rev 2:9
  10. Revelation 3:9 : Isa 49:23
  11. Revelation 3:9 : Isa 43:4; S Ro 8:37
  12. Revelation 3:10 : 2Pe 2:9
  13. Revelation 3:10 : S Mt 24:14
  14. Revelation 3:10 : Rev 2:10
  15. Revelation 3:10 : Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; 17:8
  16. Revelation 3:11 : S Mt 16:27
  17. Revelation 3:11 : Rev 2:25
  18. Revelation 3:11 : S 1Co 9:25
  19. Revelation 3:12 : S Jn 16:33
  20. Revelation 3:12 : Gal 2:9
  21. Revelation 3:12 : Rev 14:1; 22:4
  22. Revelation 3:12 : Eze 48:35
  23. Revelation 3:12 : Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2, 10
  24. Revelation 3:13 : S Rev 2:7
  25. Revelation 3:14 : S Col 2:1; Rev 1:11
  26. Revelation 3:14 : Jn 18:37; Rev 1:5
  27. Revelation 3:14 : Pr 8:22; Jn 1:3; Col 1:16, 18
  28. Revelation 3:15 : S Rev 2:2
  29. Revelation 3:15 : Ro 12:11
  30. Revelation 3:17 : Hos 12:8; 1Co 4:8
  31. Revelation 3:17 : Pr 13:7
  32. Revelation 3:18 : S 1Pe 1:7
  33. Revelation 3:18 : S ver 4
  34. Revelation 3:18 : Rev 16:15
  35. Revelation 3:19 : Dt 8:5; Pr 3:12; 1Co 11:32; Heb 12:5, 6
  36. Revelation 3:19 : S Rev 2:5
  37. Revelation 3:20 : Mt 24:33; Jas 5:9
  38. Revelation 3:20 : Lk 12:36
  39. Revelation 3:20 : S Ro 8:10
  40. Revelation 3:21 : S Jn 16:33
  41. Revelation 3:21 : S Mt 19:28
  42. Revelation 3:21 : Rev 5:5
  43. Revelation 3:22 : S Rev 2:7
New International Version (NIV)

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

Psalm 131

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud,(A) Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;(B)
I do not concern myself with great matters(C)
or things too wonderful for me.(D)
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,(E)
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.(F)

3 Israel, put your hope(G) in the Lord
both now and forevermore.(H)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 131:1 : Ps 101:5; Isa 2:12; Ro 12:16
  2. Psalm 131:1 : S 2Sa 22:28; S Job 41:34
  3. Psalm 131:1 : Jer 45:5
  4. Psalm 131:1 : S Job 5:9; Ps 139:6
  5. Psalm 131:2 : S Ps 116:7
  6. Psalm 131:2 : Mt 18:3; 1Co 13:11; 14:20
  7. Psalm 131:3 : S Ps 25:5; 119:43; 130:7
  8. Psalm 131:3 : S Ps 113:2
New International Version (NIV)

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

Proverbs 29:23

23 Pride brings a person low,(A)
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.(B)

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 29:23 : S Est 5:12
  2. Proverbs 29:23 : S Pr 11:2; S 15:33; S 16:18
New International Version (NIV)

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

Posted on

12/11/2018 DAB Transcript

Amos 4:1-6:14, Rev 2:18-3:6, Ps 130:1-8, Pr 29:21-22

Today is the 11th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is a pleasure and it’s a joy, one of the greatest joys of life to come together with you in community around this global campfire and take the next step forward. And that next step forward will take us back into the book of Amos, which we began yesterday. So, we’re reading from the New International Version this week. Amos chapter 4 verse 1 through 6 verse 14.

Prayer:

Thank you, Father for your word. Thank you for the beauty of your word and the way that it just touches so many different places that in the span of a year everything about us is touched and we are invited to be made new, we are invited to move forward. And so, in the Psalms today you gave us such a beautiful posture of repentance, language that allows us to confess and seek forgiveness. And sometimes this is because we feel like we’ve done something really really bad and sometimes it’s just we feel that, you now, that we feel like something’s between us. And, so, Father, we use the words of this Psalm to become the heart cry of our lives and our own prayer, “we cry to you, Lord. Lord, hear our voice. Let your ears be attentive to our cry for mercy. If you Lord kept a record of sins could stand, but with you there is forgiveness so that we can with reverence serve you. We wait for you Lord. Our whole being weights and in your word we put our hope.” Come Holy Spirit, forgive us of our sins, forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Help us to remember what we’ve learned father. Yes, we can cry out a prayer for mercy, a prayer for forgiveness, but if we are not willing to forgive then we will not be forgiven. And in this season that is so joyful and so disruptive at the same time there’s all kinds of stuff that gets kicked up, all kinds of things gets churned up to the surface of our lives, things that have been buried. So, we invite your Holy Spirit into that. Show us the ways that we need to offer forgiveness because we are under no illusion about how often and how much mercy and forgiveness we need each and every day. So, come Holy Spirit we thank you for the words of repentance in Psalm 130 and, in turn, we offer forgiveness as we ask for it. Come Jesus. We pray in your mighty name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudibible.com is home base, it’s the website, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

And, you know, certainly hard to miss the fact that itow,’s Christmas time the world over. And, so, that certainly comes into this community around this global campfire. And in my mind, you know, the global campfire is burning and we’re in the woods, but all of the nice trees that are all around us have lights on them because we’ve put all the lights up there and we just have…it’s beautiful….the global campfire around the world. And it’s time for our annual Christmas party. And that happens, of course, virtually every year and what you do is you call in your Christmas greeting to your Daily Audio Bible community from wherever you are in the world and just whatever it is the you have to say about Christmas time and about the journey that we’ve been on together. And we compile those all and we get together and have a Christmas party as you’ll see. And if you’ve been here for years you know that this is one of the wonderful, heartwarming things that we do. I am just always speechless over the Christmas party. I have never gotten through one of us Christmas parties without tears coming to my eyes. And, so, looking forward to this one. So, you can call in your Christmas greeting at any point during this week. And we’re kind of getting ourselves into the center of the week. So, don’t delay. You can use any of the prayer line numbers. 877-942-4253 if you are in the Americas. If you’re in Europe or the UK 44-20-3608-8078 is the number. And if you are in the lands down under in Australia, 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call. And only a couple of rules. You know, all of the calls are two minutes. So, get it in in two minutes but don’t combine a prayer request and holiday greeting in the same call. This is like the one rare time of the year that you can hang up and call again. If you’ve got a prayer request, then certainly leave that. But if you are calling in for holiday greeting then make sure that’s a separate call. And I will get these altogether and get ready for the Daily Audio Bible family Christmas for 2018.

And speaking of family Christmas 2018, the Daily Audio Bible family Christmas Box that is chock full of resources, some things that you’ll want keep for yourself and other things that you’ll want to give away, that is available. And just a heads up, like the deadline for international shipping has passed. We’re still shipping them international because you’re still ordering them internationally, but the deadline for the United States is coming up next week on Monday the 17th. We, obviously, we’ll still keep shipping until they’re gone, but that’s when we feel like we’re pretty safe to get everything to you in time for Christmas if that’s what you want this for. And, so, you can check out all of that at dailyaudiobible.com in the Daily Audio Bible shop. And grab them while they’re available.

And also, the early registration for the More Gathering for women that’s coming up this April, and this will be our last one in the mountains of Georgia. And Jill’s already come on and talked about. Yeah, we feel like that’s what God has told us and that’s pretty much it. Like, we don’t know what comes next. And, so, although we’re not antsy about it. God will lead the way. He has since we started all of this. And, so, don’t think He was planning to stop leading His children like on New Year’s Eve at midnight we’ll be on our own next year. I’m sure He will lead us, but we do know that this is it those mountains of North Georgia. So, come and not be a part of something. This was the birthplace of the More Gathering. And, so, come and be a part of that. You can find all of the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the Initiatives section or just go to moregathering.com and it will take you to the same place.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link. It’s on the homepage and I thank you profoundly, profoundly for your partnership here at the end of the year. And if you are trying to look at your charitable giving for tax purposes for the end of the year, then make sure that you do that before the end of the year and, yes, the Daily Audio Bible is a nonprofit 501©(3). And, yes, we will certainly be sending you a receipt for your partnership. So, thank you so much.

And if you have a prayer request or comment or holiday greeting, 877-942-4253 is the number.

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

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday December 11, 2018 (NIV)

Amos 4-6

Israel Has Not Returned to God

4 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan(A) on Mount Samaria,(B)
you women who oppress the poor(C) and crush the needy(D)
and say to your husbands,(E) “Bring us some drinks!(F)”
2 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness:
“The time(G) will surely come
when you will be taken away(H) with hooks,(I)
the last of you with fishhooks.[a]
3 You will each go straight out
through breaches in the wall,(J)
and you will be cast out toward Harmon,[b]”
declares the Lord.
4 “Go to Bethel(K) and sin;
go to Gilgal(L) and sin yet more.
Bring your sacrifices every morning,(M)
your tithes(N) every three years.[c](O)
5 Burn leavened bread(P) as a thank offering
and brag about your freewill offerings(Q)—
boast about them, you Israelites,
for this is what you love to do,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.

6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.(R)

7 “I also withheld(S) rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.(T)
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up.
8 People staggered from town to town for water(U)
but did not get enough(V) to drink,
yet you have not returned(W) to me,”
declares the Lord.(X)

9 “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
destroying them with blight and mildew.(Y)
Locusts(Z) devoured your fig and olive trees,(AA)
yet you have not returned(AB) to me,”
declares the Lord.

10 “I sent plagues(AC) among you
as I did to Egypt.(AD)
I killed your young men(AE) with the sword,
along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench(AF) of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,”(AG)
declares the Lord.(AH)

11 “I overthrew some of you
as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.(AI)
You were like a burning stick(AJ) snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.(AK)

12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you, Israel,
prepare to meet your God.”

13 He who forms the mountains,(AL)
who creates the wind,(AM)
and who reveals his thoughts(AN) to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth(AO)—
the Lord God Almighty is his name.(AP)

A Lament and Call to Repentance

5 Hear this word, Israel, this lament(AQ) I take up concerning you:

2 “Fallen is Virgin(AR) Israel,
never to rise again,
deserted in her own land,
with no one to lift her up.(AS)”

3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:

“Your city that marches out a thousand strong
will have only a hundred left;
your town that marches out a hundred strong
will have only ten left.(AT)”

4 This is what the Lord says to Israel:

“Seek(AU) me and live;(AV)
5 do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,(AW)
do not journey to Beersheba.(AX)
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.[d](AY)”
6 Seek(AZ) the Lord and live,(BA)
or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;(BB)
it will devour them,
and Bethel(BC) will have no one to quench it.(BD)

7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness(BE)
and cast righteousness(BF) to the ground.(BG)

8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion,(BH)
who turns midnight into dawn(BI)
and darkens day into night,(BJ)
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the Lord is his name.(BK)
9 With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold
and brings the fortified city to ruin.(BL)

10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court(BM)
and detest the one who tells the truth.(BN)

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(BO)
and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(BP)
you will not live in them;(BQ)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.(BR)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.(BS)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(BT)
and deprive the poor(BU) of justice in the courts.(BV)
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet(BW) in such times,
for the times are evil.(BX)

14 Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.(BY)
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.
15 Hate evil,(BZ) love good;(CA)
maintain justice in the courts.(CB)
Perhaps(CC) the Lord God Almighty will have mercy(CD)
on the remnant(CE) of Joseph.

16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, says:

“There will be wailing(CF) in all the streets(CG)
and cries of anguish in every public square.
The farmers(CH) will be summoned to weep
and the mourners to wail.
17 There will be wailing(CI) in all the vineyards,
for I will pass through(CJ) your midst,”
says the Lord.(CK)

The Day of the Lord

18 Woe to you who long
for the day of the Lord!(CL)
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?(CM)
That day will be darkness,(CN) not light.(CO)
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion
only to meet a bear,(CP)
as though he entered his house
and rested his hand on the wall
only to have a snake bite him.(CQ)
20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness,(CR) not light—
pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?(CS)

21 “I hate,(CT) I despise your religious festivals;(CU)
your assemblies(CV) are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings(CW) and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.(CX)
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.(CY)
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.(CZ)
24 But let justice(DA) roll on like a river,
righteousness(DB) like a never-failing stream!(DC)

25 “Did you bring me sacrifices(DD) and offerings
forty years(DE) in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,(DF)
the star of your god[e]—
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile(DG) beyond Damascus,”
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.(DH)

Woe to the Complacent

6 Woe to you(DI) who are complacent(DJ) in Zion,
and to you who feel secure(DK) on Mount Samaria,(DL)
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!(DM)
2 Go to Kalneh(DN) and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,(DO)
and then go down to Gath(DP) in Philistia.
Are they better off than(DQ) your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
3 You put off the day of disaster
and bring near a reign of terror.(DR)
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory
and lounge on your couches.(DS)
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves.(DT)
5 You strum away on your harps(DU) like David
and improvise on musical instruments.(DV)
6 You drink wine(DW) by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve(DX) over the ruin of Joseph.(DY)
7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;(DZ)
your feasting and lounging will end.(EA)

The Lord Abhors the Pride of Israel

8 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself(EB)—the Lord God Almighty declares:

“I abhor(EC) the pride of Jacob(ED)
and detest his fortresses;(EE)
I will deliver up(EF) the city
and everything in it.(EG)”

9 If ten(EH) people are left in one house, they too will die. 10 And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them[f](EI) asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush!(EJ) We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

11 For the Lord has given the command,
and he will smash(EK) the great house(EL) into pieces
and the small house into bits.(EM)

12 Do horses run on the rocky crags?
Does one plow the sea[g] with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison(EN)
and the fruit of righteousness(EO) into bitterness(EP)—
13 you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar[h]
and say, “Did we not take Karnaim[i] by our own strength?(EQ)”

14 For the Lord God Almighty declares,
“I will stir up a nation(ER) against you, Israel,
that will oppress you all the way
from Lebo Hamath(ES) to the valley of the Arabah.(ET)”

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 4:2 Or away in baskets, / the last of you in fish baskets
  2. Amos 4:3 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew (see Septuagint) out, you mountain of oppression
  3. Amos 4:4 Or days
  4. Amos 5:5 Hebrew aven, a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see Hosea 4:15.
  5. Amos 5:26 Or lifted up Sakkuth your king / and Kaiwan your idols, / your star-gods; Septuagint lifted up the shrine of Molek / and the star of your god Rephan, / their idols
  6. Amos 6:10 Or to make a funeral fire in honor of the dead
  7. Amos 6:12 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text plow there
  8. Amos 6:13 Lo Debar means nothing.
  9. Amos 6:13 Karnaim means horns; horn here symbolizes strength.

Cross references:

  1. Amos 4:1 : S Ps 22:12
  2. Amos 4:1 : S Am 3:9
  3. Amos 4:1 : S Isa 58:6; S Eze 18:12
  4. Amos 4:1 : S Dt 24:14
  5. Amos 4:1 : Jer 44:19
  6. Amos 4:1 : S Am 2:8; 5:11; 8:6
  7. Amos 4:2 : Jer 31:31
  8. Amos 4:2 : Am 6:8
  9. Amos 4:2 : S 2Ki 19:28; S 2Ch 33:11; S Isa 19:8
  10. Amos 4:3 : S Eze 12:5
  11. Amos 4:4 : S Jos 7:2
  12. Amos 4:4 : S Hos 4:15
  13. Amos 4:4 : S Nu 28:3
  14. Amos 4:4 : Dt 14:28
  15. Amos 4:4 : S Eze 20:39; Am 5:21-22
  16. Amos 4:5 : S Lev 7:13
  17. Amos 4:5 : S Lev 22:18-21
  18. Amos 4:6 : S Isa 3:1; S 9:13; S Jer 5:3; Hag 2:17
  19. Amos 4:7 : S Jer 3:3; Zec 14:17
  20. Amos 4:7 : Ex 9:4, 26; Dt 11:17; S 2Ch 7:13; S Isa 5:6
  21. Amos 4:8 : S Eze 4:16-17
  22. Amos 4:8 : Hag 1:6
  23. Amos 4:8 : S Jer 3:7
  24. Amos 4:8 : S Job 36:31; S Jer 14:4
  25. Amos 4:9 : S Dt 28:22
  26. Amos 4:9 : S Ex 10:13; S Joel 2:25
  27. Amos 4:9 : Joel 1:7
  28. Amos 4:9 : S Isa 9:13; S Jer 3:10
  29. Amos 4:10 : S Ex 9:3
  30. Amos 4:10 : Ex 11:5
  31. Amos 4:10 : S Isa 9:17
  32. Amos 4:10 : S Isa 34:3
  33. Amos 4:10 : S Dt 28:21
  34. Amos 4:10 : S Isa 9:13
  35. Amos 4:11 : S Ge 19:24; S Jer 23:14
  36. Amos 4:11 : S Isa 7:4; Jude 1:23
  37. Amos 4:11 : S Job 36:13
  38. Amos 4:13 : Ps 65:6
  39. Amos 4:13 : Ps 135:7
  40. Amos 4:13 : S Da 2:28
  41. Amos 4:13 : Mic 1:3
  42. Amos 4:13 : S Isa 47:4; Am 5:8, 27; 9:6
  43. Amos 5:1 : S Jer 4:8; S Eze 19:1
  44. Amos 5:2 : S 2Ki 19:21; Jer 14:17
  45. Amos 5:2 : Jer 50:32; Am 8:14
  46. Amos 5:3 : Isa 6:13; Am 6:9
  47. Amos 5:4 : S Dt 4:29
  48. Amos 5:4 : Dt 32:46-47; Isa 55:3; Jer 29:13; S Eze 18:9
  49. Amos 5:5 : 1Sa 11:14; S Hos 4:15
  50. Amos 5:5 : Ge 21:31; Am 8:14
  51. Amos 5:5 : S 1Sa 7:16; S 8:2
  52. Amos 5:6 : Ps 22:26; 105:4; S Isa 31:1; 55:6; Zep 2:3
  53. Amos 5:6 : ver 14; S Lev 18:5
  54. Amos 5:6 : Dt 4:24
  55. Amos 5:6 : S Am 3:14
  56. Amos 5:6 : S Jer 4:4
  57. Amos 5:7 : Isa 5:20; Am 6:12
  58. Amos 5:7 : S Am 3:10
  59. Amos 5:7 : S Hos 10:4
  60. Amos 5:8 : S Ge 1:16; S Job 38:31
  61. Amos 5:8 : S Job 38:12; Isa 42:16
  62. Amos 5:8 : S Ps 104:20; Am 8:9
  63. Amos 5:8 : Ps 104:6-9; Jer 16:21; S Am 4:13
  64. Amos 5:9 : Mic 5:11
  65. Amos 5:10 : S Isa 29:21
  66. Amos 5:10 : 1Ki 22:8; Gal 4:16
  67. Amos 5:11 : Am 8:6
  68. Amos 5:11 : S Am 3:15
  69. Amos 5:11 : S Dt 28:30; Mic 1:6
  70. Amos 5:11 : S Jdg 9:27; S Am 4:1; 9:14; Mic 6:15; Zep 1:13
  71. Amos 5:12 : Hos 5:3
  72. Amos 5:12 : S Job 36:18; S Isa 1:23; S Eze 22:12
  73. Amos 5:12 : S Jer 5:28
  74. Amos 5:12 : S Job 5:4; S Isa 5:23; S Am 2:6-7
  75. Amos 5:13 : S Est 4:14
  76. Amos 5:13 : Mic 2:3
  77. Amos 5:14 : S ver 6
  78. Amos 5:15 : S Ps 52:3; S 97:10; Ro 12:9
  79. Amos 5:15 : S Ge 18:25
  80. Amos 5:15 : S Isa 1:17; S 29:21; Zec 8:16
  81. Amos 5:15 : S Jer 36:3
  82. Amos 5:15 : S Joel 2:14
  83. Amos 5:15 : Mic 5:7, 8; 7:18
  84. Amos 5:16 : Jer 9:17; Am 8:3; Zep 1:10
  85. Amos 5:16 : Jer 7:34
  86. Amos 5:16 : S Joel 1:11
  87. Amos 5:17 : S Ex 11:6
  88. Amos 5:17 : Ex 12:12
  89. Amos 5:17 : Isa 16:10; S Jer 48:33
  90. Amos 5:18 : S Isa 2:12; S Joel 1:15
  91. Amos 5:18 : S Jer 30:5
  92. Amos 5:18 : S 1Sa 2:9; S Joel 2:2
  93. Amos 5:18 : S Job 20:28; Isa 5:19, 30; Jer 30:7
  94. Amos 5:19 : S La 3:10
  95. Amos 5:19 : S Dt 32:24; Job 20:24; S Ecc 10:8; Isa 24:17-18; Jer 15:2-3; 48:44
  96. Amos 5:20 : S 1Sa 2:9
  97. Amos 5:20 : S Isa 13:10; S Eze 7:7; Ob 1:15; Zep 1:15
  98. Amos 5:21 : Jer 44:4
  99. Amos 5:21 : S Lev 26:31; S Hos 2:11
  100. Amos 5:21 : S Eze 23:18
  101. Amos 5:22 : Lev 26:31
  102. Amos 5:22 : S Ps 40:6; S Jer 7:21
  103. Amos 5:22 : Isa 1:11-16; S Isa 66:3; Jer 14:12; S Am 4:4; Mic 6:6-7
  104. Amos 5:23 : Am 6:5
  105. Amos 5:24 : S Jer 22:3
  106. Amos 5:24 : S Isa 45:8
  107. Amos 5:24 : Mic 6:8
  108. Amos 5:25 : S Isa 43:23
  109. Amos 5:25 : S Ex 16:35
  110. Amos 5:26 : S Eze 18:6; S 20:16
  111. Amos 5:27 : Am 6:7; 7:11, 17; Mic 1:16
  112. Amos 5:27 : Dt 32:17-19; Jer 38:17; S Am 4:13; Ac 7:42-43*
  113. Amos 6:1 : Lk 6:24
  114. Amos 6:1 : Zep 1:12
  115. Amos 6:1 : S Job 24:23
  116. Amos 6:1 : S Am 3:9
  117. Amos 6:1 : Isa 32:9-11
  118. Amos 6:2 : S Ge 10:10
  119. Amos 6:2 : S 2Ki 17:24; S Jer 49:23
  120. Amos 6:2 : S Jos 11:22; 2Ch 26:6
  121. Amos 6:2 : Na 3:8
  122. Amos 6:3 : S Isa 56:12; S Eze 12:22; Am 9:10
  123. Amos 6:4 : S Est 1:6; S Pr 7:17
  124. Amos 6:4 : S Isa 1:11; S Eze 34:2-3; S Am 3:12
  125. Amos 6:5 : S Ps 137:2; S Isa 14:11; Am 5:23
  126. Amos 6:5 : S 1Ch 15:16
  127. Amos 6:6 : S Isa 28:1; S Am 2:8
  128. Amos 6:6 : S Eze 9:4
  129. Amos 6:6 : S Eze 16:49
  130. Amos 6:7 : S Am 5:27
  131. Amos 6:7 : S Jer 16:9; S La 4:5
  132. Amos 6:8 : S Ge 22:16; Heb 6:13
  133. Amos 6:8 : S Lev 26:30
  134. Amos 6:8 : S Ps 47:4
  135. Amos 6:8 : S Jer 12:8
  136. Amos 6:8 : Am 4:2
  137. Amos 6:8 : S Lev 26:19; Dt 32:19
  138. Amos 6:9 : S Am 5:3
  139. Amos 6:10 : S 1Sa 31:12
  140. Amos 6:10 : Am 8:3
  141. Amos 6:11 : S Isa 34:5
  142. Amos 6:11 : S Am 3:15
  143. Amos 6:11 : Isa 55:11
  144. Amos 6:12 : Hos 10:4
  145. Amos 6:12 : S Am 3:10
  146. Amos 6:12 : S Isa 1:21; S Am 5:7
  147. Amos 6:13 : S Job 8:15; Isa 28:14-15
  148. Amos 6:14 : Jer 5:15
  149. Amos 6:14 : S Nu 13:21
  150. Amos 6:14 : S Am 3:11
New International Version (NIV)

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

Revelation 2:18-3:6

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira(A) write:

These are the words of the Son of God,(B) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(C) 19 I know your deeds,(D) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(E) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(F) 21 I have given her time(G) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(H) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(I) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(J) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(K)

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(L) 25 except to hold on to what you have(M) until I come.’(N)

26 To the one who is victorious(O) and does my will to the end,(P) I will give authority over the nations(Q)— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(R) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a](S)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(T) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(U) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

3 “To the angel[b] of the church in Sardis(V) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[c](W) of God and the seven stars.(X) I know your deeds;(Y) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(Z) 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(AA) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(AB) and you will not know at what time(AC) I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(AD) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(AE) for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious(AF) will, like them, be dressed in white.(AG) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(AH) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(AI) and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AJ) what the Spirit says to the churches.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
  2. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  3. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 2:18 : ver 24; Ac 16:14; Rev 1:11
  2. Revelation 2:18 : S Mt 4:3
  3. Revelation 2:18 : S Rev 1:14, 15
  4. Revelation 2:19 : S ver 2
  5. Revelation 2:20 : 1Ki 16:31; 21:25; 2Ki 9:7
  6. Revelation 2:20 : ver 14; S Ac 15:20
  7. Revelation 2:21 : Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9
  8. Revelation 2:21 : Ro 2:5; Rev 9:20; 16:9, 11
  9. Revelation 2:22 : Rev 17:2; 18:9
  10. Revelation 2:23 : 1Sa 16:7; 1Ki 8:39; Ps 139:1, 2, 23; Pr 21:2; Jer 17:10; Lk 16:15; Ro 8:27; 1Th 2:4
  11. Revelation 2:23 : S Mt 16:27
  12. Revelation 2:24 : Ac 15:28
  13. Revelation 2:25 : Rev 3:11
  14. Revelation 2:25 : S Mt 16:27
  15. Revelation 2:26 : S Jn 16:33
  16. Revelation 2:26 : Mt 10:22
  17. Revelation 2:26 : Ps 2:8; Rev 3:21
  18. Revelation 2:27 : Rev 12:5; 19:15
  19. Revelation 2:27 : Ps 2:9; Isa 30:14; Jer 19:11
  20. Revelation 2:28 : Rev 22:16
  21. Revelation 2:29 : S ver 7
  22. Revelation 3:1 : Rev 1:11
  23. Revelation 3:1 : S Rev 1:4
  24. Revelation 3:1 : S Rev 1:16
  25. Revelation 3:1 : S Rev 2:2
  26. Revelation 3:1 : 1Ti 5:6
  27. Revelation 3:3 : S Rev 2:5
  28. Revelation 3:3 : S Lk 12:39
  29. Revelation 3:3 : Lk 12:39
  30. Revelation 3:4 : Jude 23
  31. Revelation 3:4 : ver 5, 18; Rev 4:4; 6:11; 7:9, 13, 14; 19:14
  32. Revelation 3:5 : S Jn 16:33
  33. Revelation 3:5 : S ver 4
  34. Revelation 3:5 : S Rev 20:12
  35. Revelation 3:5 : Mt 10:32
  36. Revelation 3:6 : S Rev 2:7
New International Version (NIV)

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

Psalm 130

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths(A) I cry to you,(B) Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.(C)
Let your ears be attentive(D)
to my cry for mercy.(E)

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?(F)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,(G)
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.(H)

5 I wait for the Lord,(I) my whole being waits,(J)
and in his word(K) I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen(L) wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.(M)

7 Israel, put your hope(N) in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love(O)
and with him is full redemption.(P)
8 He himself will redeem(Q) Israel
from all their sins.(R)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 130:1 : S Job 30:19; Ps 42:7; La 3:55
  2. Psalm 130:1 : Ps 22:2; 55:17; 142:5
  3. Psalm 130:2 : S Ps 27:7; 28:2
  4. Psalm 130:2 : S 2Ch 6:40
  5. Psalm 130:2 : S Ps 28:6; 31:22; 86:6; 140:6
  6. Psalm 130:3 : S 1Sa 6:20; S Ezr 9:15; Ps 143:2; Na 1:6; Rev 6:17
  7. Psalm 130:4 : S Ex 34:7; S 2Sa 24:14; S Jer 31:34
  8. Psalm 130:4 : S 1Ki 8:40
  9. Psalm 130:5 : S Ps 27:14; Isa 8:17; 26:8; 30:18; 49:23
  10. Psalm 130:5 : S Ps 5:3
  11. Psalm 130:5 : S Ps 119:74
  12. Psalm 130:6 : Ps 63:6
  13. Psalm 130:6 : S 2Sa 23:4
  14. Psalm 130:7 : S Ps 25:5; S 71:14
  15. Psalm 130:7 : S 1Ch 21:13
  16. Psalm 130:7 : S Ps 111:9; S Ro 3:24
  17. Psalm 130:8 : Lk 1:68
  18. Psalm 130:8 : S Ex 34:7; S Mt 1:21
New International Version (NIV)

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

Proverbs 29:21-22

21 A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(A)

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 29:22 : S Pr 14:17
New International Version (NIV)

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

Posted on

12/10/2018 DAB Transcript

Amos 1:1-3:15, Revelation 2:1-17, Psalms 129:1-8, Proverbs 29:19-20

Today is the 10th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you today as we dive into our work week and just keep taking these steps forward. Yesterday we began books in the old and New Testament. So, the book of Joel and the book of Revelation, which happens to be the final book of the Bible and, obviously, the final book of the New Testament. So, we talked about both of those as we got going and obviously we’ll be spending the rest of our time in the New Testament in the book of Revelation. But we read Joel all the way through yesterday, which brings us to another book of minor prophecy in the Old Testament, the book of Amos.

Introduction to the Book of Amos:

Interestingly enough, Amos is probably the earliest collection of written prophetic utterances found in all of the Bible. Amos prophesied in the mid eighth century BC at a time when the northern and the southern kingdoms were both intact, like neither one of them had been attacked and carried into exile and they were experiencing widespread peace and prosperity. And ironically, Amos wasn’t a person trained for religious orders. Like, he wasn’t a priest or scribe or anything like that. It seems like…it seems he was an ordinary person, living the ordinary life of a shepherd and farmer. What’s not known is whether he was like a common laborer, like he just cared for someone else’s sheep or something like or   whether he actually own flocks and groves but it’s certain that he was educated and it’s certain that he was aware of the times, aware of his culture, aware of what was happening in the world. Amos lived in a city called Toccoa, which is about 10 miles south of Jerusalem, placing his home in the southern kingdom of Judah but oddly his mission was to prophesy in the northern kingdom of Israel. And that was probably just across the border in Bethel because Bethel was the border and there was a golden calf set up in Bethel and profits were sent into Bethel to prophesy against it. So, that’s not too far of a stretch. He probably went into the northern kingdom prophesying in Bethel because it was a hub for idol worship and commerce. As we just talked about, the northern and southern kingdoms were experiencing a kind of peace and prosperity that they hadn’t seen since the days of Solomon. So, I mean, it could seem odd that God would send an ordinary person to deliver such a severe message of impending judgment. In such a time of peace and prosperity it would have been undoubtedly a difficult message to deliver but this is what Amos was instructed to do. And, so, peace and prosperity had open the door for corruption which was running rampant and the poor were being misused out, marginalized, and oppressed, and greed ruled the hearts of the nation’s leaders. So, Amos comes along at with a word from the Lord that effectively communicated that praying upon the less fortunate was at absolutely unacceptable, which makes social justice a major theme in the book of Amos. And it would seem like after these many thousands of years, like we would understand the cycle, but it seems like we’re still grappling with the same kinds of issues. Amos vividly reveals that we’re nowhere near as powerful as we think we are and God is a much more powerful than we could possibly even understand. And we have no right to mistreat or misuse any of his creation whether that be a people created in His image or the world that He created for the people He created in His image to live on because, as Amos reveals, the world belongs to God and He is indeed sovereign over it all, including all people and all things. So, as we read the book of Amos, let’s consider our own path and choose to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. So, reading from the New International Version this week. Amos chapter 1 verse 1 through 3 verse 15 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. It’s a common prayer in our community to thank You for Your word because the community is centered around Your word and centered around the rhythm of being in Your word. And, so, we love Your word and we thank You for Your word and we thank You for the way that it transforms us from within even when we don’t know it. It is just in our lives, in our hearts, and our minds continually speaking truth. And when truth is spoken over and over and over it has a cumulative effect and we thank You for that because You are changing us and ridding us of what is false within us, so that all that remains is true. All that can shake will shake and what remains will be unshakable and will be true. Come, Holy Spirit into what we’ve read today and into all that we will read and consider and meditate upon this week. We love You Lord and thank You for Your guidance, the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, the guidance of the Scriptures. We love You Jesus. We pray these things in Your name. Amen. 

 Announcements:

dailyaudibible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

And what’s going on around here is it’s time to get ready for our annual family Christmas party and that’s just a beautiful tradition that we’ve had for many many years where we’ll read the Christmas story and Jill and I will kind of talk about…just look back at the year and look forward together and then we hear from each other, our holiday wishes, our Christmas wishes from all over the world. And, so, it’s your time to participate and every year…every year after…as we’re putting it together…there’s people still calling in. Don’t wait. Just go ahead and call in and say whatever it is that you want to say to wish your Daily Audio Bible family a Merry Christmas. The number that you can use is the prayer line number and there’s only really one rule for the most part and that is, don’t call in a prayer request and a Christmas greeting in the same call or neither one of those things will get to where they need to go. So, if you have a prayer request, certainly call that in. If you want to call a Merry Christmas call in, then call that in separate. So, you can use any of the prayer lines. If you are in the Americas, 877-942-4253 is the number. If you are in the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078 is the number. If you are in Australia or the lands down under 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to dial. So, yeah, we’ll do that all this week and then we’ll start putting that together so we can enjoy a family Christmas party this year.

Also, the More Gathering for women, registration is open for that, and we’ve been talking about that for a week. And don’t miss this opportunity for the end of an era up in the mountains of Georgia. This is gonna be fantastic and the enthusiasm…Jill and I were talking about this the other day because so many of you that haven’t come before are coming…and so the enthusiasm around this…we’re just really looking forward to it. So, you can find out all the details for the More Gathering for women at moregathering.com or dailyaudiobible.com in the Initiatives section.

And then, of course, we still have some Daily Audio Bible family Christmas Boxes for 2018 available as well in the Daily Audio Bible Shop.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link, it is 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 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 this is Lisa in Capistrano Beach. Family I love you all and I just want to let everyone know that as I’m listening, and I hear your prayer requests I’m praying for you right then and there. I pray for you throughout the day in the beginning and at the end and I just ask that the Lord will bless you and that His will will be done in your lives. Today I heard Margaret May out of New York and Margaret your call just stopped me in my tracks. I was cooking, and I just stopped. Tears came to my eyes as I listened to your plea for prayer. And I want you to know that I am praying for you. I know you feel alone and that you don’t have any friends, but we will pray for you. I know that so many others will pray for you as well Margaret. And then I believe the young girls name…I’m gonna say is Jordan…but you’ll know who you are. Your sister left home, and your horse died, and you felt that we might think that’s trivial but some of us don’t. I can appreciate the love that you have for a companion animal that God gave us. And, so, my heart goes out to you and I’m praying for you as well. Dear family I pray for all of you even if I’m not mentioning you by name. I hear your requests and I’m praying and I love you all. Thank you, Brian and the rest of the Daily Audio Bible ministry. I just love these podcasts every day and I listen to you…it’s been 12 years. Love you all. Take care. God bless you, bye bye.

Margaret May you have been prayed for. What you have said is not unique to you. I have struggled with much of what you have said. Do not let Satan this deceive you further. You are a child of God most high. Ask the Father to fill you and cover you with the Holy Spirit. Say out loud, I am a child of God, what He says about me is true. And remember that God does not give us the Spirit of fear. That’s in Timothy 1 and 7 - greater is he that is in me. You are of God’s little children and have overcome. First John 4. Fear started in the garden and has been with us since. God tells us to fear not many times in the Bible. Seek God’s word and speak it aloud so your own ears can hear it and take it in. Show me God’s love.

Hi, my name is Julia I’m calling from Los Angeles. I’ve been listening since July of this year. I listen every day and I just…I love the family and I’m praying for every prayer request that comes in daily but I was really moved by one of the women that called in today. She called in from Syracuse New York and I’m sorry that I missed your name when you were calling about the spirit of fear and thoughtfulness and that you had been in the room. It just like you thought it was getting worse and I just wanted to call and pray for you. So, Lord I just come before You thanking You for today, thanking You for this community that we get to be so close together even though we’re physical so far apart. And Lord I just…I come before You interceding for this woman, this daughter of Yours Lord. I pray Holy Spirit that You would come in and that You would swallow up that loneliness, and that You would swallow up that fear, I come against every demonic attack of the enemy right now and I command You to stand down and stay down by the blood of Jesus. I pray the Lord You would loosen peace in her mind and in her heart Lord. I pray that You and give her the strength Lord to come out of that room and to seek help Lord. I pray Lord a Psalms 91 covering over her that You would give her refuge under the shadow of Your wings Lord, that You would cover her with Your feathers. I pray for a dispatching of angels right now Lord to be at every doorpost and at every window Lord, covering her Lord and protecting her so that they would lift her up in their hands tonight and __ her fall on a stone Lord. Father, You say that You are the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. So, I pray that You would be her defender in this battle Lord, that the weapons that the enemy has used against us will not prevail. I pray the armor of Lord to be over her, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sandals of…

Hello this is Carrie from China and now from Australia. Today’s 7th of December. I’ve been meaning to call in for quite a while with a praise report but that’s going to have to wait now because I was galvanized into action by a call from Margaret May from New York this morning. Margaret May, what a brave girl you are. You’ve being tormented with fears and yet you dialed in to call for help. I’m so proud of you. That was the very best thing you could do and now you have a worldwide prayer team behind you. In the name of Jesus, I command those tormenting spirits to cease their activity and come out of Margaret now. Loose her and set her free. I plead the blood of Jesus over you in the name of Jesus. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin and make us whole again. I command your digestive system to work normally and except food again in Jesus’ name. And now let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Margaret May, if you are able fill your room with praise and worship all day, radio, tapes, whatever it takes. It will create an atmosphere that the demons will hate and finally, know that I am praying for you along with all your brothers and sisters from the DAB. Many blessings.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday December 10, 2018 (NIV)

Amos 1-3

1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa(A)—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake,(B) when Uzziah(C) was king of Judah and Jeroboam(D) son of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel.(E)

2 He said:

“The Lord roars(F) from Zion
and thunders(G) from Jerusalem;(H)
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
and the top of Carmel(I) withers.”(J)

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

3 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Damascus,(K)
even for four, I will not relent.(L)
Because she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth,
4 I will send fire(M) on the house of Hazael(N)
that will consume the fortresses(O) of Ben-Hadad.(P)
5 I will break down the gate(Q) of Damascus;
I will destroy the king who is in[b] the Valley of Aven[c]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.(R)
The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,(S)”
says the Lord.(T)

6 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Gaza,(U)
even for four, I will not relent.(V)
Because she took captive whole communities
and sold them to Edom,(W)
7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza
that will consume her fortresses.
8 I will destroy the king[d] of Ashdod(X)
and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand(Y) against Ekron,
till the last of the Philistines(Z) are dead,”(AA)
says the Sovereign Lord.(AB)

9 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Tyre,(AC)
even for four, I will not relent.(AD)
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,(AE)
10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre
that will consume her fortresses.(AF)”

11 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Edom,(AG)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword(AH)
and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
and his fury flamed unchecked,(AI)
12 I will send fire on Teman(AJ)
that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.(AK)”

13 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Ammon,(AL)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he ripped open the pregnant women(AM) of Gilead
in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah(AN)
that will consume(AO) her fortresses
amid war cries(AP) on the day of battle,
amid violent winds(AQ) on a stormy day.
15 Her king[e] will go into exile,
he and his officials together,(AR)”
says the Lord.(AS)

2 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Moab,(AT)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he burned to ashes(AU)
the bones of Edom’s king,
2 I will send fire on Moab
that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[f](AV)
Moab will go down in great tumult
amid war cries(AW) and the blast of the trumpet.(AX)
3 I will destroy her ruler(AY)
and kill all her officials with him,”(AZ)
says the Lord.(BA)

4 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Judah,(BB)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because they have rejected the law(BC) of the Lord
and have not kept his decrees,(BD)
because they have been led astray(BE) by false gods,[g](BF)
the gods[h] their ancestors followed,(BG)
5 I will send fire(BH) on Judah
that will consume the fortresses(BI) of Jerusalem.(BJ)”

Judgment on Israel

6 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.(BK)
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.(BL)
7 They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.(BM)
8 They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.(BN)
In the house of their god
they drink wine(BO) taken as fines.(BP)

9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites(BQ) before them,
though they were tall(BR) as the cedars
and strong as the oaks.(BS)
I destroyed their fruit above
and their roots(BT) below.
10 I brought you up out of Egypt(BU)
and led(BV) you forty years in the wilderness(BW)
to give you the land of the Amorites.(BX)

11 “I also raised up prophets(BY) from among your children
and Nazirites(BZ) from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.(CA)

13 “Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.(CB)
14 The swift will not escape,(CC)
the strong(CD) will not muster their strength,
and the warrior will not save his life.(CE)
15 The archer(CF) will not stand his ground,
the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
and the horseman(CG) will not save his life.(CH)
16 Even the bravest warriors(CI)
will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

3 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(CJ)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(CK)

2 “You only have I chosen(CL)
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish(CM) you
for all your sins.(CN)”

3 Do two walk together
unless they have agreed to do so?
4 Does a lion roar(CO) in the thicket
when it has no prey?(CP)
Does it growl in its den
when it has caught nothing?
5 Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
when no bait(CQ) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
if it has not caught anything?
6 When a trumpet(CR) sounds in a city,
do not the people tremble?
When disaster(CS) comes to a city,
has not the Lord caused it?(CT)

7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan(CU)
to his servants the prophets.(CV)

8 The lion(CW) has roared(CX)—
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
who can but prophesy?(CY)

9 Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(CZ)
and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(DA)
see the great unrest within her
and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,(DB)” declares the Lord,
“who store up in their fortresses(DC)
what they have plundered(DD) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses.(DE)”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(DF) mouth
only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
with only the head of a bed
and a piece of fabric[i] from a couch.[j](DG)”

13 “Hear this and testify(DH) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(DI) Israel for her sins,
I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(DJ)
the horns(DK) of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(DL)
along with the summer house;(DM)
the houses adorned with ivory(DN) will be destroyed
and the mansions(DO) will be demolished,(DP)”
declares the Lord.(DQ)

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash
  2. Amos 1:5 Or the inhabitants of
  3. Amos 1:5 Aven means wickedness.
  4. Amos 1:8 Or inhabitants
  5. Amos 1:15 Or / Molek
  6. Amos 2:2 Or of her cities
  7. Amos 2:4 Or by lies
  8. Amos 2:4 Or lies
  9. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  10. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

Cross references:

  1. Amos 1:1 : S 2Sa 14:2
  2. Amos 1:1 : Zec 14:5
  3. Amos 1:1 : S 2Ki 14:21; S 2Ch 26:23
  4. Amos 1:1 : S 2Ki 14:23
  5. Amos 1:1 : S Hos 1:1
  6. Amos 1:2 : S Isa 42:13
  7. Amos 1:2 : S Ps 29:3
  8. Amos 1:2 : Joel 3:16
  9. Amos 1:2 : Am 9:3
  10. Amos 1:2 : S Jer 12:4
  11. Amos 1:3 : Isa 7:8; 8:4; 17:1-3
  12. Amos 1:3 : ver 6, 9, 11, 13; Am 2:6
  13. Amos 1:4 : S Jer 49:27; S Eze 30:8
  14. Amos 1:4 : S 1Ki 19:17; 2Ki 8:7-15
  15. Amos 1:4 : Jer 17:27
  16. Amos 1:4 : 1Ki 20:1; 2Ki 6:24; Jer 49:23-27
  17. Amos 1:5 : Jer 51:30
  18. Amos 1:5 : S Isa 37:12
  19. Amos 1:5 : S 2Ki 16:9; S Isa 22:6; Zec 9:1
  20. Amos 1:5 : S Isa 7:16; Jer 49:27
  21. Amos 1:6 : S Ge 10:19; 1Sa 6:17; Zep 2:4
  22. Amos 1:6 : S ver 3
  23. Amos 1:6 : S Ge 14:6; Ob 1:11
  24. Amos 1:8 : S 2Ch 26:6
  25. Amos 1:8 : Ps 81:14
  26. Amos 1:8 : S Eze 25:16
  27. Amos 1:8 : S Isa 34:8
  28. Amos 1:8 : Isa 14:28-32; Zep 2:4-7
  29. Amos 1:9 : 1Ki 5:1; 9:11-14; Jer 25:22; Joel 3:4; S Mt 11:21
  30. Amos 1:9 : ver 3
  31. Amos 1:9 : S 1Ki 5:12
  32. Amos 1:10 : Isa 23:1-18; S 34:8; S Jer 47:4; Eze 26:2-4; Zec 9:1-4
  33. Amos 1:11 : Nu 20:14-21; S 2Ch 28:17; S Ps 83:6
  34. Amos 1:11 : S Ps 63:10
  35. Amos 1:11 : S Eze 25:12-14; Zec 1:15
  36. Amos 1:12 : S Ge 36:11, 15
  37. Amos 1:12 : S Isa 34:5; 63:1-6; Jer 25:21; Eze 25:12-14; 35:1-15; Ob 1:1; Mal 1:2-5
  38. Amos 1:13 : S Ge 19:38; S Eze 21:28
  39. Amos 1:13 : S Ge 34:29; S 2Ki 8:12; S Hos 13:16
  40. Amos 1:14 : S Dt 3:11
  41. Amos 1:14 : Isa 30:30
  42. Amos 1:14 : S Job 39:25
  43. Amos 1:14 : Jer 23:19
  44. Amos 1:15 : S Jer 25:21
  45. Amos 1:15 : 1Ch 20:1; S Jer 49:1; Eze 21:28-32; 25:2-7
  46. Amos 2:1 : S Isa 16:6
  47. Amos 2:1 : Isa 33:12
  48. Amos 2:2 : Jer 48:24
  49. Amos 2:2 : S Job 39:25
  50. Amos 2:2 : S Jos 6:20
  51. Amos 2:3 : S Ps 2:10
  52. Amos 2:3 : S Isa 40:23
  53. Amos 2:3 : Isa 15:1-9; 16:1-14; S 25:10; Jer 48:1; S Eze 25:8-11; Zep 2:8-9
  54. Amos 2:4 : 2Ki 17:19; Hos 12:2
  55. Amos 2:4 : S Jer 6:19
  56. Amos 2:4 : S Eze 20:24
  57. Amos 2:4 : Isa 9:16
  58. Amos 2:4 : S Ex 34:15; S Dt 31:20; S Ps 4:2
  59. Amos 2:4 : S 2Ki 22:13; S Jer 9:14; S 16:12
  60. Amos 2:5 : S 2Ki 25:9; S 2Ch 36:19
  61. Amos 2:5 : Am 3:11
  62. Amos 2:5 : S Jer 17:27; S Hos 8:14
  63. Amos 2:6 : S Am 1:3
  64. Amos 2:6 : S Joel 3:3; Am 8:6
  65. Amos 2:7 : S Lev 18:21; Am 5:11-12; 8:4
  66. Amos 2:8 : S Ex 22:26; Dt 24:12-13
  67. Amos 2:8 : Hos 7:14; Am 4:1; 6:6
  68. Amos 2:8 : Hab 2:6
  69. Amos 2:9 : Nu 21:23-26; Jos 10:12
  70. Amos 2:9 : S Isa 10:33
  71. Amos 2:9 : S Ps 29:9
  72. Amos 2:9 : S 2Ki 19:30; S Job 18:16; S Eze 17:9
  73. Amos 2:10 : S Ex 6:6; 20:2; Am 3:1
  74. Amos 2:10 : S Dt 8:2
  75. Amos 2:10 : S Dt 2:7
  76. Amos 2:10 : S Ex 3:8; S Nu 21:25; S Jos 13:4; Am 9:7
  77. Amos 2:11 : Dt 18:18; Jer 7:25
  78. Amos 2:11 : S Jdg 13:5
  79. Amos 2:12 : Isa 30:10; Jer 11:21; Am 7:12-13; Mic 2:6
  80. Amos 2:13 : Am 7:16-17
  81. Amos 2:14 : S Job 11:20
  82. Amos 2:14 : S 1Ki 20:11
  83. Amos 2:14 : Ps 33:16; Isa 30:16-17
  84. Amos 2:15 : S Eze 39:3
  85. Amos 2:15 : S Ex 15:21; Zec 10:5
  86. Amos 2:15 : Ecc 9:11
  87. Amos 2:16 : Jer 48:41
  88. Amos 3:1 : Zep 2:5
  89. Amos 3:1 : S Am 2:10
  90. Amos 3:2 : S Ex 19:6; Dt 7:6; Lk 12:47
  91. Amos 3:2 : ver 14
  92. Amos 3:2 : S Jer 14:10; Mic 2:3; 1Pe 4:17
  93. Amos 3:4 : S Isa 42:13
  94. Amos 3:4 : Ps 104:21; S Hos 5:14
  95. Amos 3:5 : S Ps 119:110
  96. Amos 3:6 : S Nu 10:2; S Job 39:24; S Jer 4:21
  97. Amos 3:6 : S Isa 31:2
  98. Amos 3:6 : Isa 14:24-27
  99. Amos 3:7 : Ge 18:17; S 1Sa 3:7; S Da 9:22; Jn 15:15; Rev 10:7
  100. Amos 3:7 : S Jer 23:22
  101. Amos 3:8 : S Isa 31:4
  102. Amos 3:8 : S Isa 42:13
  103. Amos 3:8 : S Jer 20:9; Jnh 1:1-3; 3:1-3; Ac 4:20
  104. Amos 3:9 : S Jos 13:3; S 2Ch 26:6
  105. Amos 3:9 : Am 4:1; 6:1
  106. Amos 3:10 : Am 5:7; 6:12
  107. Amos 3:10 : S Ps 36:3; Mic 6:10; Zep 1:9
  108. Amos 3:10 : Hab 2:8
  109. Amos 3:11 : Am 2:5; 6:14
  110. Amos 3:12 : S 1Sa 17:34
  111. Amos 3:12 : S Est 1:6; Am 6:4
  112. Amos 3:13 : Eze 2:7
  113. Amos 3:14 : S ver 2; S Lev 26:18
  114. Amos 3:14 : S Ge 12:8; Am 5:5-6
  115. Amos 3:14 : S Ex 27:2
  116. Amos 3:15 : Jer 36:22
  117. Amos 3:15 : Jdg 3:20
  118. Amos 3:15 : S 1Ki 22:39
  119. Amos 3:15 : Am 5:11; 6:11
  120. Amos 3:15 : S Isa 34:5
  121. Amos 3:15 : Hos 10:5-8, 14-15
New International Version (NIV)

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

Revelation 2:1-17

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(C) 2 I know your deeds,(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(F) 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(G) and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(J) from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(N) which is in the paradise(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(Q) who died and came to life again.(R) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.(U) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(W) Be faithful,(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(Y)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(AA)

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(AB) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(AC) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(AD) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(AE) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(AF)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(AG) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(AH) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(AI) and committed sexual immorality.(AJ) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(AK) 16 Repent(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(AM)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AN) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(AO) I will give some of the hidden manna.(AP) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(AQ) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(AR)

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 2:1 : S Ac 18:19
  2. Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:16
  3. Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:12, 13
  4. Revelation 2:2 : ver 19; Rev 3:1, 8, 15
  5. Revelation 2:2 : 1Jn 4:1
  6. Revelation 2:2 : 2Co 11:13
  7. Revelation 2:3 : S Jn 15:21
  8. Revelation 2:4 : Jer 2:2; Mt 24:12
  9. Revelation 2:5 : ver 16, 22; Rev 3:3, 19
  10. Revelation 2:5 : Rev 1:20
  11. Revelation 2:6 : ver 15
  12. Revelation 2:7 : S Mt 11:15; ver 11, 17, 29; Rev 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9
  13. Revelation 2:7 : S Jn 16:33
  14. Revelation 2:7 : Ge 2:9; 3:22-24; Rev 22:2, 14, 19
  15. Revelation 2:7 : Lk 23:43
  16. Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:11
  17. Revelation 2:8 : S Rev 1:17
  18. Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:18
  19. Revelation 2:9 : 2Co 6:10; Jas 2:5
  20. Revelation 2:9 : Rev 3:9
  21. Revelation 2:9 : ver 13, 24; S Mt 4:10
  22. Revelation 2:10 : Rev 3:10
  23. Revelation 2:10 : Da 1:12, 14
  24. Revelation 2:10 : ver 13; Rev 17:14
  25. Revelation 2:10 : S Mt 10:22; S 1Co 9:25
  26. Revelation 2:11 : S ver 7
  27. Revelation 2:11 : Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8
  28. Revelation 2:12 : Rev 1:11
  29. Revelation 2:12 : ver 16; S Rev 1:16
  30. Revelation 2:13 : Rev 14:12
  31. Revelation 2:13 : Rev 1:5; 11:3
  32. Revelation 2:13 : ver 9, 24; S Mt 4:10
  33. Revelation 2:14 : ver 20
  34. Revelation 2:14 : S 2Pe 2:15
  35. Revelation 2:14 : S Ac 15:20
  36. Revelation 2:14 : 1Co 6:13
  37. Revelation 2:15 : ver 6
  38. Revelation 2:16 : S ver 5
  39. Revelation 2:16 : 2Th 2:8; S Rev 1:16
  40. Revelation 2:17 : S ver 7
  41. Revelation 2:17 : S Jn 16:33
  42. Revelation 2:17 : Jn 6:49, 50
  43. Revelation 2:17 : Isa 56:5; 62:2; 65:15
  44. Revelation 2:17 : Rev 19:12
New International Version (NIV)

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

Psalm 129

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed(A) me from my youth,”(B)
let Israel say;(C)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(D) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(E)
he has cut me free(F) from the cords of the wicked.”(G)

5 May all who hate Zion(H)
be turned back in shame.(I)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(J)
which withers(K) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(L)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(M) in the name of the Lord.”

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 129:1 : S Ex 1:13
  2. Psalm 129:1 : S Ps 88:15
  3. Psalm 129:1 : Ps 124:1
  4. Psalm 129:2 : Jer 1:19; 15:20; 20:11; Mt 16:18
  5. Psalm 129:4 : S Ex 9:27
  6. Psalm 129:4 : Ps 37:9
  7. Psalm 129:4 : Ps 140:5
  8. Psalm 129:5 : Mic 4:11
  9. Psalm 129:5 : S Ps 70:2
  10. Psalm 129:6 : Isa 37:27
  11. Psalm 129:6 : S 2Ki 19:26; Ps 102:11
  12. Psalm 129:7 : S Dt 28:38; Ps 79:12
  13. Psalm 129:8 : Ps 118:26
New International Version (NIV)

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

Proverbs 29:19-20

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(A)

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 29:20 : Pr 19:2; 26:12
New International Version (NIV)

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

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday December 10, 2018 (NIV)

Amos 1-3

1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa(A)—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake,(B) when Uzziah(C) was king of Judah and Jeroboam(D) son of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel.(E)

2 He said:

“The Lord roars(F) from Zion
and thunders(G) from Jerusalem;(H)
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
and the top of Carmel(I) withers.”(J)

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

3 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Damascus,(K)
even for four, I will not relent.(L)
Because she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth,
4 I will send fire(M) on the house of Hazael(N)
that will consume the fortresses(O) of Ben-Hadad.(P)
5 I will break down the gate(Q) of Damascus;
I will destroy the king who is in[b] the Valley of Aven[c]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.(R)
The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,(S)”
says the Lord.(T)

6 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Gaza,(U)
even for four, I will not relent.(V)
Because she took captive whole communities
and sold them to Edom,(W)
7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza
that will consume her fortresses.
8 I will destroy the king[d] of Ashdod(X)
and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand(Y) against Ekron,
till the last of the Philistines(Z) are dead,”(AA)
says the Sovereign Lord.(AB)

9 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Tyre,(AC)
even for four, I will not relent.(AD)
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,(AE)
10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre
that will consume her fortresses.(AF)”

11 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Edom,(AG)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword(AH)
and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
and his fury flamed unchecked,(AI)
12 I will send fire on Teman(AJ)
that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.(AK)”

13 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Ammon,(AL)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he ripped open the pregnant women(AM) of Gilead
in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah(AN)
that will consume(AO) her fortresses
amid war cries(AP) on the day of battle,
amid violent winds(AQ) on a stormy day.
15 Her king[e] will go into exile,
he and his officials together,(AR)”
says the Lord.(AS)

2 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Moab,(AT)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he burned to ashes(AU)
the bones of Edom’s king,
2 I will send fire on Moab
that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[f](AV)
Moab will go down in great tumult
amid war cries(AW) and the blast of the trumpet.(AX)
3 I will destroy her ruler(AY)
and kill all her officials with him,”(AZ)
says the Lord.(BA)

4 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Judah,(BB)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because they have rejected the law(BC) of the Lord
and have not kept his decrees,(BD)
because they have been led astray(BE) by false gods,[g](BF)
the gods[h] their ancestors followed,(BG)
5 I will send fire(BH) on Judah
that will consume the fortresses(BI) of Jerusalem.(BJ)”

Judgment on Israel

6 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.(BK)
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.(BL)
7 They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.(BM)
8 They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.(BN)
In the house of their god
they drink wine(BO) taken as fines.(BP)

9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites(BQ) before them,
though they were tall(BR) as the cedars
and strong as the oaks.(BS)
I destroyed their fruit above
and their roots(BT) below.
10 I brought you up out of Egypt(BU)
and led(BV) you forty years in the wilderness(BW)
to give you the land of the Amorites.(BX)

11 “I also raised up prophets(BY) from among your children
and Nazirites(BZ) from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.(CA)

13 “Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.(CB)
14 The swift will not escape,(CC)
the strong(CD) will not muster their strength,
and the warrior will not save his life.(CE)
15 The archer(CF) will not stand his ground,
the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
and the horseman(CG) will not save his life.(CH)
16 Even the bravest warriors(CI)
will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

3 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(CJ)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(CK)

2 “You only have I chosen(CL)
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish(CM) you
for all your sins.(CN)”

3 Do two walk together
unless they have agreed to do so?
4 Does a lion roar(CO) in the thicket
when it has no prey?(CP)
Does it growl in its den
when it has caught nothing?
5 Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
when no bait(CQ) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
if it has not caught anything?
6 When a trumpet(CR) sounds in a city,
do not the people tremble?
When disaster(CS) comes to a city,
has not the Lord caused it?(CT)

7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan(CU)
to his servants the prophets.(CV)

8 The lion(CW) has roared(CX)—
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
who can but prophesy?(CY)

9 Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(CZ)
and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(DA)
see the great unrest within her
and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,(DB)” declares the Lord,
“who store up in their fortresses(DC)
what they have plundered(DD) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses.(DE)”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(DF) mouth
only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
with only the head of a bed
and a piece of fabric[i] from a couch.[j](DG)”

13 “Hear this and testify(DH) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(DI) Israel for her sins,
I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(DJ)
the horns(DK) of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(DL)
along with the summer house;(DM)
the houses adorned with ivory(DN) will be destroyed
and the mansions(DO) will be demolished,(DP)”
declares the Lord.(DQ)

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash
  2. Amos 1:5 Or the inhabitants of
  3. Amos 1:5 Aven means wickedness.
  4. Amos 1:8 Or inhabitants
  5. Amos 1:15 Or / Molek
  6. Amos 2:2 Or of her cities
  7. Amos 2:4 Or by lies
  8. Amos 2:4 Or lies
  9. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  10. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

Cross references:

  1. Amos 1:1 : S 2Sa 14:2
  2. Amos 1:1 : Zec 14:5
  3. Amos 1:1 : S 2Ki 14:21; S 2Ch 26:23
  4. Amos 1:1 : S 2Ki 14:23
  5. Amos 1:1 : S Hos 1:1
  6. Amos 1:2 : S Isa 42:13
  7. Amos 1:2 : S Ps 29:3
  8. Amos 1:2 : Joel 3:16
  9. Amos 1:2 : Am 9:3
  10. Amos 1:2 : S Jer 12:4
  11. Amos 1:3 : Isa 7:8; 8:4; 17:1-3
  12. Amos 1:3 : ver 6, 9, 11, 13; Am 2:6
  13. Amos 1:4 : S Jer 49:27; S Eze 30:8
  14. Amos 1:4 : S 1Ki 19:17; 2Ki 8:7-15
  15. Amos 1:4 : Jer 17:27
  16. Amos 1:4 : 1Ki 20:1; 2Ki 6:24; Jer 49:23-27
  17. Amos 1:5 : Jer 51:30
  18. Amos 1:5 : S Isa 37:12
  19. Amos 1:5 : S 2Ki 16:9; S Isa 22:6; Zec 9:1
  20. Amos 1:5 : S Isa 7:16; Jer 49:27
  21. Amos 1:6 : S Ge 10:19; 1Sa 6:17; Zep 2:4
  22. Amos 1:6 : S ver 3
  23. Amos 1:6 : S Ge 14:6; Ob 1:11
  24. Amos 1:8 : S 2Ch 26:6
  25. Amos 1:8 : Ps 81:14
  26. Amos 1:8 : S Eze 25:16
  27. Amos 1:8 : S Isa 34:8
  28. Amos 1:8 : Isa 14:28-32; Zep 2:4-7
  29. Amos 1:9 : 1Ki 5:1; 9:11-14; Jer 25:22; Joel 3:4; S Mt 11:21
  30. Amos 1:9 : ver 3
  31. Amos 1:9 : S 1Ki 5:12
  32. Amos 1:10 : Isa 23:1-18; S 34:8; S Jer 47:4; Eze 26:2-4; Zec 9:1-4
  33. Amos 1:11 : Nu 20:14-21; S 2Ch 28:17; S Ps 83:6
  34. Amos 1:11 : S Ps 63:10
  35. Amos 1:11 : S Eze 25:12-14; Zec 1:15
  36. Amos 1:12 : S Ge 36:11, 15
  37. Amos 1:12 : S Isa 34:5; 63:1-6; Jer 25:21; Eze 25:12-14; 35:1-15; Ob 1:1; Mal 1:2-5
  38. Amos 1:13 : S Ge 19:38; S Eze 21:28
  39. Amos 1:13 : S Ge 34:29; S 2Ki 8:12; S Hos 13:16
  40. Amos 1:14 : S Dt 3:11
  41. Amos 1:14 : Isa 30:30
  42. Amos 1:14 : S Job 39:25
  43. Amos 1:14 : Jer 23:19
  44. Amos 1:15 : S Jer 25:21
  45. Amos 1:15 : 1Ch 20:1; S Jer 49:1; Eze 21:28-32; 25:2-7
  46. Amos 2:1 : S Isa 16:6
  47. Amos 2:1 : Isa 33:12
  48. Amos 2:2 : Jer 48:24
  49. Amos 2:2 : S Job 39:25
  50. Amos 2:2 : S Jos 6:20
  51. Amos 2:3 : S Ps 2:10
  52. Amos 2:3 : S Isa 40:23
  53. Amos 2:3 : Isa 15:1-9; 16:1-14; S 25:10; Jer 48:1; S Eze 25:8-11; Zep 2:8-9
  54. Amos 2:4 : 2Ki 17:19; Hos 12:2
  55. Amos 2:4 : S Jer 6:19
  56. Amos 2:4 : S Eze 20:24
  57. Amos 2:4 : Isa 9:16
  58. Amos 2:4 : S Ex 34:15; S Dt 31:20; S Ps 4:2
  59. Amos 2:4 : S 2Ki 22:13; S Jer 9:14; S 16:12
  60. Amos 2:5 : S 2Ki 25:9; S 2Ch 36:19
  61. Amos 2:5 : Am 3:11
  62. Amos 2:5 : S Jer 17:27; S Hos 8:14
  63. Amos 2:6 : S Am 1:3
  64. Amos 2:6 : S Joel 3:3; Am 8:6
  65. Amos 2:7 : S Lev 18:21; Am 5:11-12; 8:4
  66. Amos 2:8 : S Ex 22:26; Dt 24:12-13
  67. Amos 2:8 : Hos 7:14; Am 4:1; 6:6
  68. Amos 2:8 : Hab 2:6
  69. Amos 2:9 : Nu 21:23-26; Jos 10:12
  70. Amos 2:9 : S Isa 10:33
  71. Amos 2:9 : S Ps 29:9
  72. Amos 2:9 : S 2Ki 19:30; S Job 18:16; S Eze 17:9
  73. Amos 2:10 : S Ex 6:6; 20:2; Am 3:1
  74. Amos 2:10 : S Dt 8:2
  75. Amos 2:10 : S Dt 2:7
  76. Amos 2:10 : S Ex 3:8; S Nu 21:25; S Jos 13:4; Am 9:7
  77. Amos 2:11 : Dt 18:18; Jer 7:25
  78. Amos 2:11 : S Jdg 13:5
  79. Amos 2:12 : Isa 30:10; Jer 11:21; Am 7:12-13; Mic 2:6
  80. Amos 2:13 : Am 7:16-17
  81. Amos 2:14 : S Job 11:20
  82. Amos 2:14 : S 1Ki 20:11
  83. Amos 2:14 : Ps 33:16; Isa 30:16-17
  84. Amos 2:15 : S Eze 39:3
  85. Amos 2:15 : S Ex 15:21; Zec 10:5
  86. Amos 2:15 : Ecc 9:11
  87. Amos 2:16 : Jer 48:41
  88. Amos 3:1 : Zep 2:5
  89. Amos 3:1 : S Am 2:10
  90. Amos 3:2 : S Ex 19:6; Dt 7:6; Lk 12:47
  91. Amos 3:2 : ver 14
  92. Amos 3:2 : S Jer 14:10; Mic 2:3; 1Pe 4:17
  93. Amos 3:4 : S Isa 42:13
  94. Amos 3:4 : Ps 104:21; S Hos 5:14
  95. Amos 3:5 : S Ps 119:110
  96. Amos 3:6 : S Nu 10:2; S Job 39:24; S Jer 4:21
  97. Amos 3:6 : S Isa 31:2
  98. Amos 3:6 : Isa 14:24-27
  99. Amos 3:7 : Ge 18:17; S 1Sa 3:7; S Da 9:22; Jn 15:15; Rev 10:7
  100. Amos 3:7 : S Jer 23:22
  101. Amos 3:8 : S Isa 31:4
  102. Amos 3:8 : S Isa 42:13
  103. Amos 3:8 : S Jer 20:9; Jnh 1:1-3; 3:1-3; Ac 4:20
  104. Amos 3:9 : S Jos 13:3; S 2Ch 26:6
  105. Amos 3:9 : Am 4:1; 6:1
  106. Amos 3:10 : Am 5:7; 6:12
  107. Amos 3:10 : S Ps 36:3; Mic 6:10; Zep 1:9
  108. Amos 3:10 : Hab 2:8
  109. Amos 3:11 : Am 2:5; 6:14
  110. Amos 3:12 : S 1Sa 17:34
  111. Amos 3:12 : S Est 1:6; Am 6:4
  112. Amos 3:13 : Eze 2:7
  113. Amos 3:14 : S ver 2; S Lev 26:18
  114. Amos 3:14 : S Ge 12:8; Am 5:5-6
  115. Amos 3:14 : S Ex 27:2
  116. Amos 3:15 : Jer 36:22
  117. Amos 3:15 : Jdg 3:20
  118. Amos 3:15 : S 1Ki 22:39
  119. Amos 3:15 : Am 5:11; 6:11
  120. Amos 3:15 : S Isa 34:5
  121. Amos 3:15 : Hos 10:5-8, 14-15
New International Version (NIV)

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

Revelation 2:1-17

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(C) 2 I know your deeds,(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(F) 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(G) and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(J) from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(N) which is in the paradise(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(Q) who died and came to life again.(R) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.(U) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(W) Be faithful,(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(Y)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(AA)

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(AB) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(AC) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(AD) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(AE) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(AF)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(AG) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(AH) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(AI) and committed sexual immorality.(AJ) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(AK) 16 Repent(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(AM)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AN) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(AO) I will give some of the hidden manna.(AP) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(AQ) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(AR)

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 2:1 : S Ac 18:19
  2. Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:16
  3. Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:12, 13
  4. Revelation 2:2 : ver 19; Rev 3:1, 8, 15
  5. Revelation 2:2 : 1Jn 4:1
  6. Revelation 2:2 : 2Co 11:13
  7. Revelation 2:3 : S Jn 15:21
  8. Revelation 2:4 : Jer 2:2; Mt 24:12
  9. Revelation 2:5 : ver 16, 22; Rev 3:3, 19
  10. Revelation 2:5 : Rev 1:20
  11. Revelation 2:6 : ver 15
  12. Revelation 2:7 : S Mt 11:15; ver 11, 17, 29; Rev 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9
  13. Revelation 2:7 : S Jn 16:33
  14. Revelation 2:7 : Ge 2:9; 3:22-24; Rev 22:2, 14, 19
  15. Revelation 2:7 : Lk 23:43
  16. Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:11
  17. Revelation 2:8 : S Rev 1:17
  18. Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:18
  19. Revelation 2:9 : 2Co 6:10; Jas 2:5
  20. Revelation 2:9 : Rev 3:9
  21. Revelation 2:9 : ver 13, 24; S Mt 4:10
  22. Revelation 2:10 : Rev 3:10
  23. Revelation 2:10 : Da 1:12, 14
  24. Revelation 2:10 : ver 13; Rev 17:14
  25. Revelation 2:10 : S Mt 10:22; S 1Co 9:25
  26. Revelation 2:11 : S ver 7
  27. Revelation 2:11 : Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8
  28. Revelation 2:12 : Rev 1:11
  29. Revelation 2:12 : ver 16; S Rev 1:16
  30. Revelation 2:13 : Rev 14:12
  31. Revelation 2:13 : Rev 1:5; 11:3
  32. Revelation 2:13 : ver 9, 24; S Mt 4:10
  33. Revelation 2:14 : ver 20
  34. Revelation 2:14 : S 2Pe 2:15
  35. Revelation 2:14 : S Ac 15:20
  36. Revelation 2:14 : 1Co 6:13
  37. Revelation 2:15 : ver 6
  38. Revelation 2:16 : S ver 5
  39. Revelation 2:16 : 2Th 2:8; S Rev 1:16
  40. Revelation 2:17 : S ver 7
  41. Revelation 2:17 : S Jn 16:33
  42. Revelation 2:17 : Jn 6:49, 50
  43. Revelation 2:17 : Isa 56:5; 62:2; 65:15
  44. Revelation 2:17 : Rev 19:12
New International Version (NIV)

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

Psalm 129

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed(A) me from my youth,”(B)
let Israel say;(C)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(D) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(E)
he has cut me free(F) from the cords of the wicked.”(G)

5 May all who hate Zion(H)
be turned back in shame.(I)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(J)
which withers(K) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(L)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(M) in the name of the Lord.”

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 129:1 : S Ex 1:13
  2. Psalm 129:1 : S Ps 88:15
  3. Psalm 129:1 : Ps 124:1
  4. Psalm 129:2 : Jer 1:19; 15:20; 20:11; Mt 16:18
  5. Psalm 129:4 : S Ex 9:27
  6. Psalm 129:4 : Ps 37:9
  7. Psalm 129:4 : Ps 140:5
  8. Psalm 129:5 : Mic 4:11
  9. Psalm 129:5 : S Ps 70:2
  10. Psalm 129:6 : Isa 37:27
  11. Psalm 129:6 : S 2Ki 19:26; Ps 102:11
  12. Psalm 129:7 : S Dt 28:38; Ps 79:12
  13. Psalm 129:8 : Ps 118:26
New International Version (NIV)

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

Proverbs 29:19-20

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(A)

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 29:20 : Pr 19:2; 26:12
New International Version (NIV)

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

Posted on

12/09/2019 DAB Transcript

Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalms 128:1-6, Proverbs 29:18

Today is the 9th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you, of course, at the threshold of a shiny, sparkly, new week, but this also happens to be the second Sunday in the season of Advent. Of course, Advent is the season that leads us into Christmas but gives us the opportunity to contemplate the implications of God…God…our God…the Almighty Creator of all things seen and unseen, right, the Creator of the universe condescending himself and becoming a human being to rescue humanity. That is something to contemplate. And on this second Sunday of Advent, and if you’re lighting the Advent wreath at your church or at home, lighting the second candle, the Bethlehem candle and this week we contemplate the faith that it took this couple, Mary and Joseph to become a part of the story, and we contemplate how it requires faith on our part to enter this story.

Song:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Phil Keaggy

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray

Oh, whoa
Tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings to the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name

Whoa, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Whoa, tidings of comfort and joy

Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day

Whoa, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Whoa, tidings of comfort and joy

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
(Comfort and joy)
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day 

So, we’ve got a brand-new week out in front of us as we move forward in this month, as we move toward the end of this year, as we move deeper into the Christmas season. And in terms of being shiny and sparkly and new we’re beginning new books in the Old and in the new Testaments today. So, we’ll talk about that as we as we get there, but we are there in terms of the Old Testament. As we continue through our journey that is the final push through the minor prophets in the Old Testament we’ll read the entire book of Joel in its entirety today. This will become a theme. We will be reading books in their entirety often as we continue the journey in the steps forward each day into the end of the year.

Introduction to the book of Joel:

The irony about Joel is that nobody really knows who Joel was. I mean there are other people in the Bible with the same name, but biblical scholars don’t believe any of those people are the author of this prophetic book and the text itself doesn’t help. There are no historical clues within the text, which makes dating Joel very difficult for biblical scholars and biblical historians, which has led many to come to different conclusions over the centuries. But in very general terms, Joel is probably dated somewhere between 500 and 800 B.C., you know, but dating the book, although it’s helpful for context, it’s not unnecessary for the text to retain its impact. And it’s been observed that Joel shares a similar language style with some of the other prophets like Ezekiel or Jeremiah our Amos or Micah or Zephaniah and that’s led some scholars to argue that Joel may be the work of more than one prophet. But on the other hand, others consider that the similarities are a byproduct of the shared culture and tradition of the prophets, that they knew each other and they kind of spoke a common language or had a vocabulary that was understood to be prophetic in nature. Joel wrote of a vast horde of locusts that invaded the land and obliterated everything that was living, every green thing, including the crops and a great famine followed the plague of locusts. And Joel uses natural disasters as a backdrop to call the children of Israel to repentance. And most biblical scholars consider the event, the locust invasion, to be to be an actual event, not an allegory or a symbol, even though Joel used the event to speak an apocalyptic message of judgment. That as it is the case with so much of the Bible, Joel’s words were intended to reveal that a fork in the road had been reached where a choice must be made and the path of repentance, if they were to take that fork, that would lead to blessing and restoration. Continuing to reject God and take the other fork would lead to, what Joel calls, the great and terrible day of the Lord. And even though the judgment that’s described in Joel would certainly be great, the path of repentance would lead to an even greater restoration. Some of the most well-known and beautiful passages of restoration are found in the book of Joel. So, for example, Joel tells us, “I will pour out my spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” So, obviously very, very famous portions of Scripture. So, let’s dive in and embrace the message of the book of Joel and consider how we are invariably and continually brought to forks in the road where a decision has to be made. And let’s remember from the book of Joel that, no matter what the locusts have eaten in the past, there is always a path to restoration. And, so, we begin. We’re reading from the new International version this week. Joel chapter 1 verse 1 through 3 verse 21 today.

Introduction to the book of Revelation:

Okay. So, that concludes the book of Joel in its entirety, which brings us now to, obviously, our New Testament portion, which brings us also into new territory, the final book of the Bible, the final book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation. And Revelation…oh…come on…the book of Revelation has captured the fascination of readers in ways that really no other book has and it’s been interpreted through many lenses over thousands of years, some of them fantastic, and some of them pragmatic. The book of revelations self identifies the author as John and, unfortunately, which John isn’t clearly specified. So, traditionally the accepted author’s been the apostle John who obviously wrote the gospel of John as well as some of the territory we just walked through, first, second and third John. But the reality is that this has been questioned since at least the third century and it continues all the way until today, but there is no clear evidence in any other direction. So, based on the evidence, most hold to the tradition of the apostle John was probably the author. If this is the case, then the apostle John had been banished to the island of Patmos where Revelation was written. And it’s believed that Patmos was…I’ve got to learn how to talk…Patmos was a Roman…like a prison colony…like an island where you would be dropped off to do your time and criminals and political prisoners were exiled there. And the island exists. It sits out in the ocean between modern-day Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea and it’s not that far from Ephesus where it’s thought that John spent his elderly years. So, here’s the deal about Revelation. Revelation is considered a work of a specific literary genre called apocalyptic literature. And this is one of the reasons for such intrigue because that genre is highly symbolic. So, fantastic things. If we think of Ezekiel with the wheel within the wheel and the spirits moving back and forth, forward and backward, up and down, with…you know…like remember that story…or some of the things that we saw and in the book of Daniel. This is apocalyptic literature, highly symbolic. And, so, the reader has to discern what it is that is to be taken literally and at what is to be considered allegoric or symbolic. So, what makes Revelation is so intriguing in this regard is because of the subject matter, right? It appears that the subject matter is the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of a new era for humanity. So, intriguing to say the least and yet highly symbolic apocalyptic literature. So, interpreting Revelation can lead to widely diverse conclusions and this has literally been the case for the last couple thousand years. Some view the work from an entirely first century perspective, from the time that it was written and conclude that the events spoken of in Revelation are events that have already taken place while others see the book outlining the chain of events beginning in the first century and lasting all the way until the end of the world. And then still others believe that the symbolism found in Revelation is timeless, it describes the cosmic struggle between good and evil. And the truth is, any of these views are legitimate but getting overly intrigued by the details and then then trying to overlay them with the current time, trying to smash them in and make them all fit, that might prove unfulfilling because that’s been the custom of nearly every generation since this was written and everybody’s been incorrect up until now. One thing is certain though, the theme that we have been working toward that we have been noticing, as we moved into the autumn, as the seasons changed, the theme of endurance that has followed us through the New Testament is a fundamental, primary theme in the book of Revelation. It’s really almost as if we we’ve been following the theme all the way to Revelation so that we can see that endurance is irreplaceable in the ultimate battle between darkness and light. And Revelation ultimately tells us that those who stay faithful to the testimony of Jesus and endure until the end, right, “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony”, those people will be eternally victorious. And one of the things, if we’re looking for it, we’ll find in Revelation is that endurance, it’s not a passive thing. Like, we think of it that way, “I’m can just enduring”, which means I’m putting up with something. So, “I’m passively just stuffing it inside and in dealing with it.” Or we treat it like a defensive posture, like, “I just gotta get through this.” But endurance isn’t passive or defensive. To remain true in the context we’re talking about here, when the entire world is against you, if you’re staying true, if you’re standing true when everything is against you, then you are absolutely making a defining, powerful statement. And in this case, those who endure are making a statement against deception. And deception has always been the greatest force set against mankind and Revelation will show us that. We are to remain true and be a witness to the truth and a light in the darkness until the very end. And that very end, according to the book of Revelation, is a new beginning. And, so, we begin the final book of the Bible, Revelation, chapter 1.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for this brand-new week out in front of us. We think You for this season of contemplation and the true rejoicing in Your arrival to rescue and save us. So, come Holy Spirit into this week and everything that we do and everything that we hear and everything that we say. Plant Your word deep in our lives, transforming us from within. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudibible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

And there’s something new going on around here starting right now. So, here we are its December 9th, the second Sunday in the season of Advent and we have another tradition here in the Daily Audio Bible family and that is our family Christmas episode. And that happens every year. We do a reading of the entire Christmas story, my family. We read the Christmas story together, but this is your opportunity to call in your holiday greetings to your brothers and sisters all over the world, those who have traveled with you, whether silently or whether you’ve met in person at an event or whether you just know them by voice. This is the opportunity to send your holiday greetings to the Daily Audio Bible family and the way that you do that is that you call into the prayer line and wish everybody a happy holiday, whatever it is that you want to say. There’s only really…there’s two rules about this. One, I mean all the calls have a two-minute limit, but the other rule is, if you have a prayer request don’t call that in combined with a holiday greeting. Like, it’s one time that you can actually make two calls back to back if that’s what you need to do. Just make sure that your holiday greetings are all on their own call and your prayer requests are all on their own call otherwise neither one of them are going to get where they need to go because there’s just too many and there’s no way chop that all up and put it where it needs to go. So, that’s the rule for this week. So, from today all the way until Saturday we’ll be taking those calls, your Daily Audio Bible family…it’s like our Christmas party, like our community Christmas party that happens here every year and I love it since we’ve done it and we’ve been doing it a long time, over a decade. I never…I’m always in tears…I’m note an outwardly emotional person. I have deep feelings but I’m an introvert but these…this just brings me to tears because just to hear the stories coming together…the journey and holiday wishes and all of the familiar voices and just centered around this beautiful season of Christmas is a wonderful thing. So, call in your Christmas greetings this week. The numbers to use are 877-942-4253 if you’re if you’re in the United States. In the UK or Europe, 44-20-3608-8078 or if you’re in Australia, 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call. So, do and don’t procrastinate. I know there’s procrastinators out there because your calls over the years have kind of come in late and that’s sad because they don’t get included in the family Christmas. But…well…don’t procrastinate. Pick up that line, dial it, and off you go. And we’ll look forward to our Daily Audio Bible family Christmas coming up a little later in the month.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link. It’s on the homepage. Thank you profoundly and humbly for your partnership. That’s no joke. It’s no joke. This would all be gone. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t do this together. So, thank you. There’s a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. 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 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, I’m calling for Margaret May from Syracuse. My name is Carla and I just wanted to say that your call touched me very deeply and I know what it’s like to feel like I don’t know how to pray. And I’m like I’m overcome by fear and loss and sorrow. And I’ve also felt just such a deep agony in my spirit that at times I didn’t even want to live. And I know how horrible loneliness can be and it can feel like you’re dead inside. And I’d actually discovered that my pain was not just a spiritual attack from demons but also mental health issues. And I’m not saying demonic spirits and principalities don’t move in this world but also as easily as Satan may afflict a man with arthritis or a woman with kidney stones, he can afflict our minds and our brains with deep depression and anxiety, which is my story. And your fears sound like they might be as well. And God in my life has used good Christian therapists and psychiatrists blessed with skills to help me heal and it’s improve my relationship with Him and improved my life all around. And I just encourage you to open your mind and your heart to the possibility that God may be leading you to seek healing for the mind and brain as well as for the spirit. And God I just thank You so much for Margaret May and just surround her with Your love and with our love from the DAB and with the love people in her community. Please build her with community and friends and family with a church because we aren’t meant to be alone. And also, help her with her pain and healing. Lead her down that path and remind her that You look on her with only love and no anger at all. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hi, good morning, I’m Denise from Canada and this is my first time calling for prayer. So, I wrote it out so that I don’t ramble. I would like to thank you for being willing to pray and especially for those for people you don’t know. I’m asking for prayer this morning for my sister and her daughter, my niece. They’re in great need. There’s trauma, anxiety, depression, isolation, hopelessness and fear. Mostly they need Jesus. Trying to make it in this life without Him is ludicrous. So, I’m asking you if you’d please pray for them. I really appreciated and thank you so so much. And I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you again. Bye.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family, Happy December. I hope you are having a good day. I was just listening to the Daily Audio Bible this morning and I just heard the call from Margaret May in Syracuse New York. And I heard her fear, her isolation, her loneliness and I am so thankful that she reached out, that she called us to let us know that she needs us to pray for her. And Margaret, I wanted you to know that I am praying for the Holy Spirit to comfort you, to fill you, to give you peace, to give you a sound mind and to give you the strength that you need to return to living, to reach out, to expect friendship, and to be able to eat, and to drink, and to go about your daily life. I would love to hear from you. I will leave my email, but I just want you to know that I understand. I understand that loneliness, that fear, that deep dark hole that you’re in. And I am praying for you. I’m praying that you, that will be healed. Please contact me and we can be friends even though I live in Illinois. My name is Nancy and my email addresses nancygolian@gmail.com. I love you Margaret. You take care. Have a good day. Bye.

Good morning all my Daily Audio Bible friends, this is Diane Olive Brown calling you from Newburgh Indiana. It is 9:14 in the morning on December the 6th, Thursday. And I got my Christmas Box and I sent when I was a gift and I love it, love it, love it. I love being in this community. I love feeling like I just put a great big log on the campfire and gathered around together with the Scriptures and I love the Scriptures, the reading today. Today’ December the 6th was just really amazing and the Lord is just warming of my heart, warming my heart. I had some pretty big disappointments this year, but it was all good because, you know, where most disappointments come and you just got set back and you feel like the rug got pulled right out from under you then…boom…you get back with the Lord and you start all over again. It doesn’t matter if you start all over again. Shalom, shalom. Nothing is missing, nothing is broken. And I want to first call out to a girl who called. I don’t know your name, but you called and you’re a first-time caller and you’re in desperate desperate, desperate need of a friend, you don’t have a friend, you don’t have a church. You’ve been in a room, it seems like a room, just by yourself and when you got so desperate and I just want to let you know that I’m praying for you. You have a friend in me…and I’m your friend…

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday December 9, 2018 (NIV)

Joel 1-3

1 The word of the Lord that came(A) to Joel(B) son of Pethuel.

An Invasion of Locusts

2 Hear this,(C) you elders;(D)
listen, all who live in the land.(E)
Has anything like this ever happened in your days
or in the days of your ancestors?(F)
3 Tell it to your children,(G)
and let your children tell it to their children,
and their children to the next generation.(H)
4 What the locust(I) swarm has left
the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left
the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left(J)
other locusts[a] have eaten.(K)

5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all you drinkers of wine;(L)
wail because of the new wine,
for it has been snatched(M) from your lips.
6 A nation has invaded my land,
a mighty army without number;(N)
it has the teeth(O) of a lion,
the fangs of a lioness.
7 It has laid waste(P) my vines
and ruined my fig trees.(Q)
It has stripped off their bark
and thrown it away,
leaving their branches white.

8 Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth(R)
grieving for the betrothed of her youth.
9 Grain offerings and drink offerings(S)
are cut off from the house of the Lord.
The priests are in mourning,(T)
those who minister before the Lord.
10 The fields are ruined,
the ground is dried up;(U)
the grain is destroyed,
the new wine(V) is dried up,
the olive oil fails.(W)

11 Despair, you farmers,(X)
wail, you vine growers;
grieve for the wheat and the barley,(Y)
because the harvest of the field is destroyed.(Z)
12 The vine is dried up
and the fig tree is withered;(AA)
the pomegranate,(AB) the palm and the apple[b] tree—
all the trees of the field—are dried up.(AC)
Surely the people’s joy
is withered away.

A Call to Lamentation

13 Put on sackcloth,(AD) you priests, and mourn;
wail, you who minister(AE) before the altar.
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
you who minister before my God;
for the grain offerings and drink offerings(AF)
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Declare a holy fast;(AG)
call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
and all who live in the land(AH)
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out(AI) to the Lord.(AJ)

15 Alas for that(AK) day!
For the day of the Lord(AL) is near;
it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[c](AM)

16 Has not the food been cut off(AN)
before our very eyes—
joy and gladness(AO)
from the house of our God?(AP)
17 The seeds are shriveled
beneath the clods.[d](AQ)
The storehouses are in ruins,
the granaries have been broken down,
for the grain has dried up.
18 How the cattle moan!
The herds mill about
because they have no pasture;(AR)
even the flocks of sheep are suffering.(AS)

19 To you, Lord, I call,(AT)
for fire(AU) has devoured the pastures(AV) in the wilderness
and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
20 Even the wild animals pant for you;(AW)
the streams of water have dried up(AX)
and fire has devoured the pastures(AY) in the wilderness.

An Army of Locusts

2 Blow the trumpet(AZ) in Zion;(BA)
sound the alarm on my holy hill.(BB)

Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord(BC) is coming.
It is close at hand(BD)—
2 a day of darkness(BE) and gloom,(BF)
a day of clouds(BG) and blackness.(BH)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army(BI) comes,
such as never was in ancient times(BJ)
nor ever will be in ages to come.

3 Before them fire(BK) devours,
behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,(BL)
behind them, a desert waste(BM)—
nothing escapes them.
4 They have the appearance of horses;(BN)
they gallop along like cavalry.
5 With a noise like that of chariots(BO)
they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire(BP) consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;(BQ)
every face turns pale.(BR)
7 They charge like warriors;(BS)
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,(BT)
not swerving(BU) from their course.
8 They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.
9 They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;(BV)
like thieves they enter through the windows.(BW)

10 Before them the earth shakes,(BX)
the heavens tremble,(BY)
the sun and moon are darkened,(BZ)
and the stars no longer shine.(CA)
11 The Lord(CB) thunders(CC)
at the head of his army;(CD)
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;(CE)
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it?(CF)

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return(CG) to me with all your heart,(CH)
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(CI)
and not your garments.(CJ)
Return(CK) to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,(CL)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(CM)
and he relents from sending calamity.(CN)
14 Who knows? He may turn(CO) and relent(CP)
and leave behind a blessing(CQ)—
grain offerings and drink offerings(CR)
for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(CS) in Zion,(CT)
declare a holy fast,(CU)
call a sacred assembly.(CV)
16 Gather the people,
consecrate(CW) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(CX)
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(CY) leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(CZ) before the Lord,
weep(DA) between the portico and the altar.(DB)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(DC)
a byword(DD) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?(DE)’”

The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealous(DF) for his land
and took pity(DG) on his people.

19 The Lord replied[e] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine(DH) and olive oil,(DI)
enough to satisfy you fully;(DJ)
never again will I make you
an object of scorn(DK) to the nations.

20 “I will drive the northern horde(DL) far from you,
pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench(DM) will go up;
its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
21 Do not be afraid,(DN) land of Judah;
be glad and rejoice.(DO)
Surely the Lord has done great things!(DP)
22 Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.(DQ)
The trees are bearing their fruit;
the fig tree(DR) and the vine(DS) yield their riches.(DT)
23 Be glad, people of Zion,
rejoice(DU) in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
because he is faithful.(DV)
He sends you abundant showers,(DW)
both autumn(DX) and spring rains,(DY) as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow(DZ) with new wine(EA) and oil.

25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts(EB) have eaten(EC)—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm[f]—
my great army(ED) that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,(EE)
and you will praise(EF) the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders(EG) for you;
never again will my people be shamed.(EH)
27 Then you will know(EI) that I am in Israel,
that I am the Lord(EJ) your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.(EK)

The Day of the Lord

28 “And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit(EL) on all people.(EM)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(EN)
your old men will dream dreams,(EO)
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants,(EP) both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(EQ)
30 I will show wonders in the heavens(ER)
and on the earth,(ES)
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness(ET)
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.(EU)
32 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord(EV) will be saved;(EW)
for on Mount Zion(EX) and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,(EY)
as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors(EZ)
whom the Lord calls.[g](FA)

The Nations Judged

3 [h]“In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes(FB) of Judah(FC) and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather(FD) all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[i](FE)
There I will put them on trial(FF)
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered(FG) my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
3 They cast lots(FH) for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine(FI) to drink.

4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon(FJ) and all you regions of Philistia?(FK) Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.(FL) 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.[j](FM) 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,(FN) that you might send them far from their homeland.

7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them,(FO) and I will return(FP) on your own heads what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons(FQ) and daughters to the people of Judah,(FR) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,(FS) a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.(FT)

9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!(FU)
Rouse the warriors!(FV)
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks(FW) into spears.(FX)
Let the weakling(FY) say,
“I am strong!”(FZ)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble(GA) there.

Bring down your warriors,(GB) Lord!

12 “Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,(GC)
for there I will sit
to judge(GD) all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,(GE)
for the harvest(GF) is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,(GG)
for the winepress(GH) is full
and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”

14 Multitudes,(GI) multitudes
in the valley(GJ) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(GK) is near
in the valley of decision.(GL)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.(GM)
16 The Lord will roar(GN) from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;(GO)
the earth and the heavens will tremble.(GP)
But the Lord will be a refuge(GQ) for his people,
a stronghold(GR) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(GS) that I, the Lord your God,(GT)
dwell in Zion,(GU) my holy hill.(GV)
Jerusalem will be holy;(GW)
never again will foreigners invade her.(GX)

18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,(GY)
and the hills will flow with milk;(GZ)
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.(HA)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house(HB)
and will water the valley of acacias.[k](HC)
19 But Egypt(HD) will be desolate,
Edom(HE) a desert waste,
because of violence(HF) done to the people of Judah,
in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 Judah will be inhabited forever(HG)
and Jerusalem through all generations.
21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?(HH)
No, I will not.(HI)”

The Lord dwells in Zion!(HJ)

Footnotes:

  1. Joel 1:4 The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.
  2. Joel 1:12 Or possibly apricot
  3. Joel 1:15 Hebrew Shaddai
  4. Joel 1:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Joel 2:19 Or Lord will be jealous … / and take pity … / 19 The Lord will reply
  6. Joel 2:25 The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.
  7. Joel 2:32 In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.
  8. Joel 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21.
  9. Joel 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.
  10. Joel 3:5 Or palaces
  11. Joel 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim

Cross references:

  1. Joel 1:1 : S Jer 1:2
  2. Joel 1:1 : Ac 2:16
  3. Joel 1:2 : Hos 5:1
  4. Joel 1:2 : Joel 2:16
  5. Joel 1:2 : S Hos 4:1
  6. Joel 1:2 : Joel 2:2
  7. Joel 1:3 : S Ex 10:2
  8. Joel 1:3 : S Ps 71:18
  9. Joel 1:4 : S Ex 10:14
  10. Joel 1:4 : S Ex 10:5
  11. Joel 1:4 : S Ex 10:15; S Dt 28:39; Am 7:1; Na 3:15
  12. Joel 1:5 : Joel 3:3
  13. Joel 1:5 : S Isa 24:7
  14. Joel 1:6 : Ps 105:34; Joel 2:2, 11, 25
  15. Joel 1:6 : Rev 9:8
  16. Joel 1:7 : Isa 5:6
  17. Joel 1:7 : Am 4:9
  18. Joel 1:8 : ver 13; Isa 22:12; Am 8:10
  19. Joel 1:9 : S Hos 9:4
  20. Joel 1:9 : S Isa 22:12
  21. Joel 1:10 : S Isa 5:6; S 24:4; S Jer 3:3
  22. Joel 1:10 : S Hos 9:2
  23. Joel 1:10 : S Nu 18:12
  24. Joel 1:11 : S Job 6:20; Am 5:16
  25. Joel 1:11 : S Ex 9:31
  26. Joel 1:11 : S Isa 17:11
  27. Joel 1:12 : S Isa 15:6
  28. Joel 1:12 : S Ex 28:33
  29. Joel 1:12 : S Isa 16:8; Hag 2:19
  30. Joel 1:13 : S Ge 37:34; S Jer 4:8
  31. Joel 1:13 : Joel 2:17
  32. Joel 1:13 : ver 9; S Hos 9:4; Joel 2:14
  33. Joel 1:14 : S 2Ch 20:3
  34. Joel 1:14 : S Hos 4:1
  35. Joel 1:14 : Jnh 3:8
  36. Joel 1:14 : 2Ch 20:4
  37. Joel 1:15 : S Isa 2:12; Jer 30:7; S 46:10; S Eze 30:3; Mal 4:5
  38. Joel 1:15 : Joel 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Am 5:18; Zep 1:14; Zec 14:1
  39. Joel 1:15 : S Ge 17:1
  40. Joel 1:16 : Isa 3:7
  41. Joel 1:16 : S Ps 51:8
  42. Joel 1:16 : Dt 12:7
  43. Joel 1:17 : S Isa 17:10-11
  44. Joel 1:18 : S Ge 47:4
  45. Joel 1:18 : S Jer 9:10
  46. Joel 1:19 : Ps 50:15
  47. Joel 1:19 : S Ps 97:3; Am 7:4
  48. Joel 1:19 : S Jer 9:10
  49. Joel 1:20 : S Ps 42:1; S 104:21
  50. Joel 1:20 : 1Ki 17:7
  51. Joel 1:20 : Joel 2:22
  52. Joel 2:1 : S Nu 10:2, 7
  53. Joel 2:1 : ver 15
  54. Joel 2:1 : S Ex 15:17
  55. Joel 2:1 : S Joel 1:15; Zep 1:14-16
  56. Joel 2:1 : S Eze 12:23; S 30:3; Ob 1:15
  57. Joel 2:2 : ver 10, 31; S Job 9:7; S Isa 8:22; S 13:10; Am 5:18
  58. Joel 2:2 : S Eze 34:12; S Da 9:12; S Mt 24:21
  59. Joel 2:2 : S Eze 38:9
  60. Joel 2:2 : Zep 1:15; Rev 9:2
  61. Joel 2:2 : S Joel 1:6
  62. Joel 2:2 : Joel 1:2
  63. Joel 2:3 : S Ps 97:3; S Isa 1:31
  64. Joel 2:3 : S Ge 2:8
  65. Joel 2:3 : Ex 10:12-15; Ps 105:34-35; S Isa 14:17
  66. Joel 2:4 : Rev 9:7
  67. Joel 2:5 : Rev 9:9
  68. Joel 2:5 : Isa 5:24; 30:30
  69. Joel 2:6 : S Isa 13:8
  70. Joel 2:6 : S Isa 29:22
  71. Joel 2:7 : S Job 16:14
  72. Joel 2:7 : Pr 30:27
  73. Joel 2:7 : Isa 5:27
  74. Joel 2:9 : Ex 10:6
  75. Joel 2:9 : Jer 9:21
  76. Joel 2:10 : Ps 18:7; Na 1:5
  77. Joel 2:10 : S Eze 38:19
  78. Joel 2:10 : S ver 2; S Isa 5:30; S Mt 24:29; Mk 13:24; Rev 9:2
  79. Joel 2:10 : S Job 9:7; S Ps 102:26; Isa 13:10; S Eze 32:8
  80. Joel 2:11 : S Isa 2:12; S Eze 30:3; S Joel 1:15; Ob 1:15
  81. Joel 2:11 : S Ps 29:3
  82. Joel 2:11 : S ver 2, 25
  83. Joel 2:11 : Zep 1:14
  84. Joel 2:11 : S Eze 22:14; Zep 2:11; Rev 6:17
  85. Joel 2:12 : S Dt 4:30; S Eze 33:11; S Hos 12:6
  86. Joel 2:12 : S 1Sa 7:3
  87. Joel 2:13 : Ps 51:17; Isa 57:15
  88. Joel 2:13 : S Ge 37:29; S Nu 14:6; Job 1:20
  89. Joel 2:13 : S Isa 19:22
  90. Joel 2:13 : S Dt 4:31
  91. Joel 2:13 : Ex 34:6; S Ps 86:5, 15
  92. Joel 2:13 : S Jer 18:8; Jnh 4:2
  93. Joel 2:14 : Jer 26:3; Jnh 3:9
  94. Joel 2:14 : Am 5:15; Jnh 1:6
  95. Joel 2:14 : Jer 31:14; Hag 2:19; Zec 8:13; Mal 3:10
  96. Joel 2:14 : S Joel 1:13
  97. Joel 2:15 : S Nu 10:2
  98. Joel 2:15 : ver 1
  99. Joel 2:15 : S 2Ch 20:3; Jer 36:9
  100. Joel 2:15 : S Ex 32:5; Nu 10:3
  101. Joel 2:16 : S Ex 19:10, 22
  102. Joel 2:16 : Joel 1:2
  103. Joel 2:16 : Ps 19:5
  104. Joel 2:17 : Joel 1:13
  105. Joel 2:17 : S Isa 22:12
  106. Joel 2:17 : Eze 8:16; Mt 23:35
  107. Joel 2:17 : Dt 9:26-29; Ps 44:13
  108. Joel 2:17 : S 1Ki 9:7; S Job 17:6
  109. Joel 2:17 : S Ps 42:3
  110. Joel 2:18 : S Isa 26:11; Zec 1:14; 8:2
  111. Joel 2:18 : S Ps 72:13
  112. Joel 2:19 : Ps 4:7
  113. Joel 2:19 : S Jer 31:12
  114. Joel 2:19 : S Lev 26:5
  115. Joel 2:19 : S Eze 34:29
  116. Joel 2:20 : Jer 1:14-15
  117. Joel 2:20 : S Isa 34:3
  118. Joel 2:21 : S Isa 29:22; S 54:4; Zep 3:16-17
  119. Joel 2:21 : S Ps 9:2
  120. Joel 2:21 : S Ps 126:3; S Isa 25:1
  121. Joel 2:22 : S Ps 65:12
  122. Joel 2:22 : S 1Ki 4:25
  123. Joel 2:22 : S Nu 16:14
  124. Joel 2:22 : Joel 1:18-20; Zec 8:12
  125. Joel 2:23 : Ps 33:21; 97:12; 149:2; Isa 12:6; 41:16; 66:14; Hab 3:18; Zec 10:7
  126. Joel 2:23 : S Isa 45:8
  127. Joel 2:23 : S Job 36:28; S Eze 34:26
  128. Joel 2:23 : Ps 84:6
  129. Joel 2:23 : S Lev 26:4; S Ps 135:7; Jas 5:7
  130. Joel 2:24 : Lev 26:10; Mal 3:10
  131. Joel 2:24 : S Pr 3:10; Joel 3:18; Am 9:13
  132. Joel 2:25 : S Ex 10:14; Am 4:9
  133. Joel 2:25 : S Dt 28:39
  134. Joel 2:25 : S Joel 1:6
  135. Joel 2:26 : S Lev 26:5
  136. Joel 2:26 : S Lev 23:40; S Isa 62:9
  137. Joel 2:26 : S Ps 126:3; S Isa 25:1
  138. Joel 2:26 : S Isa 29:22
  139. Joel 2:27 : S Ex 6:7
  140. Joel 2:27 : S Ex 6:2; S Isa 44:8; Joel 3:17
  141. Joel 2:27 : Isa 45:17; 54:4; Zep 3:11
  142. Joel 2:28 : S Isa 11:2; S 44:3
  143. Joel 2:28 : S Nu 11:17; S Mk 1:8; Gal 3:14
  144. Joel 2:28 : S 1Sa 19:20
  145. Joel 2:28 : Jer 23:25
  146. Joel 2:29 : 1Co 12:13; Gal 3:28
  147. Joel 2:29 : S Eze 36:27
  148. Joel 2:30 : Lk 21:11
  149. Joel 2:30 : Mk 13:24-25
  150. Joel 2:31 : S ver 2; S Isa 22:5; S Jer 4:23; S Mt 24:29
  151. Joel 2:31 : S Joel 1:15; Ob 1:15; Mal 3:2; 4:1, 5
  152. Joel 2:32 : S Ge 4:26; S Ps 105:1
  153. Joel 2:32 : S Ps 106:8; Ac 2:17-21*; Ro 10:13*
  154. Joel 2:32 : S Isa 46:13
  155. Joel 2:32 : Ob 1:17
  156. Joel 2:32 : S Isa 1:9; 11:11; Mic 4:7; 7:18; S Ro 9:27
  157. Joel 2:32 : Ac 2:39
  158. Joel 3:1 : S Dt 30:3; S Jer 16:15; S Eze 38:8; Zep 3:20
  159. Joel 3:1 : Jer 40:5
  160. Joel 3:2 : Zep 3:8
  161. Joel 3:2 : ver 12; S Isa 22:1
  162. Joel 3:2 : S Isa 13:9; S Jer 2:35; S Eze 36:5
  163. Joel 3:2 : S Ge 11:4; S Lev 26:33
  164. Joel 3:3 : S Job 6:27; S Eze 24:6
  165. Joel 3:3 : Joel 1:5; Am 2:6
  166. Joel 3:4 : S Ge 10:15; S Mt 11:21
  167. Joel 3:4 : S Ps 87:4; Isa 14:29-31; Jer 47:1-7
  168. Joel 3:4 : S Lev 26:28; S Isa 34:8; S Eze 25:15-17; Zec 9:5-7
  169. Joel 3:5 : S 1Ki 15:18; S 2Ch 21:16-17
  170. Joel 3:6 : Eze 27:13; Zec 9:13
  171. Joel 3:7 : S Isa 43:5-6; Jer 23:8
  172. Joel 3:7 : S Isa 66:6
  173. Joel 3:8 : Isa 60:14
  174. Joel 3:8 : Isa 14:2
  175. Joel 3:8 : S Ge 10:7; S 2Ch 9:1
  176. Joel 3:8 : S Isa 23:1; S Jer 30:16
  177. Joel 3:9 : S Isa 8:9
  178. Joel 3:9 : Jer 46:4
  179. Joel 3:10 : Isa 2:4
  180. Joel 3:10 : S Nu 25:7
  181. Joel 3:10 : Zec 12:8
  182. Joel 3:10 : S Jos 1:6
  183. Joel 3:11 : Eze 38:15-16; Zep 3:8
  184. Joel 3:11 : S Isa 13:3
  185. Joel 3:12 : S ver 2
  186. Joel 3:12 : S Ps 82:1; S Isa 2:4
  187. Joel 3:13 : Mk 4:29
  188. Joel 3:13 : S Isa 17:5; S Hos 6:11; Mt 13:39; Rev 14:15-19
  189. Joel 3:13 : S Jer 25:30
  190. Joel 3:13 : S Jdg 6:11; S Rev 14:20
  191. Joel 3:14 : Isa 13:4
  192. Joel 3:14 : S Isa 22:1
  193. Joel 3:14 : Isa 34:2-8; S Joel 1:15; S Zep 1:7
  194. Joel 3:14 : S Isa 2:4; S Eze 36:5
  195. Joel 3:15 : S Job 9:7; S Eze 32:7
  196. Joel 3:16 : S Isa 42:13
  197. Joel 3:16 : Am 1:2
  198. Joel 3:16 : S Jdg 5:4; S Isa 14:16; S Eze 38:19
  199. Joel 3:16 : S Ps 46:1; S Isa 25:4; Zec 12:8
  200. Joel 3:16 : S 2Sa 22:3; Jer 16:19; Zec 9:12
  201. Joel 3:17 : S Ex 6:7
  202. Joel 3:17 : S Joel 2:27
  203. Joel 3:17 : S Ps 74:2; S Isa 4:3
  204. Joel 3:17 : Ps 2:6; S Isa 2:2; S Eze 17:22
  205. Joel 3:17 : S Jer 31:40
  206. Joel 3:17 : S Isa 52:1; S Eze 44:9; Zec 9:8
  207. Joel 3:18 : S Joel 2:24
  208. Joel 3:18 : Ex 3:8; S SS 5:1
  209. Joel 3:18 : S Isa 30:25; 35:6; S 44:3
  210. Joel 3:18 : Rev 22:1-2
  211. Joel 3:18 : S Nu 25:1; S Isa 25:6; S Jer 31:12; S Eze 47:1; Am 9:13
  212. Joel 3:19 : S Isa 19:1
  213. Joel 3:19 : S Isa 11:14; S 34:11
  214. Joel 3:19 : S Jer 51:35; Ob 1:10
  215. Joel 3:20 : S Ezr 9:12; Am 9:15
  216. Joel 3:21 : S Isa 1:15
  217. Joel 3:21 : S Eze 36:25
  218. Joel 3:21 : S Ps 74:2; Isa 59:20; S Eze 48:35; Zec 8:3
New International Version (NIV)

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

Revelation 1

Prologue

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.(B) He made it known by sending his angel(C) to his servant John,(D) 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God(E) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.(F) 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,(G) because the time is near.(H)

Greetings and Doxology

4 John,

To the seven churches(I) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you(J) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(K) and from the seven spirits[a](L) before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,(M) the firstborn from the dead,(N) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.(O)

To him who loves us(P) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,(Q) 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests(R) to serve his God and Father(S)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.(T)

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b](U)
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;(V)
and all peoples on earth “will mourn(W) because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”(X) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,(Y) the Almighty.”(Z)

John’s Vision of Christ

9 I, John,(AA) your brother and companion in the suffering(AB) and kingdom(AC) and patient endurance(AD) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God(AE) and the testimony of Jesus.(AF) 10 On the Lord’s Day(AG) I was in the Spirit,(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(AI) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(AJ) and send it to the seven churches:(AK) to Ephesus,(AL) Smyrna,(AM) Pergamum,(AN) Thyatira,(AO) Sardis,(AP) Philadelphia(AQ) and Laodicea.”(AR)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(AS) 13 and among the lampstands(AT) was someone like a son of man,[d](AU) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(AV) and with a golden sash around his chest.(AW) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(AX) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(AZ) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(BA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(BB) His face was like the sun(BC) shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(BD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(BE) and said: “Do not be afraid.(BF) I am the First and the Last.(BG) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(BH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(BI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(BJ)

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(BK) what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand(BL) and of the seven golden lampstands(BM) is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches,(BN) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(BO)

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
  3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
  4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
  5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 1:1 : Jn 12:49; 17:8
  2. Revelation 1:1 : ver 19; Da 2:28, 29; Rev 22:6
  3. Revelation 1:1 : Rev 22:16
  4. Revelation 1:1 : ver 4, 9; Rev 22:8
  5. Revelation 1:2 : ver 9; S Heb 4:12
  6. Revelation 1:2 : ver 9; 1Co 1:6; Rev 6:9; 12:17; 19:10
  7. Revelation 1:3 : Lk 11:28; Rev 22:7
  8. Revelation 1:3 : S Ro 13:11
  9. Revelation 1:4 : ver 11, 20
  10. Revelation 1:4 : S Ro 1:7
  11. Revelation 1:4 : ver 8; Rev 4:8; 11:17; 16:5
  12. Revelation 1:4 : Isa 11:2; Rev 3:1; 4:5; 5:6
  13. Revelation 1:5 : Isa 55:4; Jn 18:37; Rev 3:14
  14. Revelation 1:5 : Ps 89:27; Col 1:18
  15. Revelation 1:5 : S 1Ti 6:15
  16. Revelation 1:5 : S Ro 8:37
  17. Revelation 1:5 : S Ro 3:25
  18. Revelation 1:6 : S 1Pe 2:5; Rev 5:10; 20:6
  19. Revelation 1:6 : Ro 15:6
  20. Revelation 1:6 : S Ro 11:36
  21. Revelation 1:7 : Da 7:13; S Mt 16:27; 24:30; 26:64; S Lk 17:30; S 1Co 1:7; S 1Th 2:19; 4:16, 17
  22. Revelation 1:7 : Jn 19:34, 37
  23. Revelation 1:7 : Zec 12:10; Mt 24:30
  24. Revelation 1:8 : S ver 17; Rev 21:6; 22:13
  25. Revelation 1:8 : S ver 4
  26. Revelation 1:8 : Rev 4:8; 15:3; 19:6
  27. Revelation 1:9 : ver 1
  28. Revelation 1:9 : S Ac 14:22; 2Co 1:7; Php 4:14
  29. Revelation 1:9 : ver 6
  30. Revelation 1:9 : 2Ti 2:12
  31. Revelation 1:9 : ver 2; S Heb 4:12
  32. Revelation 1:9 : S ver 2
  33. Revelation 1:10 : Ac 20:7
  34. Revelation 1:10 : Rev 4:2; 17:3; 21:10
  35. Revelation 1:10 : Ex 20:18; Rev 4:1
  36. Revelation 1:11 : ver 19
  37. Revelation 1:11 : ver 4, 20
  38. Revelation 1:11 : S Ac 18:19
  39. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 2:8
  40. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 2:12
  41. Revelation 1:11 : Ac 16:14; Rev 2:18, 24
  42. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 3:1
  43. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 3:7
  44. Revelation 1:11 : S Col 2:1; Rev 3:14
  45. Revelation 1:12 : ver 20; Ex 25:31-40; Zec 4:2; Rev 2:1
  46. Revelation 1:13 : Rev 2:1
  47. Revelation 1:13 : Eze 1:26; Da 7:13; 10:16; Rev 14:14
  48. Revelation 1:13 : Isa 6:1
  49. Revelation 1:13 : Da 10:5; Rev 15:6
  50. Revelation 1:14 : Da 7:9; 10:6; Rev 2:18; 19:12
  51. Revelation 1:15 : Eze 1:7; Da 10:6; Rev 2:18
  52. Revelation 1:15 : Eze 43:2; Rev 14:2; 19:6
  53. Revelation 1:16 : ver 20; Rev 2:1; 3:1
  54. Revelation 1:16 : Isa 1:20; 49:2; Heb 4:12; Rev 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21
  55. Revelation 1:16 : Jdg 5:31; Mt 17:2
  56. Revelation 1:17 : Eze 1:28; Da 8:17, 18
  57. Revelation 1:17 : Da 8:18
  58. Revelation 1:17 : S Mt 14:27
  59. Revelation 1:17 : Isa 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev 2:8; 22:13
  60. Revelation 1:18 : Ro 6:9; Rev 2:8
  61. Revelation 1:18 : Dt 32:40; Da 4:34; 12:7; Rev 4:9, 10; 10:6; 15:7
  62. Revelation 1:18 : Rev 9:1; 20:1
  63. Revelation 1:19 : ver 11; Hab 2:2
  64. Revelation 1:20 : S ver 16
  65. Revelation 1:20 : S ver 12
  66. Revelation 1:20 : ver 4, 11
  67. Revelation 1:20 : Mt 5:14, 15
New International Version (NIV)

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

Psalm 128

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(A)
who walk in obedience to him.(B)
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;(C)
blessings and prosperity(D) will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(E)
within your house;
your children(F) will be like olive shoots(G)
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing(H)
for the man who fears the Lord.(I)

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;(J)
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(K)
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—(L)
peace be on Israel.(M)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 128:1 : Ps 103:11; S 112:1
  2. Psalm 128:1 : Ps 119:1-3
  3. Psalm 128:2 : S Ps 58:11; 109:11; Isa 3:10
  4. Psalm 128:2 : S Ge 39:3; Pr 10:22
  5. Psalm 128:3 : S Ge 49:22
  6. Psalm 128:3 : S Job 29:5
  7. Psalm 128:3 : Ps 52:8; 144:12
  8. Psalm 128:4 : S Ps 1:1
  9. Psalm 128:4 : Ps 112:1
  10. Psalm 128:5 : S Ps 20:2
  11. Psalm 128:5 : Ps 122:9
  12. Psalm 128:6 : S Ge 48:11
  13. Psalm 128:6 : S Ps 125:5
New International Version (NIV)

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

Proverbs 29:18

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(A)

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 29:18 : Ps 1:1-2; 19:11; 119:1-2
New International Version (NIV)

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

Posted on

12/08/2018 DAB Transcript

Hosea 10:1-14:9, Jude 1:1-25, Ps 127:1-5, Pr 29:15-17

Today is the 8th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here with you as we prepare to close the books, right, close the books on another week and allow it to become a part of our history, but before all that we have to take the next, well, we have to live through this day, but we have to take the next step forward as we move through the Scriptures. And I’ve been mentioning along the way, you know, kind of as we move into the latter part of October and then through November that things kind of speed up. We’re going to the minor prophets which are short. We’re going through some short letters in the New Testament. So, we’re kind of moving rapidly as we move toward the end of the year. So, we’ll complete the book of Hosea today in the Old Testament. And then when we get to the New Testament we’ll talk about Jude because that’s a letter we’re about to read. And we will read Jude in its entirety today, which will pave the way tomorrow for the beginning of the final book of the New Testament. So, that’s the lay of the land and that’s where we are in the year. So, we’ve been reading from the God’s word translation all of this week, which is what we’ll do today. Hosea chapter 10 verse 1 through 14 verse 9.

Introduction to the Letter of Jude:

Okay. So, like we mentioned at the beginning, we just concluded the book of Hosea and we will now be beginning the book or the letter the epistle of Jude and will read it in its entirety. It’s 25 verses long and it may sound a little familiar. Many biblical scholars accept the idea that Second Peter, a letter that we read, just days ago, actually imitates Jude’s letter. And if this is true, then Jude’s letter predates Second Peter, which would mean that Juda dates somewhere into the mid 60s A.D. And if this is not the case then the letter could be as late as the end of Jude’s life, which would be somewhere around maybe 80 A.D. But that might be getting a little ahead of ourselves. I mean, like, who is Jude, and this questions actually been raised throughout the entirety of church history. And it continues to be examined among scholars all the way up until now but if we’re moving in the direction of consensus then the majority of traditional scholars agree that Jude, or the Jude that wrote this letter, was the brother of James and the brother of Jesus. But even though he is the brother of Jesus he wasn’t an apostle, he didn’t believe in Jesus during His ministry. It’s interesting what resurrection will do to your belief. But anyway, no matter the trajectory, Jude definitely did become a part of the church and a voice in the church but it’s just not clear who this letter was addressed to. Like, Jude says that he’s writing to all who have been called by God the Father who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. And that’s who he’s writing this letter to. So, that could basically be any believe any time ever. And, so, we can certainly apply this to ourselves but we can see like specifically identifying exactly who the intended reader was, that’s a bit ambiguous. If the similarities between Second Peter and Jude are correct then Jude was likely writing the same people that Peter wrote to and that would be the displaced believers who were fleeing persecution or people who had been exiled in generations past, like the stuff that we’re reading about in the books of prophecy, right, the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles when the kingdoms fell. So, here’s the interesting thing about Jude. Jude had been planning on writing a completely different letter than the one that he actually did write. And he says that in his greeting. So, instead of writing a letter of encouragement and rejoicing words of salvation he had to write about defending the faith. And this was brought up because of an issue that was a widespread and it was a false teaching like some of the other letters were aimed at. And this was a teaching about God’s grace. I mean, this particular issue is addressed many, many times in many letters in the New Testament. So, basically what was going on was that the teaching of an unmerited favor, which is grace, bestowed upon us by God has always been a core understanding of the Christian faith. Like, we’re taught in Scripture, this is a gift, it’s not something we can earn. It’s grace, It’s God’s mercy. So, some people began to twist the concept into a license to do whatever they wanted with whomever they chose whenever they liked because, after all, sins no longer held against us and God’s grace can’t be earned anyway. So, we’re good. Like, we can to whatever we want. Jude forcefully opposes this idea throughout most of the letter. And it’s not as if this behavior isn’t still with us. Jude clearly warns us away from that notion, that path. And then in closing, we’re instructed to remember that false teachings we’re something that were foretold, they were predicted. And, so, the community of faith needs to build each other up in the power of the Holy Spirit. And for those who had unfortunately been deceived, then the community was to be cautious but merciful. And, so, like I said, this is the last stop before we move into the final book of the Bible which is known as the book of Revelation. And then that will be moving us in completely different directions. So, let’s remember because this is like our last stop. These letters that we’ve been kind of moving through for a little while, let’s remember what they have told us because they have told us that the story of radical unspeakable grace is actually true but when we partake of that grace we are entering into a covenantal relationship. So, it matters what we do, it matters how we conduct ourselves because our actions are the true statement of our love for one another and for our faith in Jesus. And, so, we begin, and we’ll read in its entirety the book or letter of Jude.

Prayer:

Father, as we close this week we acknowledge that we have three weeks that remain in this year a year of hope and we acknowledge the words in the Psalms today and we take them to heart, we place them deep within ourselves and ask Your Holy Spirit to continually remind us of this. If You don’t build the house it’s useless to work on it. If You don’t protect city. It’s useless to work hard and get up early and go to bed late in our own strength when it is You who feeds us, it is You who loves us and gives us sleep. So, come Holy Spirit we pray as we release another week into our history and look forward to the weeks ahead that remain in this year because we’re not checking out, we’re just acknowledging where we are in the grand scheme of things as we’re moving toward the end of the year, but we’re not checking out. We know that You have much to speak to us and we cling to You. We find our rest in You. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudibible.com is the website, home base, of course, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

And I’ve if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can find out what’s going on around here as well. All of the other things I’m talking about are in the app. But it’s Christmas time. And, so, a few things happen around Christmas time. One is the More Gathering for women that happens every April. Registration opens because it is the most unique and life impacting gift that we know of. Ahhh…when you give this to your wife or your mom and send her and offer her the opportunity to have some time to breathe, a place to go that’s safe but where there’s no obligations or responsibilities and the opportunity to just feel one’s heart beating again and just consider what the future might hold and invite Jesus into that…ohhh…well…that’s the recipe for More and it’s the More Gathering for women. And come. Come. This will be the last time…the end of an era…the last time we’ll be doing this in Georgia. And we’re just praying and waiting on the Lord for what comes next. But this is following the leading of the Lord, to bring to bring that location to an end. So, let’s celebrate together at Sharptop Cove on the top of the mountain one more time. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the Initiatives section or visit moregathering.com and that’ll take you to the same place.

Also, great gift idea for this year is our writing kits. Check those out in the Daily Audio Bible shop in the Lifestyle section for the journaler in your life or maybe that’s you. You’ll just…you’ll fall in love with these items. They’re items that I personally use every day. I mean, I don’t want to say 100% but most every single day of my life I am using these resources. So, I love them, and I think you will too. I know you will. So, check those out in the lifestyle section.

And then also in the Christmas section, that’s where you’ll find the Daily Audio Bible family Christmas Box for 2018. And you can see all that’s in there and we’ve been talking about that. There’s some powerful resources, strong medicine in that box and some things for you and some things for you to give away. And we love that, and we pray over these as we send them out expecting that that God will do what He says. His word will not return void. So, that’s available.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link, it’s on the homepage. And I thank you. I thank you because there wouldn’t be a homepage if we didn’t do this together, there wouldn’t be any of this if we didn’t do this together. And I thank you that we are and we have done this together. So, if you want to partner, thank you. 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 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.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday December 8, 2018 (NIV)

Hosea 10-14

Israel Is Like a Rotten Vine

The people of Israel are like vines that used to produce fruit.
The more fruit they produced,
the more altars they built.
The more their land produced,
the more stone markers they set up to honor other gods.
2 They are hypocrites. Now they must take their punishment.
God will tear down their altars and destroy their stone markers.
3 So they’ll say,
“We have no king because we didn’t fear the Lord.
Even if we had a king, he couldn’t do anything for us.”
4 They say many things. They lie when they take oaths,
and they make promises they don’t intend to keep.
That’s why lawsuits spring up
like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5 Those who live in Samaria fear the calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven.
The people will mourn over it.
The priests will cry loudly
because its glory will be taken away into captivity.
6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria
as a present to the great king.[a]
Ephraim will be disgraced.
Israel will be ashamed because of its plans.
7 The king of Samaria will be carried away
like a piece of wood on water.
8 The illegal worship sites of Aven will be destroyed.
Israel sins there.
Thorns and weeds will grow over those altars.
People will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9 Israel, you have sinned ever since the incident at Gibeah.
You never change.
War will overtake the wicked people in Gibeah.
10 “I will punish them when I’m ready.
Armies will gather to attack them.
They will be punished for their many sins.

Israel Is Like a Cow That Threshed Grain

11 “Ephraim is like a trained calf that loves to thresh[b] grain.
I will put a yoke[c] on its beautiful neck.
I will harness Ephraim.
Judah must plow.
Jacob must break up the ground.

12 “Break new ground.
Plant righteousness,
and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.”

It’s time to seek the Lord!
When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you.
13 You have planted wickedness and harvested evil.
You have eaten the fruit that your lies produced.
You have trusted your own power and your many warriors.
14 So your army will hear the noise of battle.
All your fortresses will be destroyed
like the time Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in battle.
Mothers and their children were smashed to death.
15 This is what will happen to you, Bethel,
because you have done many wicked things.
At daybreak, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

Israel Is Like a Bad Son

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 The more I called them,[d] the farther they went away.
They sacrificed to other gods—the Baals,
and they burned incense to idols.
3 I was the one who taught the people of Ephraim to walk.[e]
I took them by the hand.
But they didn’t realize that I had healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love.
I removed the yokes[f] from their necks.
I bent down and fed them.

5 “They will not return to Egypt.
Instead, Assyria will rule them
because they have refused to return to me.
6 War will sweep through their cities,
demolish their city gates,
and put an end to their plans.
7 My people are determined to turn away from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will not pardon them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboim?
I have changed my mind.
I am deeply moved.
9 I will not act on my burning anger.
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
I am God, not a human.
I am the Holy One among you,
and I will not come to you in anger.

10 “My people will follow me when I roar like a lion.
When I roar, my children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
and like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them in their own homes,”
declares the Lord.[g]

12 “Ephraim surrounds me with lies.
The nation of Israel surrounds me with deceit.”
Judah rebels against God, against the Holy One who is faithful.

The People of Israel Ignored What the Lord Had Done for Them

12 [h] The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind
and try to chase the east wind all day.
They are very violent and destructive.
They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt.

2 The Lord brings charges against Judah and punishes Jacob
because of the way their people act.
He will pay them back for what they have done.
3 Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother’s heel
while the two of them were in their mother’s womb.
When Jacob became a man, he struggled with God.
4 He struggled with the Messenger and won.
Jacob cried and pleaded with him.
Jacob found him at Bethel,
and he talked with him there.
5 The Lord is the God of Armies.
The Lord is the name by which he is remembered.
6 Return to your God.
Be loyal and fair, and always wait with hope for your God.

7 The Lord says, “The merchants use dishonest scales.
They love to cheat people.
8 The people of Ephraim say, ‘We’re rich. We’ve made a fortune.
With all this wealth, no one will find us guilty of any sin.’
9 I am the Lord your God.
I brought you out of Egypt.
I will make you live in tents again
as you did during your appointed festivals.
10 I spoke to the prophets and gave them many visions.
I taught lessons through the prophets.”[i]

11 The people of Gilead are evil.
They are worthless.
They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal.
But their altars will become like piles of rubble
beside a plowed field.
12 Jacob fled to the country of Syria.
Israel worked to get a wife; he took care of sheep to pay for her.
13 The Lord used a prophet to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.
He used a prophet to take care of them.

14 The people of Ephraim made the Lord bitter.
He will hold them guilty of murder.
The Lord will pay them back for their insults.

The People of Israel Will Be Punished for Their Idolatry

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled.
The people of Ephraim were important in Israel.
Then they became guilty of worshiping Baal,
so they must die.
2 They keep on sinning more and more.
They make idols from silver for themselves.
These idols are skillfully made.
All of them are the work of craftsmen.
People say this about the Israelites: “They offer human sacrifices
and kiss calf-shaped idols.”
3 That is why they will be like fog in the morning
and like morning dew that disappears quickly.
They will be like straw blown away from threshing floors.[j]
They will be like smoke rising from chimneys.

4 “I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt.
You have known no god besides me.
There is no savior except me.
5 I took care of you[k] in the desert, in a dry land.
6 When I fed you, you were full.
When you were full, you became arrogant.
That is why you forgot me.
7 So I will be like a lion.
Like a leopard I will wait by the road to ambush you.
8 Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you.
I will rip you open.
Like a lion I will devour you.
Like a wild animal I will tear you apart.
9 You are destroying yourself, Israel.
You are against me, your helper.

10 “Where, now, is your king, the one who is supposed to save you?
Where in all your cities are your judges?
You said, ‘Give us kings and officials!’
11 I gave you a king when I was angry,
and I took him away when I was furious.

12 “Ephraim’s wickedness is on record.
The record of the people’s sins is safely stored away.
13 They have the opportunity to live again,
but they are not smart enough to take it.
They are like a baby who is about to be born
but won’t come out of its mother’s womb.

14 “I want to free them from the power of the grave.
I want to reclaim them from death.
Death, I want to be a plague to you.
Grave, I want to destroy you.[l]
I won’t even think of changing my plans.”

15 The people of Ephraim have become important among their relatives.
However, the Lord’s scorching wind will come from the east.
It will blow out of the desert.
Then their springs will run dry,
and their wells will dry up.
The wind will destroy every precious thing in their storehouses.[m]
16 The people of Samaria are guilty as charged
because they rebelled against their God.
They will be killed in war,
their children will be smashed to death,
and their pregnant women will be ripped open.

The Lord Offers to Forgive Israel

14 [n] Israel, return to the Lord your God.
You have stumbled because of your sins.
2 Return to the Lord, and say these things to him:
“Forgive all our sins, and kindly receive us.
Then we’ll praise you with our lips.
3 Assyria cannot save us.
We won’t ride on horses anymore.
We will never again say
that the things our hands have made are our gods.
You love orphans.”

4 The Lord says, “I will cure them of their unfaithfulness.
I will love them freely.
I will no longer be angry with them.
5 I will be like dew to the people of Israel.
They will blossom like flowers.
They will be firmly rooted like cedars from Lebanon.
6 They will be like growing branches.
They will be beautiful like olive trees.
They will be fragrant like cedars from Lebanon.
7 They will live again in God’s shadow.
They will grow like grain.
They will blossom like grapevines.
They will be as famous as the wines from Lebanon.

8 “The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols.
I will answer them and take care of them.
I am like a growing pine tree.
Their fruit comes from me.”

9 Wise people will understand these things.
A person with insight will recognize them.
The Lord’s ways are right.
Righteous people live by them.
Rebellious people stumble over them.

Footnotes:

  1. Hosea 10:6 Or “to King Jareb.”
  2. Hosea 10:11 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.
  3. Hosea 10:11 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.
  4. Hosea 11:2 Greek; Masoretic Text “The more they called them.”
  5. Hosea 11:3 Or “I was the one who guided Ephraim.”
  6. Hosea 11:4 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.
  7. Hosea 11:11 Hosea 11:12 in English Bibles is Hosea 12:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
  8. Hosea 12:1 Hosea 12:1–14 in English Bibles is Hosea 12:2–15 in the Hebrew Bible.
  9. Hosea 12:10 Or “I brought destruction through the prophets.”
  10. Hosea 13:3 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.
  11. Hosea 13:5 Greek; Masoretic Text “I knew you.”
  12. Hosea 13:14 Or “Death, where is your plague? Grave, where is your destruction?”
  13. Hosea 13:15 Hosea 13:16 in English Bibles is Hosea 14:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
  14. Hosea 14:1 Hosea 14:1–9 in English Bibles is Hosea 14:2–10 in the Hebrew Bible.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

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

Jude

Greeting

1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.

To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father, and who are kept safe for Jesus Christ.

2 May mercy, peace, and love fill your lives!

Warnings about False Teachers

3 Dear friends, I had intended to write to you about the salvation we share. But something has come up. It demands that I write to you and encourage you to continue your fight for the Christian faith that was entrusted to God’s holy people once for all time.

4 Some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. Not long ago they were condemned in writing for the following reason: They are people to whom God means nothing. They use God’s kindness[a] as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 I want to remind you about what you already know: The Lord once saved his people from Egypt. But on another occasion he destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 He held angels for judgment on the great day. They were held in darkness, bound by eternal chains. These are the angels who didn’t keep their position of authority but abandoned their assigned place. 7 What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them is an example for us of the punishment of eternal fire. The people of these cities suffered the same fate that God’s people and the angels did, because they committed sexual sins and engaged in homosexual activities.

8 Yet, in a similar way, the people who slipped in among you are dreamers. They contaminate their bodies with sin, reject the Lord’s authority, and insult his glory. 9 When the archangel Michael argued with the devil, they were arguing over the body of Moses. But Michael didn’t dare to hand down a judgment against the devil. Instead, Michael said, “May the Lord reprimand you!”

10 Whatever these people don’t understand, they insult. Like animals, which are creatures of instinct, they use whatever they know to destroy themselves. 11 How horrible it will be for them! They have followed the path of Cain. They have rushed into Balaam’s error to make a profit. They have rebelled like Korah and destroyed themselves.

12 These people are a disgrace at the special meals you share with other believers. They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are dry clouds blown around by the winds. They are withered, uprooted trees without any fruit. As a result, they have died twice. 13 Their shame is like the foam on the wild waves of the sea. They are wandering stars for whom gloomy darkness is kept forever.

14 Furthermore, Enoch, from the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about them. He said, “The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy angels. 15 He has come to judge all these people. He has come to convict all these ungodly sinners for all the ungodly things they have done and all the harsh things they have said about him.”

16 These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.

17 Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you to expect: 18 “In the last times people who ridicule God will appear. They will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who cause divisions. They are concerned about physical things, not spiritual things.

Final Advice

20 Dear friends, use your most holy faith to grow. Pray with the Holy Spirit’s help. 21 Remain in God’s love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.

22 Show mercy to those who have doubts. 23 Save others by snatching them from the fire of hell. Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives.

24 God can guard you so that you don’t fall and so that you can be full of joy as you stand in his glorious presence without fault. 25 Before time began, now, and for eternity glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. Jude 1:4 Or “grace.”
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

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

Psalm 127

1 If the Lord does not build the house,
it is useless for the builders to work on it.
If the Lord does not protect a city,
it is useless for the guard to stay alert.
2 It is useless to work hard for the food you eat
by getting up early and going to bed late.
The Lord gives food to those he loves while they sleep.

3 Children are an inheritance from the Lord.
They are a reward from him.
4 The children born to a man when he is young
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
5 Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them.
He will not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.

Psalm 128

A song for going up to worship.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

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

Proverbs 29:15-17

15 A spanking and a warning produce wisdom,
but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
16 When wicked people increase, crime increases,
but righteous people will witness their downfall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind.
He will bring delight to your soul.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

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