The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday January 7, 2023 (NIV)

Genesis 16:1-18:15

Hagar and Ishmael

16 Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai(A) said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. He slept with[a] Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering![b] I put my slave in your arms,[c] and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.”(B)

Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.

The angel of the Lord(C) found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?”

She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.”

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10 The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring,(D) and they will be too many to count.”

11 The angel of the Lord said to her, “You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael,[d] for the Lord has heard your cry of affliction. 12 This man will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; he will settle near all his relatives.”(E)

13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,”[e] for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen(F) the one who sees me?” [f] 14 That is why the well is called Beer-lahai-roi.[g] It is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named his son (whom Hagar bore) Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

Covenant Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty.(G) Live[h] in my presence and be blameless.(H) I will set up my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”

Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “As for me, here is my covenant with you: You will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram;[i] your name will be Abraham,[j] for I will make you the father of many nations.(I) I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant(J) to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.(K) And to you and your future offspring[k](L) I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as a permanent possession,(M) and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant. 10 This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you.[l](N) 12 Throughout your generations, every male among you is to be circumcised(O) at eight days old—every male born in your household or purchased from any foreigner and not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or purchased, he must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as a permanent covenant. 14 If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

15 God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah[m] will be her name. 16 I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her.(P) I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

17 Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed(Q) and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable[n] to you!”

19 But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.[o] I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father twelve tribal leaders,(R) and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will confirm my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”(S) 22 When he finished talking with him, God withdrew[p] from Abraham.(T)

23 So Abraham took his son Ishmael and those born in his household or purchased—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, just as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised. 26 On that very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his household—whether born in his household or purchased from a foreigner—were circumcised with him.

Abraham’s Three Visitors

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre(U) while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him.(V) When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”

“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”

So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures[q] of fine flour and make bread.”[r] Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham took curds[s] and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served[t] them as they ate under the tree.

Sarah Laughs

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he answered.

10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” (W) Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[u] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.(X) 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?” (Y)

13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord?(Z) At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”

15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid.

But he replied, “No, you did laugh.”

Footnotes:

  1. 16:4 Lit He came to
  2. 16:5 Or “May my suffering be on you!
  3. 16:5 Lit bosom
  4. 16:11 = God Hears
  5. 16:13 = God Sees Me
  6. 16:13 Hb obscure
  7. 16:14 = Well of the Living One Who Sees Me
  8. 17:1 Or Walk
  9. 17:5 = The Father Is Exalted
  10. 17:5 = Father of a Multitude
  11. 17:8 Lit seed
  12. 17:11 You in v. 11 is pl.
  13. 17:15 = Princess
  14. 17:18 Lit alive
  15. 17:19 = He Laughs
  16. 17:22 Lit went up, or ascended
  17. 18:6 Lit three seahs; about 21 quarts
  18. 18:6 A round, thin, unleavened bread
  19. 18:8 Or butter
  20. 18:8 Lit was standing by
  21. 18:11 Lit days
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Matthew 6:1-24

How to Give

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness[a] in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.(A) But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[b](B)

How to Pray

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.(C) But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[c](D) When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.(E) Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.(F)

The Lord’s Prayer

“Therefore, you should pray like this: (G)

Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.(H)
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.(I)
11 Give us today our daily bread.[d]
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.(J)
13 And do not bring us into[e] temptation,(K)
but deliver us from the evil one.[f](L)

14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.(M) 15 But if you don’t forgive others,[g] your Father will not forgive your offenses.

How to Fast

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces (N) so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,(O) 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[h]

God and Possessions

19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures[i] on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.(P) 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,(Q) where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!(R)

24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (S)

Footnotes:

  1. 6:1 Other mss read charitable giving
  2. 6:4 Other mss read will himself reward you openly
  3. 6:6 Other mss add openly
  4. 6:11 Or our necessary bread, or our bread for tomorrow
  5. 6:13 Or do not cause us to come into
  6. 6:13 Or from evil; some later mss add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
  7. 6:15 Other mss add their wrongdoing
  8. 6:18 Other mss add openly
  9. 6:19 Or valuables
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 7

Psalm 7

Prayer for Justice

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

Lord my God, I seek refuge in you;(A)
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,(B)
or they[a] will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.(C)

Lord my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands,(D)
if I have done harm to one at peace with me(E)
or have plundered[b] my adversary without cause,(F)
may an enemy pursue and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground(G)
and leave my honor in the dust.(H)Selah

Rise up, Lord, in your anger;
lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries;(I)
awake for me;[c](J)
you have ordained a judgment.(K)
Let the assembly of peoples gather around you;(L)
take your seat on high over it.(M)
The Lord judges the peoples;(N)
vindicate me, Lord,
according to my righteousness and my integrity.(O)

Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,(P)
but establish the righteous.(Q)
The one who examines the thoughts and emotions[d]
is a righteous God.(R)
10 My shield is with God,(S)
who saves the upright in heart.(T)
11 God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows his wrath every day.(U)

12 If anyone does not repent,
he will sharpen his sword;(V)
he has strung his bow and made it ready.(W)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he tips his arrows with fire.(X)

14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.(Y)
15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.(Z)
16 His trouble comes back on his own head;
his own violence comes down on top of his head.(AA)

17 I will thank the Lord for his righteousness;
I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.(AB)

Footnotes:

  1. 7:2 Lit he
  2. 7:4 Or me and have spared
  3. 7:6 LXX reads awake, Lord my God
  4. 7:9 Lit examines hearts and kidneys
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 2:1-5

Wisdom’s Worth

My son, if you accept my words(A)
and store up my commands within you,
listening closely[a] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.

Footnotes:

  1. 2:2 Lit you, stretching out your ear

Cross references:

  1. 2:1 : Pr 4:10
  2. 2:4 : Jb 3:21; Mt 13:44
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

1/6/2023 DAB Transcript

Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalm 6:1-10, Proverbs 1:29-33

Today is the sixth day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. I am thrilled to be here with you around the Global Campfire today, as we gather and take the next step forward together. And we are really, definitely getting moved into the year and finding our groove. Moving forward day-by-day and step-by-step. And so, let’s dive in and find out where the next step takes us. We’ve been reading from the New Living Translation this week, Genesis chapter 13 verse 5 through 15 verse 21.

Commentary:

Okay so, we met this guy yesterday in the book of Genesis named Abram, and he had a wife named Sarai, and nephew named Lot. And we followed his genealogy and we followed him with his father to Laran and then we saw Abram and Sarai and Lot and they departed, God had come to Abram and said go to a land that I will show you. And they did. And they were there, and in today’s reading, we saw that they were there, they were pretty well-stocked on livestock and they had very large households. And so, it was becoming difficult for the two households, large as they were, to roam about together. The land couldn’t support everything. And so, disputes were breaking out and fights. And so, Abram and Lot got together and Abram tells Lot look, you know, there’s no point making this like a major family drama, we’re close relatives, just look, look around, pick which way you’re going, and you get first pick, and whichever way you go, I’ll go the other way. And so, that is what happens and Lot ends up in the Jordan Valley near Sodom and Gomorrah. We saw that war broke out in the valley and that Lot was captured. And that so Abram finds out about it, gets his allies together and goes in pursuit of trying to free his close relative. And they chase them all the way to Dan, the Bible tells us. And that’s kind of interesting because, the ruins of ancient Dan exist. We’ll actually making a journey there to the land of the Bible in about a month. Nevertheless, the ruins of ancient Dan are there. I have walked through them many, many times. And a discovery was found there many years ago, that is not necessarily associated with the ancient Israelite Dan. There was a gate that was discovered because this city of Dan had been formally called Leish. And they found this ancient Canaanite gate. So like, a gate that predates the children of Israel or the Hebrew people, that dates back to this time that we are talking about in the book of Genesis, in the times of Abram. So, I don’t know that Abram came all the way to this ancient Canaanite gate and passed through that gate. He did chase his enemies to free Lot all the way to Dan. And so, we’re gonna see that ancient Canaanite gate, it’s just interesting experience to go. That, I’m looking all the way back into the book of Genesis when I look at this. And actually we have a resource called The Promised Land Films, that can be downloaded from the Daily Audio Bible Shop, takes us to I don’t know, about 75 different key locations where the Bible happened and that are like archaeologically settled. Dan is one of those. So the Promised Land Films are like these two, three, sometimes four minute, they’re just like short little snippets that allow us to kind of drop into a place that we’re reading about in the Bible. And not just get like a static picture. I’ve been to these places and I looked at so many of these places and pictures throughout my life, and kind of looking at biblical encyclopedias and everything you get this picture, static picture and that’s all of the view that you get in, so you have to just imagine whatever you’re imagining. And we begin filming in Israel, many, many years ago, to try to make that a little bit more of a 360° view. More of like what’s, like if I’m looking at a static picture, what’s outside the borders. And so, yeah, you can check that out in the Daily Audio Bible Shop, if that is interesting to you. But this is where we are in the book of Genesis and as we continued in Genesis today, God came to Abram and told him of his intentions, and that was to bless him and that he would have offspring that were extraordinarily numerous. Right, as many as the stars in the sky or the sands on the seashore. Abram replies to God like, thank you, like that very kind, like thank you, I’m humbled. I don’t know exactly how that will work. I don’t have a single offspring. So, like when I pass it’s gonna be my lead servant that becomes my heir and has everything. And that’s when God says no, you’re going to have a son, and Abram believed God, and God counted that belief as righteousness to Abram. That right there is so foundational, such a key piece to the Christian faith. It is like and irreplaceable piece of the apostles Paul, of the apostle Paul’s teachings that we…we haven’t met him yet, but we are certainly going to meet him and spend plenty of time with him, throughout the course of this year. This little piece that we read in Genesis today, right here on day six, could not be more important to what’s coming next. Abram believed God. His faith was in what God told him and not in what he could see, even though he was stating the fact that he didn’t have any kids. He believed God. And so, we will see, well we will see the faith Abram as we continue on the journey through the book of Genesis. But we will see and remember just how foundational this all is as we tie things more together later. But just remember when we get to this, several months from now, on down the road, we’re going to remember day six is where we encounter this, in the book of Genesis. Another thing that we encounter in the book of Genesis today was a guy named Melchizedek blessing Abram, a priest of the God most high. We’ll be revisiting him along the way, as well, when we get into the book of Hebrews. But for us today, we look at Abram, we look that, we look at the fact that he has a promise that is highly unlikely to come true. Abram even asks how I can know, and we watched, we watched God enter into a covenant with Abram, to say that this is true and that this is going to happen, and Abram believed God. Which gives us every opportunity to go outside and look up into the sky and see the stars of the sky. And that doesn’t mean God’s promising us that we can have as many kids there are the stars and sky, it means that the promises of God are true, and our faith in those promises is key and very important.

Prayer:

And so, Father, we thank You for allowing us to join up together with Abram again and move through this story together again, and we ask Your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into the things that we need to know, the things that we should pay attention to, lead us into the truth, this is what we seek. And You have not invited us here to Your word, in order to deceive us. And so, we cling to You and seek the truth, as it applies to how we should live our lives. Lead us we pray, in the mighty name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, that is certainly the website, and you can find out what’s going on around here. You can do that with the Daily Audio Bible app as well. And you can get that from your app store, just search for Daily Audio Bible, you should be able to find it, and take the journey from there. And while you’re journeying and check things out, check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. There are resources in the Shop that have been made and developed for the journey that we are on. So, you can check out like the Global Campfire section of the Shop. All kinds of Global Campfire things in there. Things to connect us together, things to help us remember that we are on a journey, and we are depending upon each other, and we are going to show up and we’re taking the steps forward every day and we’re connected together in community. Yeah, just check out, check out the Global Campfire Section in the Daily Audio Bible Shop and there are resources there for the journey.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. Thank you, humbly, the reality is we have been at this for a lot of years, but we couldn’t be in this at all, if we weren’t in this together. That’s what makes this a community experience so, if showing up around the Global Campfire every day brings life and hope and good news into your life, then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, that’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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

Prayer and Encouragements:

Hey, my beautiful Daily Audio Bible Family, this is Sherrie, who loves to worship in South Pascal. I just want to remind you how important this community has been. Thank you, Brian and Jill and Ezekiel and China, and Christian, everyone who’s behind the scenes, Sarah Jane. I just thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us. And I want to remind our family to pass it forward by posting on Facebook, Instagram, whatever your social media is, I’m gonna do my telegram channels. And just share the good news of this life changing year that can be passed on through listening through, listening to Daily Audio Bible. I love you guys. I pray for you all. And have a blessed 2023.

Hi, this is Delights in Me. And I want to pray for Mayor Angie in Texas. And for her family. She just lost her daughter. Lord, I ask that You come into this situation. That You give wisdom to those in authority. I pray that You put a community around this woman and her family, that they would support her and her family in this tragic time. I pray for the family, that they would draw closer together and to You, for support and help in this very difficult time. Jesus, surround them with Your love and Your peace that passes all understanding. Thank You Jesus. We know that You are in the midst of this, even though it feels like You are so far away. We pray that You give them comfort and peace. In Jesus name. Amen.

DAB family, it’s Blessings Flow in Pennsylvania. Good afternoon on December 31st, 2022, and a foggy, rainy day. I listened to the last Bible reading this morning. And then this afternoon I listened to our Daily Audio Bible Española and then I’m just finishing the last moments of Family Christmas and my heart is just so, so full and filled with anticipation and thankfulness and gratitude. I just think back, I started listening December 2019 with a two-month-old baby and now she’s three. Oh man, it’s been such a rich journey. I’m just so thankful it’s something we can do every day, for so many reasons, but for one reason perhaps is even to just do one thing a day for ourselves and that’s to meditate on the word of God. God Bless.

Hey, my beautiful DAB family. Happy New Year! This is your sister Ashley from California. And I wanted to say, yeah, we did it to all of our 2022 DABers. And I want to say to all the 2023 DABers, you guys are in for a ride. And as deep as you can dig into this, oh my gosh, you guys, it is amazing. And I am gonna be praying and I’m gonna pray right now. I’m gonna say, Dear Jesus, I thank You so much for this new year and this new day and this new opportunity to learn more about You. To be in communication and communion with You. And I pray that You would guide our steps as we march through this year. Help us to have eyes to see You, ears to hear You and a heart soften to understand what You’re trying to teach us. In this Your name, we hope and pray. Amen. Guys, I also need to ask you for prayer. So, my kiddo, my 9-year-old Jackson, we have been in to, we’ve been at Children’s Hospital in LA, since Christmas Eve. Jackson came down with a fever, so we spent Christmas in the hospital and today’s New Year’s Day and we’re still there as he’s having these persistent fevers with his ALL Leukemia. So, I ask you to all keep us in your prayers and please help us to please find a way to get us home. We just need it and we’re asking for your guy’s prayers. So, I thank you so much. And I will be keeping in touch and letting you know what’s going on. Alright, this is your sister Ashley from California. I love you all and so does Jesus. But most importantly, Jesus does too. Alright, bye.

Hello, my DAB family. It’s your sister Pamela in Evington, Alberta, Canada. I haven’t called in for such a long time. But I’ve been continuing to listen every single day since February 2010. A special shout out to Alessa from Albertville, Alabama. My sister, it was not me who called recently but it was your call that prompted me to make this one today. I love hearing from you. And I love hearing from all the family, far and wide, whether you are in pain or sorrow, or claiming victory and joy because of something God has done in your life. I weep or rejoice with you all. And now I have a co-laborer because the Lord saw that I needed a mate and I had been on my own long enough. He also say that about my Paul. So, God spoke to our friends about having us meet in 2019 and we became engaged a year later and we’re married in October of 2020. We are definitely enjoying the many blessings of a Godly marriage. And we are humbly thankful. We both listen to DAB so that we can talk about it and it has really deepened my experience in the word. I am also very grateful for that. Happy 6th day of Christmas everybody. Know that Paul and Pamela are listening from Evington and are praying along with you and for you. Much love and blessings for our next year in the Bible around the Global Campfire.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible Family. It is a Fire calling from a beautiful rainy day in Central Valley California. Daily Audio Bible Family, I absolutely love each one of you in this family for what you stand and what you represent in my life. And for the lives of everyone in this community. Today, at the very end of the year 2022, I know that many of us face so many challenges and ups and down. But no matter what, just like Brian say, you do not have to stay in anything all by yourself. We are a community of brothers and sisters and for all those who are gonna start in the New Year, with the journey of the Daily Audio Bible, if this is gonna be your first time, welcome to a wonderful Christ-based community. And to know that you are not alone in any of this doing it together. So, today, I want to say, thank You Christ for being with us and as we start a new year, may you walk with us, may You change us from the inside out. May we welcome those who are new and those who are seasoned, may we continue to be faithful in the walk of Christ. As we continue, any challenges that we should face, we shall face them together because we know we have the helper who’s the Holy Spirit, that we receive from Christ, Jesus. Each and every one of you Daily Audio Bible family. And for Brian and your family, thank you for being faithful to your calling. Bless you. Love you. Happy New Year. From Central Valley California, make it a great day.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday January 6, 2023 (NIV)

Genesis 13:5-15:21

Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together,(A) and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock.(B) (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)(C)

So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

10 Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain[a] of the Jordan(D) as far as Zoar(E) was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden(F) and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)(G) 11 So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. 13 (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely[b] against the Lord.)(H)

14 After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west,(I) 15 for I will give you and your offspring[c] forever all the land that you see.(J) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth,(K) so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”

18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron,(L) where he built an altar to the Lord.

Abram Rescues Lot

14 In those days King Amraphel of Shinar,(M) King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam,(N) and King Tidal of Goiim[d] waged war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, and King Shemeber of Zeboiim,(O) as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar(P)). All of these came as allies to the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea(Q)). They were subject to Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim(R) in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham,(S) the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites(T) in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran(U) by the wilderness. Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh(V)), and they defeated the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.(W)

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Siddim Valley against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Siddim Valley contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them,[e] but the rest fled to the mountains.(X) 11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom,(Y) and they went on.

13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew,(Z) who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled[f] his 318 trained men, born in his household,(AA) and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.(AB) 15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

Melchizedek’s Blessing

17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley(AC)). 18 Melchizedek, king of Salem,[g](AD) brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High.(AE) 19 He blessed him and said:

Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator[h] of heaven and earth,
20 and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(AF)

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”

The Abrahamic Covenant

15 After these events, the word of the Lord came(AG) to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid,(AH) Abram.
I am your shield;(AI)

your reward will be very great.

But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” [i] Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in[j] my house will be my heir.”

Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body[k] will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”(AJ)

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(AK)

He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”(AL)

But he said, “Lord God, how can I know(AM) that I will possess it?”

He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

10 So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds(AN) in half. 11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep(AO) came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.

13 Then the Lord said to Abram,(AP) “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens(AQ) for four hundred years(AR) in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed.[l] 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve,(AS) and afterward they will go out with many possessions.(AT) 15 But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.(AU) 16 In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”[m](AV)

17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring,(AW) from the Brook of Egypt(AX) to the great river, the Euphrates River: 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hethites, Perizzites, Rephaim, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Footnotes:

  1. 13:10 Lit circle; i.e., probably the large round plain where the Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea, also in v. 11
  2. 13:13 Lit evil and sinful
  3. 13:15 Lit seed
  4. 14:1 Or nations
  5. 14:10 Sam, LXX; MT reads fell there
  6. 14:14 Sam; MT reads poured out
  7. 14:18 = Jerusalem
  8. 14:19 Or Possessor
  9. 15:2 Hb obscure
  10. 15:3 Lit a son of
  11. 15:4 Lit loins
  12. 15:13 Lit will serve them and they will oppress them
  13. 15:16 Lit Amorites is not yet complete

Cross references:

  1. 13:6 : Gn 36:7
  2. 13:7 : Gn 26:20
  3. 13:7 : Gn 12:6; 15:20–21
  4. 13:10 : Gn 19:17–29
  5. 13:10 : Gn 14:2,8; Dt 34:3
  6. 13:10 : Gn 2:8–10
  7. 13:10 : Gn 19:24–25
  8. 13:13 : Gn 18:20; Ezk 16:49; 2Pt 2:7–8
  9. 13:14 : Gn 28:14
  10. 13:15 : Gn 12:7; 15:18; 17:8; 24:7; 26:4; 28:13; 35:12; Dt 34:4; 2Ch 20:7; Ac 7:5
  11. 13:16 : Gn 16:10; 28:14; Nm 23:10
  12. 13:18 : Gn 14:13; 18:1; 23:17–19
  13. 14:1 : Gn 10:10; 11:2
  14. 14:1 : Gn 10:22; Is 11:11; Dn 8:2
  15. 14:2 : Hs 11:8
  16. 14:2 : Gn 19:22–23
  17. 14:3 : Nm 34:12; Dt 3:17; Jos 3:16
  18. 14:5 : Gn 15:20; Dt 2:11,20–21; 3:11,13; Jos 12:4
  19. 14:5 : Dt 1:4; Jos 9:10
  20. 14:6 : Gn 36:20; Dt 2:12,22
  21. 14:6 : Gn 21:21; Nm 10:12
  22. 14:7 : Nm 13:26
  23. 14:7 : 2Ch 20:2
  24. 14:10 : Gn 19:17
  25. 14:12 : Gn 13:12
  26. 14:13 : Gn 39:14; 40:15
  27. 14:14 : Gn 12:5; 15:3; 17:27; Ec 2:7
  28. 14:14 : Dt 34:1; Jdg 18:29; 1Kg 15:20
  29. 14:17 : 2Sm 18:18
  30. 14:18 : Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; 7:1
  31. 14:18 : Ps 57:2
  32. 14:20 : Heb 7:4
  33. 15:1 : 1Sm 15:10; 2Sm 7:4; 1Kg 6:11; Is 38:4; Jr 1:2
  34. 15:1 : Gn 26:24; Is 41:10; Jr 30:10; Lk 1:13,30
  35. 15:1 : Dt 33:29; 2Sm 22:3,31; Ps 3:3; 7:10
  36. 15:5 : Gn 22:17; 26:4; Ex 32:13; Dt 1:10; 10:22; 1Ch 27:23; Rm 4:18; Heb 11:12
  37. 15:6 : Rm 4:3,9,22; Gl 3:6; Jms 2:23
  38. 15:7 : Gn 11:31; 12:1; Neh 9:7–8; Ac 7:2–4
  39. 15:8 : Jdg 6:17; 2Kg 20:8; Ps 86:17; Is 7:11–13; Lk 1:18
  40. 15:10 : Lv 1:17
  41. 15:12 : Gn 2:21
  42. 15:13–14 : Ac 7:6–7
  43. 15:13 : Ex 22:21; 23:9
  44. 15:13 : Ex 12:40; Gl 3:17
  45. 15:14 : Ex 6:6; 7:4; 12:12
  46. 15:14 : Ex 3:22
  47. 15:15 : Gn 25:8; 47:30
  48. 15:16 : Lv 18:24–28; Dn 8:23; Mt 23:32; 1Th 2:16
  49. 15:18 : Gn 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 24:7; 26:4; Nm 34:2; Dt 34:4; Jos 21:43; Neh 9:8; Ac 7:5
  50. 15:18 : Ex 23:31; Nm 34:1–15; Dt 1:7–8; 2Kg 24:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Matthew 5:27-48

Adultery Begins in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.[a](A) 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(B) 29 If your right eye causes you to sin,(C) gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.(D) 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce Practices Censured

31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces(E) his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.[b](F) 32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(G)

Tell the Truth

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors,You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.[c](H) 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.(I) 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.(J)

Go the Second Mile

38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.[d](K) 39 But I tell you, don’t resist[e] an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.(L) 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.(M)

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor[f](N) and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies[g] and pray for those who[h] persecute you,(O) 45 so that you may be[i] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(P) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?[j](Q) Don’t even the Gentiles[k] do the same? 48 Be perfect,(R) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes:

  1. 5:27 Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18
  2. 5:31 Dt 24:1
  3. 5:33 Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21
  4. 5:38 Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21
  5. 5:39 Or don’t set yourself against, or don’t retaliate against
  6. 5:43 Lv 19:18
  7. 5:44 Other mss add bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
  8. 5:44 Other mss add mistreat you and
  9. 5:45 Or may become, or may show yourselves to be
  10. 5:47 Or doing that is superior; lit doing more
  11. 5:47 Other mss read tax collectors
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 6

Psalm 6

A Prayer for Mercy

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.(A) A psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not discipline me in your wrath.(B)
Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak;[a](C)
heal me,(D) Lord, for my bones are shaking;(E)
my whole being is shaken with terror.(F)
And you, Lord—how long?(G)

Turn, Lord! Rescue me;
save me because of your faithful love.(H)
For there is no remembrance of you in death;
who can thank you in Sheol?(I)

I am weary from my groaning;(J)
with my tears I dampen my bed
and drench my couch every night.(K)
My eyes are swollen from grief;(L)
they grow old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.(M)
The Lord has heard my plea for help;(N)
the Lord accepts my prayer.(O)
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back(P) and suddenly be disgraced.(Q)

Footnotes:

  1. 6:2 Or sick
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 1:29-33

29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,(A)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,(B)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way(C)
and be glutted with their own schemes.(D)
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,(E)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”(F)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

01/05/2023 DAB Transcript

Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalms 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Today is the 5th day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is fantastic to be here with you as we gather around the Global Campfire for day five, our fifth step together in a row. And in our first four days we have covered some significant territory in the Bible. And, so, we see just how remarkably poignant it can be, but we are also finally…we’re finally kinda moved in. We’ve got…we’ve got a rhythm established now and we’ve flown over all the different books that we are engaging with right now. And, so, we get to settle in and take the next step forward, which will obviously lead us back into the book of Genesis. Today, Genesis chapter 11 verse 1 through 13 verse 4.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we covered some pretty significant territory in the Bible today, any of which we could camp out and talk about for an hour, but let’s just kind of recap where we are in these stories. It’s important to understand that it’s unfolding before us. So, in Genesis today we had the story. It’s a famous story, the story of the Tower of Babel. And what we began to see is that the world got broken. We saw that happen. We watched things spin out of control all the way to the point where there’s a flood upon the earth. A reset. We begin to watch this redemptive thread be sewn into the story of God putting back together what has been broken, but then we also get a glimpse of people deciding to take the knowledge of good and evil and be their own God and try to put things back together without God, which is not something that God stands for for very long because it’s not going to work. And again all we gotta do is take a few steps back, make a circle, just kind of do some inventory in the world that we live in right now. We can say it’s an amazing place. We have so many conveniences, the technology is like science fiction to the people who lived a century ago. It’s an amazing place, but it is still very very broken. And, so, we continue to try to build ourselves into our own God and God keeps trying to put the world back together. And the way that these things are trying…are attempting to be accomplished are very different. We as people, we build these great monuments to ourselves. We build all the sufficiency. We build a world externally when God wants to put the world back together by putting people back together. And, so, we saw all the confusion of languages as people spread out throughout the world. And then we met somebody. We started moving through some genealogies and we can be like, not that again. But those genealogies were leading to a name, Abram. And we will get to know Abram a lot better tomorrow but a lot better in the days to come because this is the beginning of the story of the Hebrew people. So much of the rest of the story of the Bible finds its origin story in this guy, Abram and his wife Sarai. But more about that tomorrow.

We then turned into Matthew’s gospel and Jesus began to teach one of the central foundational pivotal irreplaceable teachings of Jesus, known as the sermon on the Mount, which serves so eloquently to illustrate what we were just talking about. Jesus begins telling them the world is upside down and backwards. The things that you are putting your hope in are not going to get you where you’re going, but when you realize that you have reached the end of yourself and your knowledge of good and evil and realize that you are utterly and completely dependent upon God then you begin to realize that you have what you need and you always will. Much like the people at the Tower of Babel, we’re not going to be able to build something enough to fill the void within our hearts and make us content. Like our entire culture is predicated upon creating the feeling of lack so that it’s just more more more more more. That all of the financial resources that we throw at things to make us happy, it ultimately cannot work. We are utterly dependent upon God, and we will see throughout the rest of the stories of the Bible that this theme, this is…that the stories bring us back to this theme over and over again. So, beginning to realize that, beginning to examine our lives in the way that we conduct ourselves and are living so much of our lives from the outside in, as opposed to from the inside out. We begin to realize all the things that we’re trying to accomplish, all the things we’re trying to do on our own or all the things that we’re trying to do on our own on behalf of God when what He seems to want is for us to realize that we’re not going to pretty up enough to be righteous before Him. He wants to be involved in our restoration and our transformation and that begins when we open our hands and our hearts and say come Holy Spirit, nothing is off limits to you.

Prayer:

Lord that is our prayer today. Nothing is off limits to You. Our hearts, we may have sections of them that are even guarded toward You, we invite You into those places. Those are the tender places in our lives, the places that we’re still confused about, the places that we still have a lot of questions about, and we hold You suspect. And, so, we keep ourselves from realizing that You have always been with us, and we have resisted in so many ways. We are coming to the knowledge that there is no hope outside of You. You are the source of all things. And, so, we humble ourselves before You and invite You to take leadership in our lives. Guide and direct us in the ways that we should go. Put us back together. Restore us. Transform us, we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base and that is where you can find out what’s happening around here. And the Daily Audio Bible app puts that right in your…right in the palm of your hand or on your tablet or whatever device that you use. And you can find the app in whatever app store works with your device. So, check that out.

Definitely check out the different sections, like the Community section. This is where links are to get connected on social media channels that we are participating in. It’s also the home of the Prayer Wall, which is one of the vital pieces of the community, a resource that never…never turns off. It’s always there. We can always go and share our story and ask our brothers and sisters to pray for us. We can always go there and offer prayer and encouragement for our brothers and sisters. So, be familiar with that in the Community section.

And if you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if the mission that we share around the Global Campfire to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and offered freely to whoever may listen wherever they may be whatever time it may be whatever continent it may be, and to build community around the rhythm what we lovingly know as the Global Campfire, if that is meaningful to you and has brought life to you then thank you humbly for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app. That’s the little red button up at the top or there are a number of numbers that you can call if you like to dial the phone. If you are in the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number to call. If you are in the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078 is the number to dial. And if you are in Australia or that part of the world 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hey God’s Life Speaker. Girl, thank you for that word. Guys this is Manita from Lambar. I am so emotional right now. I get like this during the New Year’s Eve. I just get very very very sentimental and I just…I just want to tell you how much I love you guys. Happy new year to you guys. You are amazing. You are…you’re amazing. My celebration…my sharing Brian’s podcast…podcast, you know that may the light of God shine upon you and all that. It was just so beautiful. I’m sorry I can’t remember everything, but I heard it and it just blessed me and I just get so emotional to listen to this beautiful movement of God. I love you guys and I pray that God anointing be upon you and give you a great new year. God bless you. Thank you so much for taking the time to…to bless others to bless this Daily Audio Bible community. Oh my gosh you guys, you guys are amazing. You ladies are amazing. I love you. You take care and happy new year to you. Thank you for taking your time and…and sharing that beautiful word. Thank you I love you God bless you. Happy new year baby. Take care. Bye bye.

Hi this is Verna from Gainesville FL again continuing my call in for James the Teacher from LA. I was talking about my daily To Do List that I make the day previous so that I don’t miss anything when I come in in the morning. I also highlight with yellow highlighter all the times whether it's…you know…on my To Do List I’ve got times for the meetings in the day and times for appointments because I have various appointments unrelated to work and highlighting helps a lot. And I…I think I during the day of things I need to remember to do when I get home and things I need to bring to work the next day. I take a sticky note. I wrote…I write all those things down and I stick that onto my phone case before I leave. That really helps me. Let’s pray. Lord, I pray that you’d help James to find the system that will work for him to stay abreast of each day’s challenges and be able to honor his ex-wife and his daughters by prioritizing their needs. I pray that his ex would observe a new level of responsibility and capability in James over the next month and that you would soften her heart and…and melt the bitterness that she holds. And I pray that a spark of desire reconciliation would be ignited and become a flame to reunite with her the good man she married in Jesus…

Hey, DAB fam it’s KB from Miami I’m calling because I need prayer in this season of my life. I need you guys to help pray for me as life has gotten harder the closer I’ve gotten to Christ. This year will be the first year that I’ve completely finished the Bible and learning all these stories in the Bible and all these ways in the Bible and the way that we’re supposed to be with each other. I just want prayers from you guys to keep my faith strong, keep my faith strong and help me resist the enemy and recognize my enemies because I have a loving heart. I always try to help, you know, even when I shouldn’t, and it’s lead me to places where I could have definitely made a better decision. In this past year I fell in love with someone that had a rough bringing up. They weren’t really loved the way that they should have been by family. They were always tossed from home to home. Mother didn’t care for them, made them drop out of school in middle school and never cared about their education. And their perception of love and how to care for people is all messed up. And I pray that you guys pray for me and pray for my significant other who’s struggling with emotions and struggling with mental illness. And I pray that you guys prayers help because truly I tell you it's…it’s hard to watch someone you love to destroy themself.

Hey DAB family it’s Sparky. This as many of you know, this is my favorite time of the year. I think I like it better than Christmas when we get all the way through the Bible. I think reflecting how many times through these years we’ve gone through it’s like I have a photographic memory of people I’ve prayed for who’ve prayed for me or they rung through wherever I was at. I can remember when I first got started in this app I had to remove myself from the job and go out to the restroom because I had tears in my eyes. And I realized how powerful this app was when I was going through, and I looked back at this year. We've…my family…we’ve gone through so much this year from…from being an electrician, being…just living in New Mexico, which, you know, is a long way. But I stayed in that hotel room listening to this. And my kids, the ball being dropped on me, their move to Portland and then me quitting my job and us nearly going broke and then me getting another job and it pays better and then the house floods and the car breaks down and you’re wondering why you’re getting paid better but you still got thousands of stuff coming at you and then Christmas comes and your kids can’t get home, flying home. But there’s been one constant, it’s a rhythm as Brian says of getting on here and focusing on God. And my life has changed from it. From surgeries to…I mean just everything that happens in my daily life doesn’t matter as long as I center on God and y'all.

Well good morning Daily Audio Bible family it’s big Mike here from sleepy little OBCA, Ocean Beach CA, here in San Diego CA United States. It’s 8:32 AM December 31st, 2022 and I just finished listening to Brian read the last portion of our holy Bible for the year and I’m feeling very grateful, happy and joyous to have been part of this with you all the last 365 days. This was the first year that I’ve ever gone completely through the Bible with you all and I don’t call in much. Actually, the only time I called in before was for the Christmas party. But I do look forward to another year with you all, another year of growing, another year of challenges, and another year of being close with our heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all in 2023. See you on the journey.

This is Tilly from Florida on December 31st and I wanted to thank Brian and Jill, China and people who prayed for me throughout the year, those that have prayed. One of the highlights, I think it was Kate who prayed for my AFIB. And I do have a lot better control over that right now with some treatments that I’m on and lifestyle changes. So, it’s a wonderful thing and I want to thank all the people on the DAB for all the prayers and consistency that call in and all that. And perhaps next year I’ll do some of that myself. Maybe…maybe I’ll call in more often to pray for other people. I ask that everybody consider supporting the DAB, you know, with your finances. That's…that’s a very important to me. So, God bless you all. Let’s have a good year. Let’s do this again. Again, for me this is…I’ve kind of lost count, I can’t remember what year I started but it’s probably 16…16 years, I think. I think I started the second year. So, I’m gonna do it again. God bless you all. Lord Jesus, we lift up this prayer to you for the DAB and the Chronological and the Kids and the Proverbs and the Psalms that the Hardin family so diligently pours into us. And maybe we pour into them with our prayers and finances this next year in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday January 5, 2023 (NIV)

Genesis 11:1-13:4

The Tower of Babylon

11 The whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. As people migrated from the east,[a] they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.(A) They said to each other, “Come, let’s make oven-fired bricks.” (They used brick for stone and asphalt(B) for mortar.) And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky.(C) Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.”

Then the Lord came down(D) to look over the city and the tower that the humans[b] were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So from there the Lord scattered them throughout the earth,(E) and they stopped building the city. Therefore it is called Babylon,[c][d](F) for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them throughout the earth.

From Shem to Abram

10 These are the family records(G) of Shem. Shem lived 100 years and fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11 After he fathered Arpachshad, Shem lived 500 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 12 Arpachshad lived 35 years[e] and fathered Shelah. 13 After he fathered Shelah, Arpachshad lived 403 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 14 Shelah lived 30 years and fathered Eber. 15 After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 16 Eber lived 34 years and fathered Peleg. 17 After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 18 Peleg lived 30 years and fathered Reu. 19 After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 20 Reu lived 32 years and fathered Serug. 21 After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 22 Serug lived 30 years and fathered Nahor. 23 After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 24 Nahor lived 29 years and fathered Terah.(H) 25 After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime. 29 Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai,(I) and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah.(J) She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Sarai was unable to conceive;(K) she did not have a child.

31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans(L) to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.

The Call of Abram

12 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.(M)
I will make you into a great nation,(N)
I will bless you,(O)
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.(P)
I will bless those who bless you,
I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,(Q)
and all the peoples on earth
will be blessed[f] through you.[g](R)

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.(S) He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem,(T) at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring[h](U) I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord.(V) Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.

Abram in Egypt

10 There was a famine in the land,(W) so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live.(X) 13 Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s household. 16 He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

17 But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife, Sarai.(Y) 18 So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.

Abram and Lot Separate

13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev(Z)—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of the Lord there.(AA)

Footnotes:

  1. 11:2 Or migrated eastward
  2. 11:5 Or the descendants of Adam
  3. 11:9 Hb Babel
  4. 11:9 In Hb, the name for “Babylon,” babel sounds like the word for “confuse,” balal.
  5. 11:12–13 LXX reads years and fathered Cainan. 13 After he fathered Cainan, Arpachshad lived 430 years and fathered other sons and daughters, and he died. Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and fathered other sons and daughters, and he died; Gn 10:24; Lk 3:35–36
  6. 12:3 Or will find blessing
  7. 12:3 Or will bless themselves by you
  8. 12:7 Lit seed
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Matthew 5:1-26

The Sermon on the Mount

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain,(A) and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then[a] he began to teach them, saying:(B)

The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,(C)
for the kingdom of heaven(D) is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,(E)
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,(F)
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,(G)
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.(H)
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.(I)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven(K) is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted(L) the prophets who were before you.(M)

Believers Are Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?[b] It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.(N)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.(O) 15 No one lights a lamp(P) and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.(Q) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.(R)

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.(S) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[c] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.(T) 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,[d](U) and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.(V) 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister[e] will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults[f] his brother or sister will be subject to the court.[g] Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.[h](W) 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to[i] the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.(X) 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.[j]

Footnotes:

  1. 5:2 Lit Then opening his mouth
  2. 5:13 Or how can the earth be salted?
  3. 5:18 Or not one iota; iota is the smallest letter of the Gk alphabet.
  4. 5:21 Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17
  5. 5:22 Other mss add without a cause
  6. 5:22 Lit Whoever says ‘Raca’; an Aramaic term of abuse that puts someone down, insulting one’s intelligence
  7. 5:22 Lit Sanhedrin
  8. 5:22 Lit the gehenna of fire
  9. 5:25 Other mss read judge will hand you over to
  10. 5:26 Lit quadrans, the smallest and least valuable Roman coin, worth 1/64 of a daily wage
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 5

Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A psalm of David.

Listen to my words, Lord;
consider my sighing.(A)
Pay attention to the sound of my cry,(B)
my King and my God,(C)
for I pray to you.

In the morning,(D) Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you(E) and watch expectantly.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with you.(F)
The boastful cannot stand in your sight;(G)
you hate all evildoers.(H)
You destroy those who tell lies;(I)
the Lord abhors violent and treacherous people.(J)

But I enter your house
by the abundance of your faithful love;(K)
I bow down toward your holy temple
in reverential awe of you.(L)
Lord, lead me in your righteousness(M)
because of my adversaries;
make your way straight before me.(N)

For there is nothing reliable in what they say;(O)
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.(P)
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.(Q)
Drive them out(R) because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against you.(S)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;(T)
let them shout for joy forever.
May you shelter them,(U)
and may those who love your name boast about you.(V)
12 For you, Lord, bless the righteous one;
you surround him with favor like a shield.(W)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 1:24-28

24 Since I called out and you refused,(A)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,(B)
25 since you neglected all my counsel(C)
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.(D)
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.(E)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

1/4/2023 DAB Transcript

Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23

Today, is the fourth day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is wonderful to gather around the Global Campfire together, today. There’s room for everybody. Let’s just kind of cozy up, settle-in and take the next step forward. Our fourth step together, which will allow us to talk about the book of Proverbs, when we get there today. And then we’ll kind of be moved into what we are reading right now. So, let's…let’s dive into the book of Genesis. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week, and today, Genesis chapters 8, 9 and 10.

Introduction to the Book of Proverbs:

Okay, this brings us to the book of Proverbs. And this will be the last time until we reach another book that we’ll kind of dive in and talk. We normally just kind of take the next step forward and reflect back at the end. But we began four books on the same day, January 1st, just a few days ago. And so, we’re just moving in and so we’ve come to Proverbs. And we’ve spent some time in Proverbs over the last couple of days and we’re probably familiar with Proverbs as a book, and Proverbs as pieces of wisdom, which is largely what Proverbs contains, practical wisdom that has stood the test of time and lasted for thousands of years. The book of Proverbs, contained in the Old Testament of the Bible, is a part of a grouping of books in the Old Testament known as wisdom literature. So, like other books in the wisdom literature genre would be like Ecclesiastes, the book of Job, part of the book of Psalms. They’re called wisdom literature because they’re intended to speak a direct lesson, rather than a like a narrative story or allegory. So, like if we’re reading narrative, we’re listening to the story and gleaning meaning from what happens in the story. If we’re reading allegory than we’re looking for the symbolism that’s going on and how things are connected and sort of what's…what’s underneath the surface. Proverbs is speaking directly what has proven to be true, what wisdom has stood the test of time. And so, it speaks directly what it’s trying to teach, for the most part. As far as who wrote these Proverbs, most are attributed to the wise man known as Solomon, who soon enough, we will learn is the son of King David, who…who ascended to the throne after his father. He was the king of Israel. Although, there are other voices in the book of Proverbs. It seems like something like Proverbs, things that would’ve been passed around like through oral tradition, like we do today. Like, if we have a saying that brings wisdom and it’s like a proverb then we say it. I mean, we probably can remember Proverbs being recited to us all the way from children. Like, I don’t know, haste makes waste. It’s a proverb, that’s not in the Bible, but it’s a piece of wisdom that gets handed down through time and so, it’s likely that these Proverbs came over time. Many scholars believe that they may not have been put all into a collection until around the time of King Hezekiah, who we will meet later in the year. Most scholars think that some of these Proverbs certainly didn’t originate with Solomon, they predated Solomon, were passed down and collected by Solomon. But Proverbs is a book contained within the book of the Bible. And so, it’s wisdom as it relates to God, is obviously primary and center. And I’m just telling you now, there are…there are times where there’s one sentence that we read in the book of Proverbs, and it is saying pages of things into our lives. Proverbs, the Proverbs are not to be ignored. They are us. They are a rescue and immersing ourselves in the wisdom of the ages. Like, how much harm are we talking about? How much harm can we do by pouring unfiltered wisdom into our hearts every day. We’re only gonna do ourselves good by getting that inside of us, so that when we face situations, we can recall that the voice of wisdom is available and speaks to this. In fact, the book of Proverbs itself tells us whatever you do, get wisdom, because wisdom is more valuable than anything else. And so, I’ll just mention right here, there is a sister program to the Daily Audio Bible that you’re listening to right now, called the Daily Audio Proverb. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs and Daily Audio Bible, Proverbs, the Daily Audio Proverb, goes through the book of Proverbs in its entirety, each month. So, that’s like less than five minutes a day. It’s like a vitamin before bed or something, we’re moving through the entire Bible here together as a community, but having that little vitamin, having that little five minutes to pour wisdom into our lives, is a valuable resource to have, and so, be aware of that. But we will be going through the entire book of Proverbs through the Daily Audio Bible this year. So, will be plenty of things to talk about along the way. So, that’s Proverbs. Let’s read from the book of Proverbs now, for our reading today, Proverbs chapter 1 verses 20 through 23.

Commentary:

Okay so, we we’re just talking about Proverbs, then we read through Proverbs but now let’s just take some practical wisdom that applies to our lives, spoken in the book of Psalms today and allow it to wash into our lives. We were told, don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. If we obeyed that piece of wisdom, advice given to us from the Scriptures, right here, right now in our everyday lives, how would that change things? Because what we’re ultimately being told is, don’t react. Imagine if, brothers and sisters all over the world just took this simple advice from the Bible and were able to observe themselves being captured and controlled by anger and then reacting in a way that they wouldn’t normally react or saying things that they wouldn’t normally say and that cannot be taken back. They’ve been given birth through our mouth into the world and there out there doing their business and it’s not good. What if we took the advice and realized, anger is arising me and what I want to do is lash out, but instead I’m not going to be slave to this. I am not going to be controlled by this. I’m gonna take a deep breath. I’m gonna go for a walk, I’m gonna take 10, I’m gonna catch my breath. I’m gonna get some perspective, I’m going to calm down and invite God and the wisdom of the spirit into my life, as I move forward. That’s a game changer. Like, it actually, like that being a game changer is a great euphemism, but it’s that…that was an understatement. This is a life changing piece of advice, like it will change our whole year, if we can catch ourselves when we’re getting mad, before we do something that’s more harmful. So, let’s just take that very simple thing, something we already know, but something that we really have to be intentional about, if we’re going to live it, and place that in our lives today and practice. Practice this today, not reacting when anger is emerging but rather think about it. Take some time. Be silent. Get perspective.

Prayer:

And so, Father, we invite You into that. We all can relate to that. And so, we thank You for that. We all understand what’s being said here, we all understand the path forward and we need your Holy Spirit because we live reacting to things an awful lot. And as we begin to pay attention to how much that is pulling our lives in all kinds of directions because we’re just reacting to things, like…like life is just coming at us, instead of the fact that we are living this life. It’s not happening to us. We are happening to it. And we have Your spirits guidance in our lives to show us the way that we should go. So, come, Holy Spirit, help us pay attention today, we ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base and that is the website, that is where you find out what’s going on around here. The Daily Audio Bible app is available to put all that in the palm of your hand. You can find that at the App Store that works with your device, just look for Daily Audio Bible. And a lot of benefits with the app, you can keep track of…of the days, check off the days as we move to the different sections of the Bible, as we cross them, we get these badges that tell us we’ve completed a certain portion of the Bible. There’s a lot of features there so, check that out.

And while you’re checking out, check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. Whether on the web or in the app, there are resources there for the journey that we are on, made for the journey, made for the rhythm of life, centered around being in the Scriptures every day, so check it out. A lot of different resources there, check out the Wind Farm coffee. We have well, coffee is a friend of mine. I love coffee pretty well and there’s pretty much not a day that I don’t have a steaming cup of Wind Farm coffee to my left. I drink tea, usually at night though, if I’m gonna drink tea, the Wind Farm Tea. But we have Wind Farm coffee and tea, and this just goes back, way, way, way back to the earlier years of the Daily Audio Bible. And I just realized this part of part of my rhythm but this is kind of the rhythm of most people, not everybody but a lot of people go through a drive through every day, get a couple coffee or tea or whatever, make it at home or whatever, it’s part of a life ritual, but it also works so well that I have that morning cup of coffee as we center ourselves in the Scriptures, or that steamy aroma of a nice cup of hot tea. And so, over time, all these years ago, we developed our own brand, Wind Farm. Which really comes from the book of Ezekiel and the 37th chapter, the valley of the dry bones. Where the prophet is invited to call from the four winds, the breath of life. And in so many ways, as we come around the Global Campfire, we are centering ourselves in the Scriptures and being transformed by them and we go back into our day. We all have this opportunity to bring life, to call forth life, to be the light in the darkness. And in some ways that makes us a Wind Farm, where we are continually praying for one another, where we are continually being challenged in our lives to look more and more like Jesus. And so, we called it Wind Farm. And we roast it fresh at altitude in the Rocky Mountains and send it to you fresh so that it lands, fresh, way fresher than anything nearby in a grocery store, where there are long distribution channels. This just comes right to you, and you can have it sent every month to you. And there are many different varieties that we have. Like if you’re getting it every month, you’ll get something new every month. You can look at them all and see what might tickle your fancy. So, check that out in the Daily Audio Bible Shop.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. First of all, thank you, humbly. We wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t in this together, and so thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, that’s little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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

Prayer and Encouragements:

This is Marissa from southern Ohio just calling for Jonathan, I think, from Denver said he was struggling not feeling…not really feeling like he’s being made new and everything. I just wanted to tell you I heard a really great analogy. If, let’s just say there’s an off-duty police officer and he goes into a gas station and there’s a robbery occurring. Does the robbery stop just because the police officer is there. No. The police officer has to exercise the authority he’s been given and do something. And I just wanted to encourage you. Christ has given us authority to trample on the works of the enemy. So, use the authority you have. Don’t allow the enemy to make you feel these ways. Don’t believe and go along with the lies of the enemy. You can just say in the name of Jesus I renounce the enemy that’s, you know, making me believe whatever it is. I no longer agree with or will continue to behave in ways if these things are true. I’ve really found that to be helpful in just taking back…you know…I mean we have the authority. Christ gave it to us to be able to rebuke the enemy. And so, just really exercising that authority. I think it’s great that you called in for prayer because I think that other people praying for you helps you…it’s like emboldens your Spirit. It gives it gives you that in our motivation. So, anyways hope that makes sense. I’ve prayed for you, and I will again as soon as I hang up. So anyway. Blessings. See ya.

Hey, my Daily Audio Bible family this is Mary from Virginia and I just wanted to call and just remind you all to share the Daily Audio Bible with family, friends, those you know that may just benefit from this…this app. I’ve shared it with my family and I’m just praying that…that they will take the time to download the app and listen to it. I’ve been listening for a few years now, since 2020, and it’s had a really positive impact on my life. And, so, just praying that my family…I’ve been sharing it with them for a few years now. So, hopefully just one of them will listen to it. But just remember, especially starting the new year to just share it with…with…yeah with everybody that you can, family, friends, coworkers whoever you can that you think will, you know, just benefit from it. Alright. With that, happy new year. Bye.

Good evening, DABers this is Donna from Pennsylvania. I’m calling to thank Brian for the wonderful sleep album. I’ve been listening every night. It’s just beautiful and helps me. I’ve had sleep issues for years and it helps me go right __ when my head hits the pillow. And thank you Diane Olive Braun for the beautiful analogy of the sensitive massage horse. And isn’t that just how we are supposed to be, sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit just as the horse responds to the lightest touch of the hand communicated from the reign to the mouth and to thighs knees and heel. And also, to Marilyn who was riding motorcycles with her husband and would be separated by cars getting between them so she couldn’t see him and would become anxious and isn’t that what Jesus does just as your husband does. He waits for us and he will turn around and seek us. What…how blessed we are. And I’ve got a story of my own. When I was praying, I noticed that the twinkling Christmas lights were on my window some of them were off but some of them were brighter than ever and that was because it was morning, and the sun was shining by lighting them up so much brighter than they ever could sign on their own battery power. And isn’t that just what the Holy Spirit does with us. He works and shines through us so that we can light up way brighter than ever we could under our own power. So, blessings to you all. Happy new year. Love you. Donna from Pennsylvania.

Good morning DAB family this is burning Bush that will not be devoured for the glory of our God and king. Today I listened to the DAB. Just before the years end, I heard a lady call in for her son Darian I think, Dorian, who got into drugs and then got arrested for that. My sister, I want you to know that my heart goes out to you and I’m praying for your child. I’m praying that God will protect him in the name of Jesus and heal him, deliver him from addictions. I pray for all parents right now that are dealing with kids who are struggling with addictions or behavioral problems. Father God, I pray that You give us the strength O Lord to parent like You parent us Father to love O God to not give up on our kids but Father God to be strong Father. Help us O Lord. Give us wisdom as we move forward. I pray for these kids as they are moving forward under foreign management. Father, I pray that in the name of Jesus You will deliver them by the name of Jesus, Father God. Protect them Father while they’re away, while they’re prodigal. God give them grace. I prefer deliverance in the year of 2023 in the name of Jesus. And until then Father, give the parents wisdom O Lord to trust You Father. These are Your children first and foremost. We didn’t cause anything to happen, we can’t change, we can’t control, but we…we trust You Father. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Hi Daily Audio Bible this is Riptide currently in Ohio. I just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year and although it’s cloudy outside, God we know that above the clouds the sun is always shining God. So, we just thank You. I just ask for wisdom and mercy to be over us in the new year, that we would seek You in all of our ways. You know how they say Matthew 33. Seek the Lord in all Your heart in all these things. That means all. Underline. All these things will be given unto You. And that saying that people say at Christmas time a lot, that wise men still seek him. So, we thank You God. We are wise. We are wise sons and daughters and under Your name God the living God we plead Your blood over our family God and our nation. We thank You in Yeshua’s name Amen. Blessings. Happy new year.

Hello DABes, this is Tom from West/Central Indiana. I have been a listener since August of 2006 and have never called in. I have a prayer request on the Prayer Wall before, but never called in. I have friend of mine whose wife has been diagnosed with lymphoma and I was hoping I could get the prayers of the thousands of DABers out there. Her name is Anna. She is also a friend of my wife. She’s an amazing woman, a good Christian and I just pray Lord, you will give the doctors the wisdom to have a cure for her disease.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday January 4, 2023 (NIV)

Genesis 8-10

The Flood Recedes

God remembered Noah,(A) as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth,(B) and the water began to subside. The sources of the watery depths and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky stopped.(C) The water steadily receded from the earth, and by the end of 150 days the water had decreased significantly.(D) The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.(E)

The water continued to recede until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible. After forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth’s surface had gone down, but the dove found no resting place for its foot. It returned to him in the ark because water covered the surface of the whole earth. He reached out and brought it into the ark to himself. 10 So Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove from the ark again. 11 When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth’s surface had gone down. 12 After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but it did not return to him again. 13 In the six hundred first year,[a] in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry.

The Lord’s Promise

15 Then God spoke to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the earth—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”(F) 18 So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out. 19 All the animals, all the creatures that crawl, and all the flying creatures—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark by their families.

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma,(G) he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground(H) because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward.(I) And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.(J)

22 As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, and day and night
will not cease.”(K)

God’s Covenant with Noah

God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.(L) The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you;(M) as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything.(N) However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it.(O) And I will require a penalty for your lifeblood;[b] I will require it from any animal(P) and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life.(Q)

Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans his blood will be shed,(R)
for God made humans in his image.(S)

But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.”(T)

Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, “Understand that I am establishing my covenant(U) with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”(V)

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant(W) I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds,(X) and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant(Y) between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. 16 The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant(Z) between God and all the living creatures on earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”

Prophecies about Noah’s Family

18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.(AA)

20 Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting[c] a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.(AB) 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.

24 When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said:

Canaan is cursed.(AC)
He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.(AD)

26 He also said:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
Let Canaan be[d] Shem’s slave.
27 Let God extend Japheth;[e]
let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem;
let Canaan be Shem’s slave.

28 Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29 So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.

The Table of Nations

10 These are the family records(AE) of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the flood.

Japheth’s sons:(AF) Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. And Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish,(AG) Kittim, and Dodanim.[f] From these descendants, the peoples of the coasts and islands spread out into their lands according to their clans in their nations, each with its own language.

Ham’s sons:(AH) Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.

Cush fathered Nimrod, who began to be powerful in the land. He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the Lord. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the Lord.” 10 His kingdom started with Babylon,(AI) Erech,[g] Accad,[h] and Calneh,[i] in the land of Shinar.[j](AJ) 11 From that land he went to Assyria(AK) and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12 and Resen, between Nineveh and the great city Calah.

13 Mizraim[k](AL) fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 14 Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor.(AM)

15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, 16 as well as the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,(AN) 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the Canaanite clans scattered. 19 The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.

20 These are Ham’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

21 And Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had sons. Shem was the father of all the sons of Eber.(AO) 22 Shem’s sons(AP) were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

23 Aram’s sons: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

24 Arpachshad fathered[l] Shelah,(AQ) and Shelah fathered Eber. 25 Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg,[m] for during his days the earth was divided;(AR) his brother was named Joktan. 26 And Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons. 30 Their settlements extended from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern hill country.

31 These are Shem’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.(AS)

Footnotes:

  1. 8:13 = of Noah’s life
  2. 9:5 Lit And your blood belonging to your life I will seek
  3. 9:20 Or Noah began to be a farmer and planted
  4. 9:26 As a wish or prayer; others interpret the verbs in vv. 26–27 as prophecy: Canaan will be...
  5. 9:27 In Hb, the name Japheth sounds like the word “extend.”
  6. 10:4 Some Hb mss, LXX read Rodanim; 1Ch 1:7
  7. 10:10 Or Uruk
  8. 10:10 Or Akkad
  9. 10:10 Or and all of them
  10. 10:10 Or in Babylonia
  11. 10:13 = Egypt
  12. 10:24 LXX reads fathered Cainan, and Cainan fathered; Gn 11:12–13; Lk 3:35–36
  13. 10:25 = Division
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Matthew 4:12-25

Ministry in Galilee

12 When he heard that John had been arrested,(A) he withdrew into Galilee.(B) 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum(C) by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.[a][b] (D)

17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven(E) has come near.”

The First Disciples

18 As(F) he was walking along the Sea of Galilee,(G) he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for[c] people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee,(H) teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every[d] disease and sickness[e] among the people.(I) 24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria.(J) So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics.(K) And he healed them. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.(L)

Footnotes:

  1. 4:16 Lit dawned on them
  2. 4:15–16 Is 9:1–2
  3. 4:19 Or you fishers of
  4. 4:23 Or every kind of
  5. 4:23 Or physical ailment
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 4

Psalm 4

A Night Prayer

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.(A) A psalm of David.

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.[a](B)
You freed me from affliction;(C)
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted ones,[b] will my honor be insulted?(D)
How long will you love what is worthless(E)
and pursue a lie? Selah
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to him.
Be angry[c] and do not sin;(F)
reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.(G) Selah
Offer sacrifices in righteousness[d](H)
and trust in the Lord.(I)

Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.(J)

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.(K)
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,(L)
for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.(M)

Footnotes:

  1. 4:1 Or God of my righteousness
  2. 4:2 Lit long, sons of a man
  3. 4:4 Or Tremble
  4. 4:5 Or Offer right sacrifices
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 1:20-23

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares.(A)
21 She cries out above[a] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(B) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(C)
23 If you respond to my warning,[b](D)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(E)
and teach you my words.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:21 Lit at the head of
  2. 1:23 Lit you turn back to my reprimand
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

01/03/2023 DAB Transcript

Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalms 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Today is the 3rd day of January welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian, and it is wonderful to be here with you on day three of our adventure through the Scriptures together this year. We’re just getting going. We’re Just getting moved into this year and moved into the Scriptures for a rhythm that will be a daily rhythm around the Global Campfire together, taking one step forward every day leading us through the whole Bible and the whole year. And, so, as we’ve been spending this week, I’m moving in we’ve talked about Genesis. Yesterday we talked about Matthew, and we’ll talk about the Psalms when we get there today. But before we get there, Genesis chapters 5 through 7 today.

Introduction to Psalms:

Okay. So, this brings us to our portion of the Psalms that we read each day, and this is our move-in week so let’s just kind of fly over the Psalms and try to get a little bit of orientation to what we’re reading when we read from the Psalms. Psalms is…is actually five books contained in one volume contained within the Bible and we’ll notice that as we’re moving through the Psalms, because when we come to the next book it will be announced. Like we’ll start book one, which we already have and then when book two comes it will let us know we’re going inro book two. And these books are kind of organized by author or theme or the purpose of the poem or the song. And dating back into deep antiquity, the Psalms have been considered priceless. A collection of 150 of the most beautiful songs and hymns and congregational singing’s and individual songs and poems of worship that have ever been…that have ever been on earth. The staying power of the Psalms and the usage of the Psalms and the way that we turn to the Psalms for comfort and clarity and direction is really unsurpassed in any other work. In many ways this is sort of like the written version of the soundtrack to the culture of the people. These songs were used and continue to be used for century after century after century. And there are different kinds of Psalms. We’ll find very, very personal cries of the heart. We’ll also find groupings of Psalms, like for example the Psalms of Ascent. So, these songs were sung as people were on pilgrimage, on their way up to the holy city of Jerusalem. So, in so many ways this is the backdrop, the soundtrack like I said to the culture of the Bible. And one of the primary voices in the Psalms will be that of the second king of Israel. And at this point, like if you’ve been through the Bible plenty of times then you kind of know where this is going but if this is your first round and you’re like the second king of Israel…hmm. Like how does that work? Because like where we are on day three, there is…there is no Israel, there are no children of Israel, and so there is no king of Israel. We’ll get to that soon enough. The whole story will unfold before us. But the second king of Israel was named King David. Super famous person that we’re going to get to know really well. Actually, the Bible has a lot of material. So, we really, really do get to immerse ourselves in King David’s story and that will happen when we get to first and second Samuel and then in first Chronicles. And, so, we’ll get this sketch of the life and times of King David and his character, but it’s actually the fact that he was a creative, that he was a musician, that he wrote a lot of music to pour out the emotions that he was feeling in his life as creative people are prone to do. David was such a person. And, so, although first, and second Samuel first Chronicles will give us the story of David’s life it’s what we read in the Psalms that give us a picture of David’s heart. And David did a lot of really foolish things and did some downright horrible things, and we’ll see that, but he was a man after God’s own heart. That’s what the Scriptures tell us. He made some colossal errors, but his heart was after God, and we see that as we move through the Psalms. And, so, with that we will jump into reading Psalm chapter 3 today, which happens to be a Psalm of David. And, so, here we go. Psalm chapter 3, a Psalm of David. Regarding the time that David fled from his son Absalom.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in the book of Genesis today we covered like a thousand years. So, we started out going through different generations. And we would notice that those generations were pretty long, like many centuries long. We have these early ancestors who were living 800, 900+ years. And, so, we moved through a lot of territory…territory just reading through their history, the earliest recorded people that we know of by name. And then we met somebody who is pretty famous. If you’ve been around the Bible or been around Sunday school the story of Noah and the ark is certainly world-famous and has been for a very very long time, probably thousands of years. So, we met Noah as a righteous person who walked in close fellowship with God. We also really kind of got to the other side of the story. We were in the garden of Eden yesterday and we watched this deception happen. We witnessed something very sad. We witnessed God coming to His children in the cool of the evening and saying something terribly sad, what have you done? In today’s reading we kind of get to see how sad that really was because over time as the generations began to unfold as we meet Noah, we see that the Scriptures tell us that people had turned their hearts to nothing but evil. They had given themselves over to evil completely. So much so that God regretted ever making us here, for making this place for us ever, for putting us here. And, so, we saw God’s decision to reset the earth completely with a flood, and we began to see the first rumblings of a redemptive thread that winds its way through the Bible. Noah one was saved and along with him so was humanity. And then we come to some, you know, some of the fanciful things in the Bible. We…we hear of the Nephilim. We hear of the sons of God mating with the daughters of Eve creating the legendary people of old, the giants. And that is the stuff of theological legend and lore for a very, very long time as you can imagine. It captures the imagination. What are we talking about here? And although we can’t go into a super long convoluted thing, we can say that the Bible is telling us there are beings that are not human that existed that mated with…with the daughters of Eve, with human women and that essentially giants were born. We will see as we continue this story that giants being in the land is something that was terrifying to the Hebrew people as we go along and watch their formation. We will even see somebody like King David, who we were just talking about in the Psalms a minute ago, we will see that King David became famous for one specific reason, killing a giant named Goliath. And, so, kind of the story that lingers behind the stories throughout a number of passages in the Bible is that God has a divine family, a divine council of beings that are not human beings but are created beings. Many biblical scholars who kind of land in this territory and live in this territory would say these are actually gods. Now, even me saying that out of my mouth…like I do not want this to be misconstrued. There is one God, most-high. There is no other. But that does not mean there are not lesser beings that were known as god’s, not rival gods to the most-high, but divine, celestial beings nonetheless. We could simplify the whole thing and say well this is the sort of angelic realm. These beings are divine beings created by God, who are not human beings but who do visit the earth from time to time, and we see some of them in the Bible and human beings can see them and hear them, but the topography of the divine realm may be more extensive than we know. you want to be on a scholarly search, a place to go is to just start searching for the divine counsel, God’s divine counsel. This is kind of first place in the Bible that we get an inkling that this exists. Many scholars would say no, the first time you hear that this exists is when God is creating the world and says, “let us create man in our image.” Of course, there’s all kinds of theological implications there. And, so, a lot of times we fall on the place that God is talking to Himself in the form of the Trinity, that He’s talking to the Spirit and the son Jesus at the same time. There are lots of scholars who would say no, that’s not how the Hebrew reads, that’s not how it is. And, so, I’m just pointing this out. I’m not trying to do a teaching on this. I don’t think I have enough background on this. It’s not really where our focus is, to…to dig into the all the esoteric things in the Bible. We’re here daily, taking steps forward every day to learn as much as we possibly can, but to also take what we learn and apply it to our lives so that we become transformed people and so that we realize we’re getting into a relationship with the Bible. This isn’t a book that we’re gonna read once because…I mean…we can do that, just check it out of the list and say I read the Bible. But what we’ll find is that it’s living and it’s important and it’s poignant in our lives. And, so, we…we try to look into the Scriptures and say, how…how do I live into this today? God’s divine family, God’s divine counsel, the angelic realm, the demonic realm. If you dive in it’s gonna be a deep dive because you will find that every conceivable thing that can be added into the mix has already been, and you’ll find a plethora of scholarly as well as science fiction explanations. But I’m just suggesting now, like…well…go as deep as you want to go but just watch as we go through the Bible that we’ll see giants over and over again and all kinds of references throughout the Scriptures about the divine counsel of the Lord God, a counsel that we…we get to be invited into, a part of the spiritual story that we get to play a role in. And we begin to realize there’s more going on here than just the problems of my life and what I’m trying to arrange for to make my life more comfortable. There’s a lot more going on. And as we will see from the apostle Paul when we get into Paul’s letters that he will tell us we do not fight against flesh and blood. That’s not the wrestling match here. That’s not what we’re fighting against. This isn’t a fight against each other. It’s against principalities, it’s against powers, it’s against the rulers of the darkness of this world. It’s against spiritual wickedness in high places. And, so, for us to simply have the category is important. This is where it begins to be introduced in the Bible. And, so, we will continue tomorrow with the story of Noah.

And then we flipped over and read from Matthew today we began hearing what John the Baptist was teaching about repentance and then Jesus comes and invites John to baptize him in the Jordan River which he does, and then the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness where he is tempted by Satan or the devil. And it’s really interesting because we just came through Genesis chapter 3, and we saw people perfectly created and a world as it was intended to be and then we saw sin enter the story. We saw deception enter the story. And, so, Jesus coming to earth now, we have the first sinless human being walking upon the earth since Adam and Eve and what happens? Same kind of invitation into a similar kind of deception. Like basically the evil one is telling Jesus, I’ll give all of this to you if you will worship me. Like there doesn’t have to be any conflict here. Worship me, and you get everything that you came here to get. Take the easy way bro. Take the easy way. Jesus sends him away. A different response than what we saw in the garden of Eden. And, so, as we’re just getting to know Jesus and just watching how He conducts Himself and understanding that we’re looking at a person as they were supposed to be. Then we realize that we also face these temptations into a false deceptive reality that looks like the easy way. And are we going to be like Adam and Eve or are we gonna be like Jesus? And this is a daily choice whether to eat what is forbidden, right? Or whether to put what is forbidden into our lives. Not because there’s a bunch of rules that are there to cage us but because deception and evil will destroy us. And when we realize that we have this choice to make each and every day it’s an ongoing progressive thing. And as we’re learning from the Bible there’s a whole lot more going on than just us and our self-absorbed issues that continually trip us up. And, so, we’re starting to get a bigger picture and it will be a joy to watch it unfold in our lives and allow it to transform us.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for day three, another day to step forward together in community as we’re getting moved into this year. And we ask Your blessings over what we read in the Scriptures today. Plant it deep in the soil of our hearts. We open ourselves to You and long for Your instruction. Lead us into all truth, we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com, that is home base, it’s the website, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here. The Daily Audio Bible app is available from the app store that’s connected to your device, and that will get you to all the different sections as well.

The Daily Audio Bible Shop is full of resources that are specifically made over years for the journey that we are on through the Bible in a year. And, so, you can certainly check out those resources - things to read, things to take certain aspects of the story deeper, things to listen to, things to wear, things to drink from, things to enjoy. You go check it out. And if you climb on board for the journey then where your colors. You can find that in the Daily Audio Bible Shop.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, thank you deeply. We wouldn’t be a Global Campfire if we weren’t in this together. And, so, there is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app. That’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

This is Marissa from southern Ohio just calling for Jonathan, I think, from Denver said he was struggling not feeling…not really feeling like he’s being made new and everything. I just wanted to tell you I heard a really great analogy. If, let’s just say there’s an off-duty police officer and he goes into a gas station and there’s a robbery occurring. Does the robbery stop just because the police officer is there. No. The police officer has to exercise the authority he’s been given and do something. And I just wanted to encourage you. Christ has given us authority to trample on the works of the enemy. So, use the authority you have. Don’t allow the enemy to make you feel these ways. Don’t believe and go along with the lies of the enemy. You can just say in the name of Jesus I renounce the enemy that’s, you know, making me believe whatever it is. I no longer agree with or will continue to behave in ways if these things are true. I’ve really found that to be helpful in just taking back…you know…I mean we have the authority. Christ gave it to us to be able to rebuke the enemy. And, so, just really exercising that authority. I think it’s great that you called in for prayer because I think that other people praying for you helps you…it’s like emboldens your Spirit. It gives it gives you that in our motivation. So, anyways hope that makes sense. I’ve prayed for you, and I will again as soon as I hang up. So anyway. Blessings. See ya.

Hey, my Daily Audio Bible family this is Mary from Virginia and I just wanted to call and just remind you all to share the Daily Audio Bible with family, friends, those you know that may just benefit from this…this app. I’ve shared it with my family and I’m just praying that…that they will take the time to download the app and listen to it. I’ve been listening for a few years now, since 2020, and it’s had a really positive impact on my life. And, so, just praying that my family…I’ve been sharing it with them for a few years now. So, hopefully just one of them will listen to it. But just remember, especially starting the new year to just share it with…with…yeah with everybody that you can, family, friends, coworkers whoever you can that you think will, you know, just benefit from it. Alright. With that, happy new year. Bye.

Good evening, DABbers this is Donna from Pennsylvania. I’m calling to thank Brian for the wonderful sleep album. I’ve been listening every night. It’s just beautiful and helps me. I’ve had sleep issues for years and it helps me go right __ when my head hits the pillow. And thank you Diane Olive Braun for the beautiful analogy of the sensitive massage horse. And isn’t that just how we are supposed to be, sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit just as the horse responds to the lightest touch of the hand communicated from the reign to the mouth and to thighs knees and heel. And also to Marilyn who was riding motorcycles with her husband and would be separated by cars getting between them so she couldn’t see him and would become anxious and isn’t that what Jesus does just as your husband does. He waits for us and he will turn around and seek us. What…how blessed we are. And I’ve got a story of my own. When I was praying, I noticed that the twinkling Christmas lights were on my window some of them were off but some of them were brighter than ever and that was because it was morning, and the sun was shining by lighting them up so much brighter than they ever could sign on their own battery power. And isn’t that just what the Holy Spirit does with us. He works and shines through us so that we can light up way brighter than ever we could under our own power. So, blessings to you all. Happy new year. Love you. Donna from Pennsylvania.

Good morning DAB family this is burning Bush that will not be devoured for the glory of our God and king. Today I listened to the DAB. Just before the years end, I heard a lady call in for her son Darian I think, Dorian, who got into drugs and then got arrested for that. My sister, I want you to know that my heart goes out to you and I’m praying for your child. I’m praying that God will protect him in the name of Jesus and heal him, deliver him from addictions. I pray for all parents right now that are dealing with kids who are struggling with addictions or behavioral problems. Father God, I pray that You give us the strength O Lord to parent like You parent us Father to love O God to not give up on our kids but Father God to be strong Father. Help us O Lord. Give us wisdom as we move forward. I pray for these kids as they are moving forward under foreign management. Father, I pray that in the name of Jesus You will deliver them by the name of Jesus, Father God. Protect them Father while they’re away, while they’re prodigal. God give them grace. I prefer deliverance in the year of 2023 in the name of Jesus. And until then Father give the parents wisdom O Lord to trust You Father. These are Your children first and foremost. We didn’t cause anything to happen, we can’t change, we can’t control, but we…we trust You Father. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Hi Daily Audio Bible this is Riptide currently in Ohio. I just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year and although it’s cloudy outside, God we know that above the clouds the sun is always shining God. So, we just thank You. I just ask for wisdom and mercy to be over us in the new year, that we would seek You in all of our ways. You know how they say Matthew 33. Seek the Lord in all Your heart in all these things. That means all. Underline. All these things will be given unto You. And that saying that people say at Christmas time a lot, that wise men still seek him. So we thank You God. We are wise. We are wise sons and daughters and under Your name God the living God we plead Your blood over our family God and our nation. We thank You in Yeshua’s name Amen. Blessings. Happy new year.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday January 3, 2023 (NIV)

Genesis 5-7

The Line of Seth

This is the document containing the family[a] records(A) of Adam.[b] On the day that God created man,[c] he made him in the likeness of God; he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and called them mankind.[d]

Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. Adam lived 800 years after he fathered Seth, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Adam’s life lasted 930 years; then he died.

Seth was 105 years old when he fathered Enosh. Seth lived 807 years after he fathered Enosh, and he fathered other sons and daughters. So Seth’s life lasted 912 years; then he died.

Enosh was 90 years old when he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived 815 years after he fathered Kenan, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 11 So Enosh’s life lasted 905 years; then he died.

12 Kenan was 70 years old when he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived 840 years after he fathered Mahalalel, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 14 So Kenan’s life lasted 910 years; then he died.

15 Mahalalel was 65 years old when he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived 830 years after he fathered Jared, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 17 So Mahalalel’s life lasted 895 years; then he died.

18 Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived 800 years after he fathered Enoch, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 20 So Jared’s life lasted 962 years; then he died.

21 Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. 22 And after he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God(B) 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.(C)

25 Methuselah was 187 years old when he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived 782 years after he fathered Lamech, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 27 So Methuselah’s life lasted 969 years; then he died.

28 Lamech was 182 years old when he fathered a son. 29 And he named him Noah,[e] saying, “This one will bring us relief from the agonizing labor of our hands, caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”(D) 30 Lamech lived 595 years after he fathered Noah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 31 So Lamech’s life lasted 777 years; then he died.

32 Noah was 500 years old, and he fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Sons of God and Daughters of Mankind

When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God(E) saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.(F) And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain[f] with[g] mankind forever,(G) because they are corrupt.[h](H) Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim[i] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

Judgment Decreed

When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,(I) the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth,(J) and he was deeply grieved. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.(K)

God Warns Noah

These are the family records(L) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man,(M) blameless among his contemporaries;(N) Noah walked with God.(O) 10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.[j] 12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.(P) 13 Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

14 “Make yourself an ark of gopher[k] wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. 15 This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.[l] 16 You are to make a roof,[m] finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches[n] of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.

17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth(Q) to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you,(R) and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. 19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive. 21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.” 22 And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.(S)

Entering the Ark

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.(T) You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals,(U) and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female, and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky—in order to keep offspring alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing I have made I will wipe off the face of the earth.” And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him.(V)

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came and water covered the earth. So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives entered the ark because of the floodwaters. From the animals that are clean, and from the animals that are not clean, and from the birds and every creature that crawls on the ground, two of each, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, just as God had commanded him. 10 Seven days later the floodwaters came on the earth.

The Flood

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the vast watery depths burst open,(W) the floodgates of the sky were opened,(X) 12 and the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On that same day Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, entered the ark, along with Noah’s wife and his three sons’ wives. 14 They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, all the creatures that crawl on the earth according to their kinds, every flying creature—all the birds and every winged creature—according to their kinds. 15 Two of every creature that has the breath of life in it came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the Lord shut him in.

17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered. 20 The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet.[o] 21 Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind. 22 Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils(Y)—everything on dry land died. 23 He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.(Z) 24 And the water surged on the earth 150 days.

Footnotes:

  1. 5:1 Lit written family
  2. 5:1 Or mankind
  3. 5:1 Or Adam, human beings
  4. 5:2 Hb ’adam
  5. 5:29 In Hb, the name Noah sounds like “bring us relief.”
  6. 6:3 Or strive
  7. 6:3 Or in
  8. 6:3 Lit flesh
  9. 6:4 Possibly means “fallen ones”; traditionally, “giants”; Nm 13:31–33
  10. 6:11 Or injustice, also in v. 13
  11. 6:14 Unknown species of tree; perhaps pine or cypress
  12. 6:15 Or 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high
  13. 6:16 Or window, or hatch; Hb uncertain
  14. 6:16 Lit to a cubit
  15. 7:20 Lit surged 15 cubits
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Matthew 3:7-4:11

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees(A) coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(B) Therefore produce fruit(C) consistent with[a] repentance. And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(D) For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.(E)

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance,(F) but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove[c] his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.(G) 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”(H)

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.(I) 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens(J) suddenly opened for him,[d] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.(K) 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”(L)

The Temptation of Jesus

Then(M) Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.(N) After he had fasted forty days and forty nights,(O) he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”(P)

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.[e](Q)

Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,(R) and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will give his angels(S) orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.[f](T)

Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.[g](U)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”[h]

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away,[i] Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.[j](V)

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.(W)

Footnotes:

  1. 3:8 Lit fruit worthy of
  2. 3:11 Or in
  3. 3:11 Or to carry
  4. 3:16 Other mss omit for him
  5. 4:4 Dt 8:3
  6. 4:6 Ps 91:11–12
  7. 4:7 Dt 6:16
  8. 4:9 Or and pay me homage
  9. 4:10 Other mss read “Get behind me
  10. 4:10 Dt 6:13
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 3

Psalm 3

Confidence in Troubled Times

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.(A)

Lord, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.(B)
Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”(C)Selah

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,(D)
my glory,(E) and the one who lifts up my head.(F)
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.(G)Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again because the Lord sustains me.(H)
I will not be afraid of thousands of people
who have taken their stand against me on every side.(I)

Rise up, Lord!(J)
Save me, my God!
You strike all my enemies on the cheek;(K)
you break the teeth of the wicked.(L)
Salvation belongs to the Lord;(M)
may your blessing be on your people.(N)Selah

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 1:10-19

10 My son, if sinners entice you,(A)
don’t be persuaded.(B)
11 If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush(C) and kill someone.[a]
Let’s attack some innocent person(D) just for fun![b]
12 Let’s swallow them alive,(E) like Sheol,
whole, like those who go down to the Pit.(F)
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.(G)
14 Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share the loot”[c]
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them(H)
or set foot on their path,(I)
16 because their feet run toward evil
and they hurry to shed blood.(J)
17 It is useless to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;[d]
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;(K)
it takes the lives of those who receive it.[e]

Footnotes:

  1. 1:11 Lit Let’s ambush for blood
  2. 1:11 Lit person for no reason
  3. 1:14 Lit us; one bag will be for all of us
  4. 1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
  5. 1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

1/2/2023 DAB Transcript

Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Today is the second day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is great to be here with you today on day two of our grand adventure through every book, every chapter, every verse in the entire Bible, welcome back. This is sort of move in week, where we just kind get our bearings and our rhythm and then realize, pretty quickly, how poignant the Bible is and can be. And so, as we just began the journey yesterday, we began four books Genesis, in the Old Testament. Matthew, which is the first book of the New Testament. And then Psalms and Proverbs, and that’s a lot of moving in, in one day. And so, we’re taken a few days just to kind of go over, kind of give an overview of what it is we’re reading. And so, we oriented ourselves a little bit to the book of Genesis yesterday. And we’ll do the same thing when we get to the book of Matthew today. But before we get to Matthew, we have another step forward in the book of Genesis. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week, Genesis chapters 3 and 4.

Introduction to the Book of Matthew:

Okay, so yesterday we began the book of Matthew. We didn’t talk much about the book of Matthew. But if we will recall, we read an extensive line of genealogy that led us all the way to the birth of Jesus. And then, we went through the birth narrative and we we’re just talking about how we just came through this season. And so, it’s very familiar in our minds. And I mentioned that those genealogies, although they may not be the most interesting things to read or hear, are very important when we come across them in the Bible. People that we met in the book of Matthew yesterday, are all people that we will get to know. Every single one of those names are people that we will encounter again, as we move our way through the Old Testament. Which brings us to today, where we kind of dive into day two in the book of Matthew. But let’s just do a little fly over. Matthew is a part of a grouping of books, just like Genesis is a part of a grouping of books. So, yesterday we talked about Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; the first five books in the Bible. They are known as the Torah, as they are grouped together or the Pentateuch. So, Matthew is a part of a grouping of books. And you probably already know this, but Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are known as the four Gospels. And each one of the Gospels, and we’ll go through them in order, so we did spend quite a bit of time here at the front of the year with Jesus. Because the gospel narratives of the story of Jesus life and ministry, and his teachings. And as Christians we center our lives around what He was teaching and what He is teaching. So, in the New Testament, we will be moving right through the gospels. So, we get to kind of walk right alongside Jesus, be in the crowds with Him. Be among the disciples, become a disciple of the Savior Jesus, as we move through the Gospels. Matthew was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, so he walked with Jesus literally and heard Jesus on a daily basis. He was a disciple. So, he had devoted his life to following his Rabbi, following Jesus as a rabbi and they came to understand that Jesus was more than Rabbi. But we’ll get to that as we move through the Gospels. Nevertheless, Matthew had first-hand knowledge of what he’s talking about. And as we will discover, Matthew in his previous life before becoming a disciple of Jesus, was a tax collector. So, he was, he was a hated person and he was very just disliked because to the Jews, Matthew’s a Jew collecting taxes on behalf of Rome, from the Jewish people. And so, he’s looked at like, basically like a trader. And the way that taxes worked in the Roman Empire among people like the Jewish people, somebody or somebodies with lots of money, would approach the Roman government and say we want to collect taxes from Roman and then they pay a bunch of money to basically buy the rights to collect taxes on behalf of Rome. And then those people who bought that right, hire people to actually go do the dirty work and collect the taxes. And in the process, you can imagine that there is corruption involved and so, there’s over taxation that ends up in the pockets of the tax collector. And so, these people are not well-liked. So, when a Jew is collecting taxes on behalf of Rome for another, from another Jew, that just seems disingenuous. And so, they were not liked. And so, the first thing we should probably just kind of understand here is that Jesus called as one of his 12 disciples, people who would live and walk with him during his earthly ministry. He called a person nobody liked. He called an outsider. That is not only riveting but important, because as we read through the book of Matthew, there’s a lot of things that happen but the outsider. Or rather the inclusion of the outsider in God’s kingdom is something we will see quite clearly, if we’re looking for it. And we can nod our heads yes, and shake our heads yes, thank God that He loves the outsider, but the challenge then becomes, how are we treating the ones on the margins? How are we treating the outsider? Because we have an example of Jesus, and we claim to be His followers, His disciples, we claim that our faith and our goals are to become like our Savior, to become Christ-like. If we do not conduct ourselves in any way like Jesus, then what are we saying? Words are just falling from our lips that mean absolutely nothing. They’re just a black puddle on the floor, they mean nothing. Jesus called Matthew. Matthew left everything to follow Jesus. So, we’re getting the perspective of a person who left a certain kind of life and entered a completely different kind of life and was utterly transformed. The text, itself, in the book of Matthew, is aimed at Jewish believers. It’s a very Hebrew centric gospel, it quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other Gospels do, and it works harder than any of the other Gospels do to reveal Jesus fulfilling Hebrew prophecy. More than that, and if this is your first time through the Bible, like if you’ve wandered in here going, I’ve got to find some sort of rootedness in spirituality, we get to meet Jesus, we get to walk alongside Jesus, we get to know Him pretty well, and we get to know His style. And we to see His rabbinical teachings, in the way that you would teach in parables. Which are like, which are like illustration stories that have layer, after layer of meaning that can be pondered. So, that the meaning is far greater than the amount of words that were used to tell the story. And there are over 20 parables that are in the book of Matthew. So, we’ll obviously read every word of them. And then lastly, we will see and we will hear Jesus speaking about a kingdom. A kingdom that is of God. In fact, it’s God’s kingdom. And Jesus speaking to Hebrew people, they weren’t unfamiliar with this concept. And they wished for God’s kingdom, but they were in a position, and we’ll go through all of the story, as we go through the Bible, but they were in a position in the first century, when Jesus was upon the earth, where they lived in a land that had been, at one point, their ancestral homeland. But at this point in history, it was part of the Roman Empire. It was a province of the Roman Empire, the province of Syria. But what the Hebrew people wanted was to find a Messiah, some leader, a Messiah, a godly character, a godly person, who could rally people together, and would lead people in the truth but that would also lead them into battle, to overcome miraculously Rome, and throw them out of the land, and then they could have this kingdom of God again, they could have their land back after a millennia. So, Jesus comes walking through the countryside, village-to-village, speaking to people who understand this concept and have this seething rage toward Rome because they are marginalized and oppressed. And He announces the kingdom of heaven is at hand, they’re listening. This could be that guy. He could lead them into battle. And so, Jesus continues to teach about the kingdom of heaven. And it turns out that the kingdom of heaven isn’t something that’s coming. It’s something that is. Is here. Is now. And is coming, its fullness is coming, but it’s here now. And so, Jesus reveals the kingdom of God. And it’s not the kingdom that the people were expecting. And we’ll get to see the tension that arises from that. So, there’s a little bit of a flyover of Matthew. Let’s dive into our day, to our second reading from the gospel of Matthew, which will be chapter 2 verse 13 through 3 verse 6.

Commentary:

Okay, so we’ve already spent some time talking about Matthew. And I don’t want to overwhelm us with all kinds of information but as we’re moving in, it’s really, really important that we get oriented to the story and understand what’s going on here. And the book of Genesis today, we found out what happened to us, because yesterday, we’re reading through the creation narratives and we’re getting this glimpse of things as they were intended to be. So, yesterday I was just saying like let’s take a step back and look around and we have to acknowledge that something happened because this isn’t perfect. We have all kinds of conveniences and a beautiful planet to live on, that sustains our lives, but we are a mess. Something happened. And that’s what we get to see in the book of Genesis today with the third chapter of Genesis. One of the saddest moments in the Bible and there are some sad moments in the Bible, but this is one of the saddest of them all. We know the story as the fall. The fall of mankind and knowing that sets up the trajectory of the rest of the Bible. The rest of the story. God made something perfect, including perfect human beings, who wanted knowledge of good and evil, instead of trusting God to sort that out. And we have been using this knowledge ever since to understand something that is far beyond our understanding, the love of God. And we have made a colossal mess out of an awful lot of things, as we all know. We broke the story. I mean, that’s what we see here in Genesis 3. We see what happened. The rest of the story is one of a God who will not stop putting things back together again and inviting his people to be intimately involved in that process. And it’s very easy to think and I’ve thought like, I mean I’m a child who grew up in a pastor’s home, so the Bible stories are stories I’ve heard from before I could even talk. And this story of…of the garden of Eden and the fall of man and the talking serpent and the swinging swords from the Angels guarding the entrance to the garden of Eden, like I can still see this imagery from my childhood trying to imagine it. But even as a child, I was like why would God put that tree in the garden in the first place, if it were the possibility of breaking the whole plan? Why is that there? Why did they even get that choice? And as I have pondered that over decades, I have come to realize that love can’t actually be love, if there’s no way out. That’s more like slavery. And an enslaved human being can do all sorts of things that they hate, and connect all sorts of ways that aren’t true, including faking love, in order to avoid consequences. But love offered from the heart, a covenant of love, that’s not something that can be faked, it’s either true or it’s false. God loved what He had made. He called it good and very good. He loved the children that He had made. He came to walk with them in the cool of the evening. Love isn’t love, if there’s no way out. And the tree was that opportunity, and we took the opportunity. And we can blame Adam and Eve, we can do all that kind of stuff but we’re doing the same thing every day, because what is ultimately happening in the book of Genesis is deception was introduced into the story. This serpent is having this conversation with Eve saying, really, God said you can’t eat this? You’re not gonna die if you eat this. God’s afraid of you eating this. God’s holding out on you, if you eat this you’ll become like God. You’ll know good and evil. You won’t need this God who is withholding important information from you. Become God yourself. Eat the fruit. That has been our story ever since. But we will see as we read through the Old Testament and now that we’re reading through the Gospels and the life of Jesus that God has been putting things back together, ever since. Then we will continue with that journey going forward tomorrow.

Prayer:

And Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for allowing us to gather, to be in the world at this time, with this technology and able to be far-flung all over the world, representing all kinds of different cultural contexts, all stripes and flavors of theological persuasion. We’re able to come here together, around the Global Campfire and immerse ourselves in what the Bible says by simply reading and absorbing it together. Thank You for this gift. And, Holy Spirit, although this may be the first time that we ask this year, it won’t be the last, lead us into all truth. This is something promised in the Scriptures. We believe that You will. Our role will be to be openhearted and openhanded as You lead us. So, thank You for inviting us to this grand dance, as we take the adventure of a lifetime through the Scriptures. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the websites. It’s where we find out what’s going on around here, home of the Global Campfire that we come around every day and gather. The Daily Audio Bible app will allow you to see and interact with all things are on the website. So, download the app from the App Store that’s associated with your device. Just look for Daily Audio Bible and you can download the app for free, so check that out. And while we’re doing some checking out, check out the different sections like the Community Section. There are links to get connected on social media or begin to follow. But in the Community Section we’ll also find the Prayer Wall, which will become an invaluable resource for us, as we navigate through the year, because it’s always on and never off, it’s always there. We can always go there. Can’t sleep, want to focus outward instead of focusing inward on the problems that are keeping you awake, want to put your mind toward others, go to the Prayer Wall. Read what people are asking for prayer and what how they’re sharing their lives and their stories, pray for them. Let them know you prayed for them. Or maybe you can’t sleep because you’re getting crushed and you’ve been dragging chains around so long that you can’t move anymore, and you feel alone. You’re not. Go share your story. Let your brothers and sisters come around you, the Prayer Wall is always there for us, as we navigate through year together. So, check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. First of all, thank you, humbly, we wouldn’t be in this if we weren’t in this together. And now, we’re in year 18, seven days a week. So, we’re in this together. And I thank you. There’s a mission here, to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and offered freely to anyone who will listen, anywhere on this planet, any time of day or night, and to build community around that rhythm of showing up every day. That’s what we call the Global Campfire, coming together every day, knowing for certain, this isn’t a solitary journey. We are not on it alone. So, if that is life-giving to you, then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement that you want to share, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, that’s little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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

Prayer and Encouragements:

James The Teacher, my friend, I’m Sparky in Texas. I heard you on community prayer brother, about your daughter’s recital and it really hit home with me. As you know, my kids moved to Northwest, up around Portland with their mother. The day before they flew out, for the last time before moving, I had had a real tough time with the build-up. And the day before they left, I stayed up really late, really stressed out. And then that next morning, when my parents were flying out with them, they left at probably 430 or 5 in the morning, and I was so tired that I missed them leaving at the airport. And it crushed me, absolutely crushed me. And I could not forgive myself over it. I beat on myself. I knew my ex-wife was probably gonna do some beating on me too. And out of all of that, it occurred to me that God might not have wanted me there for a reason, in a weird way. We don’t understand, and I’m like you, I’m dead set, point on when I’m at work, running crews, running guys. And then it seems like I can miss things, ADD-ish at the house, and I feel like I fall short. But God’s got you. He knows what’s supposed to happen. And your daughter still loves you man. There’s many more, hopefully. Love you dude, good to hear from you.

Good morning, Daily Audio Family. This is God’s Chosen, calling from California. Channel to all the special needs parents, all the care givers and all those who have been praying and uplifting us in this prayer line. It’s been so encouraging. I myself, am a parent of a special needs daughter. But I thank God for His daily strength. She’s 7 years old. We begin our day with Psalms and we end our day with Psalms. And I’m gonna sing a song with her. Right here. This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. And I’m so happy, so very happy. I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart. And I’m so happy, so very happy. I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart. Amen. Amen.

This is Jersey Jane for Jesus. And my prayer goes out to Greg from Southwest Sweden, I believe you said. Your wife is under terrible stress. Your mother-in-law is having stomach issues. You are having trouble finding a job until you finish your courses. I pray that all these things, calm down. That you should find work. That the stress in your wife’s job, should lessen. That it would be surrounded with peace. That her co-workers are kind and good and godly. That is the main thing, that they are godly. And I pray the blood of Jesus over your mother-in-law. That she be healed, through Jesus’s healing hands. And I wish you also, a Happy New Year, Greg. And it was nice to hear from you. And I pray, and I pray, and I pray. Amen.

Good evening, this is Peggy in Texas. And I come, asking for prayer for Ben my son. It was almost a year ago that I requested prayer for him. That was when he entered the emergency room of a local hospital. And he was diagnosed with COVID 19. He was placed on a ventilator and was there for 3 months. And had a feeding tube, of course. And all kinds of things happened to him during those months. He was, had a collapsed lung and he had a heart valve infection and he had another infection and then he had, he had a massive stroke, somewhere along the line. He was able to be removed from the ventilator in April and actually, since then, he has really been hospitalized or in a physical therapy rehab place, 12 of them as right now, as of right now. It’s been so hard. It’s been catastrophic. Ben, Ben needs prayer. He has tremendous tremors. And those tremors make it impossible for him to hold onto the bars and try to stand. We, he had surgery on both feet to straighten them in order that he might be able to stand. He has not had the opportunity to do that. He is suffering. It hurts to see a child suffer. He is a wonderful man; he loves the Lord. Has raised a precious family, four children, they are all out in their first jobs, after graduating from college. And he has a lovely wife. Ben’s illness has been catastrophic in so many ways.

Hello, no, are you sure. No, not Pelim. I never. Ah man, you just never know. I guess I just took this community for granted. I just, I never called and told him. I never told him how much he means to me. I never told him how much I enjoy his calls. I never told him. Man. Melissa, you’re one. I think you’re amazing. I think you’re great. I love when you call. I love your intro, I love your voice. I love how much capacity you have for everybody. You’re amazing and I just pray to God that He blesses you. Renzo, Renzo man, you’re special bro. You’re special kid. You’re special. I wish there was a way that you could share your music with us, man. I just, I wanna hear it bro. Man. There’s so many. There’s so many. You guys are special. I just can’t, I know death happens, I understand it. I know it. But I just, I just never told him. I never told him. It doesn’t matter but. I just wish I could have told him. God bless every one of you guys. Shawn 3:16.

Hey, my Daily Audio Bible siblings. Good morning. I just could not let this year go by before I say, Happy New Year to all of you. You’re all my siblings, young and older. So many of you have blessed me during the year, 2022. Thank you, Brian, Jill your voice in music. It’s amazing. I love being here. I love this family. For real, you guys are my family. I love you guys. You guys are my church. This is what I enjoy the most, though I do go to church on Sundays. And I enjoy it but this is my favorite part, my Daily Audio Bible. I want to wish you a Happy New Year, may this year, the new year bring us closer to the Lord. May we be consistent with the reading of the Bible. Yeah, I was consistent for the whole year of 2022, it’s amazing. I cannot do it without God and your prayers. So, yeah, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you guys. You guys are important in my life. Thank you for all your encouragement, your prayers. Oh, I have so many favorite ones here. This is Minita from Lambart. God bless you. I love you so much.