August 2018 – Page 7 – A Walk Through The Word

August 3, 2018

08/02/2018 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13, Romans 15:23-16:7, Psalms 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:16-18

Today is August 2^nd. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today as we fully settle into this brand-new month and move ourselves into the back half of the week. So, we’ve come to take the next step forward in the Scriptures and we’ll do that by picking up where we left off of course. That will lead us back into the New English Translation and 2 Chronicles chapter 32 verse 1 through 33 verse 13 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in second Chronicles today we encountered this story of Assyria’s invasion of Israel. And, you know, if we just take it at face value, we can just read it as a story, a piece of ancient history, but when look closer into the story and we begin to realize that how, man, this is kind of my story, like this is the story that I have lived. And it gives us pretty powerful counsel on how to navigate. So, when Hezekiah realized that Assyria was invading, right, and was actually conquering walled cities in Israel but not in Jerusalem, he acted pretty wisely. He did what he could to prepare himself and the Army for the coming attack. He cut off the water supply so that they wouldn’t have access to fresh water when they surrounded the city. He fortified and repaired Jerusalem’s defensive walls while he could get supplies. He even built towers and more defenses. And he outfitted his soldiers with the weaponry that they’d need and then he encouraged them. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged because the king of the king of Assyria, right? He bolstered their morale. So, he did everything that he could and he acknowledged the Lord in all of it and he was ready. And we could say, there, there’s the lesson. He prepared. And we could stop and reflect. Are we in any way prepared for the unexpected? But as the story goes on, Hezekiah was a ready for battle, but the first attack against him in Jerusalem wasn’t made out of wood and metal. Like all of the preparations had certainly made them ready for violent conflict, but not for this first attack that came against them. And what was the first attack? Assyria’s king, Sennacherib, sent his envoys to the wall of Jerusalem to demoralize and intimidate them, right? What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege? You know, like, what other nation and any god of any other nation has survived my onslaughts? We should think about this because we can make our best laid plans. We can even follow God in the preparation, but a lot of times the first thing that comes against us is that taunting voice, this is not going to work, right? You’re not going to survive this. You don’t have what it takes to navigate this. All of those taunting voices that demoralize us into surrender. Then it doesn’t matter anymore, how prepared we are, right? We can be completely prepared and walking into a destiny and the voices that taunt us can make us surrender before we ever really get started. And in Hezekiah’s story all of those threats were true. The Assyrian Empire had leveled many kingdoms. So, it wasn’t like they were making this up. It was true, and it was really intimidating. Rather than accepting defeat and negotiating surrender, Hezekiah the prophet Isaiah cried out to God. So, the city was prepared for battle, but they simply would not survive in their own strength and God came and fought the battle for them. So, what we see in this story is like vigilance and preparedness and awareness and that was coupled with the complete understanding that only the strength of God can make them victorious. And this is a fantastic reminder for us today as we face our own battles.

Prayer:

Father as we do every day, we invite you into that. We ask your Holy Spirit to come into that, that we might prepare, and we might be led, and we might follow you. But then those taunting, demoralizing voices appear in our lives and we surrender before anything even happens. Come Holy Spirit. Make us more and more aware that our strength is in you alone. You are our only hope. And we put all of our hope in you. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to check it out.

Visit the Prayer Wall and pray for your brothers and sisters. You can also visit the Prayer Wall if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app. Check out the Daily Audio Bible resources that are in the Daily Audio Bible Shop. That can be done on the website or with the app.

And if you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible in the mission that we have as a community to bring God’s spoken word read fresh every day and make it available to anyone who will listen to it. If that has brought life into your life, then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage, at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

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

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi. Good morning. This is Alan from Sydney Australia. I just wanted to request prayer for my wife and me. We’ve been trying to conceive a child for about three years now both naturally and with the assistance of medical aid and have just had heart ache after heart ache and not been successful. Last year was especially difficult. We had a lot of depression and anxiety. And it just basically seems like that’s creeping back in. Our faith seems to be shattered and we feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to ask for prayer from the Daily Audio Bible community just…just to help…just for God’s help, for our faith to be strengthened, and for there to be a breakthrough. Yeah. Thank you. God bless.

Hello. This is Candace from Oregon joining you around the campfire. So many of us are grieving the loss of people really close to us who have passed on to be with the Lord. And Lee, from New Jersey, when you mentioned how beautiful it was, the passing of your mom, it inspired me to share how beautiful it had been for my husband. As you know, he passed away on March 11, 2017 and he had not been…two weeks before that he was as healthy as any 60-year-old you might meet up with. I mean very…very healthy actually. But he…when he passed away he didn’t know that was about to happen. None of us knew that. The surgeons…the surgeons probably did know that he had a very slim chance but that things were happening so rapidly they really couldn’t explain. But he was outside of the room before having open heart surgery and they said he was laying in the sunlight…this was about 5 PM. Sunlight was streaming on him and he was just so peaceful. I mean his last couple years he was just on a constant long walk with Jesus. He was so in love with the Lord more than he’d ever been ever before. His last words to all of us, me our three children were, well guys it’s not like we’re saying goodbye because we…we were really loving on him. So, he did not have a clue what was coming and I know that was part of God’s mercy and grace toward him. And I am grateful for that. I miss him terribly. Thanks for letting me share.

Hey, what’s up everybody? It’s Miguel from Santa Rosa. It’s only about nine and half months ago that Santa Rosa was affected by such a devastating fire. Many, many, many homes were lost and there’s still so much healing to happen. And watched our own churches pastor walk through it. And today I am aware of many…many wild fires throughout the state of California that are affecting so many people. I see the fire in Reading, the car fire that is affecting that city and it has burned a neighborhood there. Just north of where I live there’s the river and ranch fires that are threatening people that I work with in their home. There’s a lot going on. There’s another fire that’s actually by my home town, by Yosemite, that’s affecting people that I used to work with. So, I’m asking the community to pray for California. I see God stirring, calling people back to him. This is a state that has heard the word, has heard the gospel, but has turned a hard heart towards it. I’m asking the Lord to soften the soil, to plant new seeds, for old seeds to be watered, for there to be growth, for there to be fruit. God I’m believing You for greater things. Pray with me community. Thanks. Bye.

Hi DAB family. This is PG from NC. First time caller. Actually, new to the family. Only started listening about two months ago. My wife Susie Q turned me onto it. She started about three months ago. We hate that we have missed the last 14 years but we’re really happy to be grafted in today. I’ve been so moved to listen to my family, my new family, praying and…but today I was moved to pray myself in a call. And, so, I wanted to encourage Laura in Houston and Becky from Orlando. Both of you are trying to figure out what God has for you and where He wants you and I just wanted to pray for the two of you as well as I also wanted to pray for Deb from Texas for her son. I know what it is to hope that your child finds his way. So, let me pray. Father, I just thank you for Lauren and Becky. And God I just pray that you give them insight, clarity, that they would know exactly what your plan and your will is for them. Lord I pray this next assignment that you have for them would lead them to those Ephesians 2:10 type moments. God those works that you’ve prepared in advance for them to do. God I pray that their paths would be clear and they would know Lord what you want them to do. Lord, I pray for Deb and her son. God again, I just pray that you would work mightily in his life. Lord, I pray for all of those who would be listening today, who that their kids are still trying to find their way back to you. And Lord I pray that you would pursue them relentlessly. God we pray that you…

August 3, 2018

08/02/2018 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13, Romans 15:23-16:7, Psalms 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:16-18

Commentary:

Prayer:

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to check it out.

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

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

August 3, 2018

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday August 3, 2018 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33

¹⁴After this Manasseh built up the outer wall of the City of David on the west side of the Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate and all around the terrace; he made it much higher. He placed army officers in all the fortified cities in Judah.

¹⁵He removed the foreign gods and images from the Lord’s temple and all the altars he had built on the hill of the Lord’s temple and in Jerusalem; he threw them outside the city. ¹⁶He erected the altar of the Lord and offered on it peace offerings and thank offerings. He told the people of Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. ¹⁷The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

¹⁸The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. ¹⁹The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the Lord responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. ²⁰Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace. His son Amon replaced him as king.

Amon’s Reign

²¹Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. ²²He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just like his father Manasseh had done. He offered sacrifices to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped them. ²³He did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had done. Amon was guilty of great sin. ²⁴His servants conspired against him and killed him in his palace. ²⁵The people of the land executed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

Josiah Institutes Religious Reforms

34 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. ²He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.

³In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. ⁴He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. ⁵He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem. ⁶In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, ⁷he tore down the altars and Asherah poles, demolished the idols, and smashed all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

⁸In the eighteenth year of his reign, he continued his policy of purifying the land and the temple. He sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary to repair the temple of the Lord his God. ⁹They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the silver that had been brought to God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the door had collected it from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim and from all who were left in Israel, as well as from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the residents of Jerusalem. ¹⁰They handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn paid the temple workers to restore and repair it. ¹¹They gave money to the craftsmen and builders to buy chiseled stone and wood for the braces and rafters of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair. ¹²The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, ¹³supervised the laborers and all the foremen on their various jobs. Some of the Levites were scribes, officials, and guards.

¹⁴When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses. ¹⁵Hilkiah informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan. ¹⁶Shaphan brought the scroll to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing everything assigned to them. ¹⁷They melted down the silver in the Lord’s temple and handed it over to the supervisors of the construction foremen.” ¹⁸Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. ¹⁹When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes. ²⁰The king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, ²¹“Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and those who remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord by doing all that this scroll instructs!”

²²So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business, ²³and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: ²⁴“This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. ²⁵This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” ²⁶Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: ²⁷‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. ²⁸‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’”’” Then they reported back to the king.

²⁹The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. ³⁰The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple. ³¹The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. ³²He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. ³³Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.

New English Translation (NET)

Romans 16:10-27

¹⁰Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹Greet Herodion, my compatriot. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. ¹²Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me. ¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. ¹⁵Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them. ¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

¹⁷Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! ¹⁸For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. ¹⁹Your obedience is known to all and thus I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. ²⁰The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

²¹Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my compatriots. ²²I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord. ²³Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and our brother Quartus greet you.

²⁵Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, ²⁶but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— ²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.

New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 26

By David.

¹Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity,
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
²Examine me, O Lord, and test me!
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!
³For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,
and your loyalty continually motivates me.
⁴I do not associate with deceitful men,
or consort with those who are dishonest.
⁵I hate the mob of evil men,
and do not associate with the wicked.
⁶I maintain a pure lifestyle,
so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,
⁷to give you thanks,
and to tell about all your amazing deeds.
⁸O Lord, I love the temple where you live,
the place where your splendor is revealed.
⁹Do not sweep me away with sinners,
or execute me along with violent people,
¹⁰who are always ready to do wrong
or offer a bribe.
¹¹But I have integrity!
Rescue me and have mercy on me!
¹²I am safe,
and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

New English Translation (NET)

Proverbs 20:19

¹⁹The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.

New English Translation (NET)

August 2, 2018

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday August 2, 2018 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13

Sennacherib Invades Judah

32 After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them. ²When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem, ³he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him. ⁴A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district. They reasoned, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” ⁵Hezekiah energetically rebuilt every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall, and fortified the terrace of the City of David. He made many weapons and shields.

⁶He appointed military officers over the army and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, saying, ⁷“Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him. ⁸He has with him mere human strength, but the Lord our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!” The army was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

⁹Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read: ¹⁰“This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege? ¹¹Hezekiah says, “The Lord our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria.” But he is misleading you and you will die of hunger and thirst! ¹²Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the Lord’s high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, “At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices.” ¹³Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power? ¹⁴Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power? ¹⁵Now don’t let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how can your gods rescue you from my power?’”

¹⁶Sennacherib’s servants further insulted the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. ¹⁷He wrote letters mocking the Lord God of Israel and insulting him with these words: “The gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiah’s god rescue his people from my power.” ¹⁸They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city. ¹⁹They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.

²⁰King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven. ²¹The Lord sent a messenger and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib returned home humiliated. When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. ²²The Lord delivered Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the other nations. He made them secure on every side. ²³Many were bringing presents to the Lord in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by all the nations.

Hezekiah’s Shortcomings and Accomplishments

²⁴In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a sign confirming that he would be healed. ²⁵But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the Lord was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah’s reign.

²⁷Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, and all his other valuable possessions. ²⁸He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks. ²⁹He built royal cities and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.

³⁰Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did. ³¹So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.

³²The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ³³Hezekiah passed away and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor. His son Manasseh replaced him as king.

Manasseh’s Reign

33 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. ²He did evil in the sight of the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the Lord drove out ahead of the Israelites. ³He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them. ⁴He built altars in the Lord’s temple, about which the Lord had said, “Jerusalem will be my permanent home.” ⁵In the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky. ⁶He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the Lord and angered him. ⁷He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. ⁸I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors, provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law, the rules and regulations given to Moses.” ⁹But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed ahead of the Israelites.

¹⁰The Lord confronted Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹So the Lord brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They seized Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. ¹²In his pain Manasseh asked the Lord his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. ¹³When he prayed to the Lord, the Lord responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The Lord brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the Lord is the true God.

New English Translation (NET)

Romans 15:23-16:9

²³But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you ²⁴when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.

²⁵But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you, ²⁹and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

³⁰Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. ³¹Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³²so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. ³³Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

Personal Greetings

16 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, ²so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.

³Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. ⁵Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. ⁶Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. ⁸Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. ⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my good friend Stachys.

New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 25:16-22

¹⁶Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and oppressed!
¹⁷Deliver me from my distress;
rescue me from my suffering!
¹⁸See my pain and suffering!
Forgive all my sins!
¹⁹Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me.
²⁰Protect me and deliver me!
Please do not let me be humiliated,
for I have taken shelter in you!
²¹May integrity and godliness protect me,
for I rely on you!
²²O God, rescue Israel
from all their distress!

New English Translation (NET)

Proverbs 20:16-18

¹⁶Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger,
and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.
¹⁷Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person,
but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
¹⁸Plans are established by counsel,
so make war with guidance.

New English Translation (NET)

August 1, 2018

08/01/2018 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21, Romans 15:1-22 , Psalms 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:13-15

Today is the 1^st day of August. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. And it is a pleasure to be here with you today as we open the door and step into a brand new month. This is the eighth month of the year, friends. So we are well on our way to our goal of getting through the entire Bible this year. And off we go back into the adventure, picking up where we left off yesterday. 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21. We’re reading from the New English Translation this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So when we were reading in Romans yesterday, the Apostle Paul discussed unity and the postures that we’re gonna have to have for each other as brothers and sisters in the faith. And he’s continuing with this thought and theme further today. And it reveals some of the struggles that the early church was grappling with. And really why Paul was in the center of probably the most controversial thing in the church early on. And that was the inclusion of Gentiles. In Paul’s time, there weren’t an assortment of Christian denominations and worship styles, right? The church had just begun to form. But there was plenty of discussion about exactly who could be allowed in and exactly how they would be initiated. Throughout the entire letter to the Romans, Paul built an argument of inclusion for anyone who believed. Even non-Jewish people or Gentiles. The thing is, not everybody was on the same page with this idea. So there was plenty of debate and disagreement about it. Among the earliest Jewish believers, many saw Jesus as the savior of the Jews and as a continuation of the Hebrew story, which is true. But for them, a person who wanted to follow Jesus first needed to convert to Judaism because Jesus was Jewish and his ministry was largely fulfilled in a Jewish context. So as a trained Pharisee, Paul… He totally got it. He understood that argument. But Paul didn’t see Jesus as only the savior of the Jews, but the savior of the world. And so, when he said, Remember, Christ came to serve the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. And Paul quoted from Psalm 15. (This supports) that God was indeed fulfilling his promises to the Jewish people through Jesus, but that this fulfillment was to include Gentiles as well. So it’s hard for us to understand how big of a deal this was in the early formation of the church. Because now we don’t wrestle with this specific issue much. Most of us are Gentiles. But we’re still wrestling with the underlying issue about who gets to be included, right? It boils down to this core question: Can a person who believes in Jesus but then sees things theologically different from me or does things that I consider wrong or incorrect, can they still be a Christian? Of course, when there’s many different camps represented, each one believes that it’s got the truth and it’s holding on and protecting it. Paul largely considers that to be a waste of energy because only God will be the final judge of such things. And he gave counsel as we continue to wrestle with these issues. And that counsel is, May the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus so that together you may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So if we can remember Paul’s guidance, it’ll help us when we need to be patient and have grace in our understandings.

Prayer:

Father, we invite You into that. We invite You to give us the kindness and patience and longsuffering that You have of those that we may disagree with, but who are also brothers and sisters. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to check it out.

Visit the Prayer Aall while you’re there and pray for some brothers and sisters. There’s nothing that promotes unity like praying for one another. So check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link that just lives on the homepage. I thank you for those of you who have clicked that link. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner. Or if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996, Spring Hill, Tennessee, 37174.

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

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is Alfi calling from Delaware. I just wanted to share some encouragement today with everyone. Life is truly a journey but sometimes while on this trip we are faced with turns, stops, forks in the road where we desperately need God’s divine guidance. In the middle of some indecisive moments in our lives we must do our part in seeking God’s will. The word of God is designed specifically for the believer to utilize in the __, meditation regarding any situation. God additionally provides His children with the Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth and revelation concerning our life __, plan, and assignment. Now, frustration often comes when we choose our own paths apart from God’s word and promptings from the Holy Spirit. Similarly, __ attempts to creep in when we follow God’s word and heed to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and change in our situations does not happen instantly. It is during this waiting period I encourage you to wait some more. Trust, pray, praise the Lord because additional guidance and the revelation is on the way. Without faith it’s impossible to please God. And sometimes He doesn’t provide the entire picture of our lives…of your life’s plan just in one pixel at a time. So, when you feel like you don’t know where to turn, remember God’s word is the light that guides you and illuminates your path. God continues to reveal, speak, and guide His children. So, he encouraged today to make sure that you are in alignment with His will and word and way and you will begin to notice God’s divine guiding power in your life. Love you Daily Audio Bible family. This is Alfi from Delaware.

Hello DAB family. Hello __ Indonesia. My name is Dodi. Today is the 30^th July and I’m calling today for my father who will soon have an MRI scan, check, with his brain tumor is benign __. So, I would like to offer a prayer, not just for my father but to all DAB family who also in need of healing. So, let us pray. Father, in heaven we pray to You humbly for You are the living God whom all things are from. We as Your humble creation would like to ask You for your blessing of healing and now we pray to You Father even though we are sinful. Hear us Lord for we cry in prayer begging that You may heal us and our loved ones. Hear us Father. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hey family. This is Violas from Maryland. I hope you’re all doing well. Brian and Jill, God bless you, God bless your ministry. Hey, Ezekiel, happy birthday. I remember, I joined Daily Audio Bible right around the time Jill was pregnant. And yes, I remember that story Brian. And we just give God praise for his deliverance and for His miracles in Ezekiel’s life. I pray that God will continue to help him, he will continue to grow in God’s will. China, young woman, you are anointed, you know that? I was privileged to listen to your podcast two days in a row and I was like, oh, wow, China is anointed. You know, and I pray that God will continue to nurture you and help you to grow in Him in the name of Jesus. My sister, I’m praying, that called in for __ husband that has the neck injury, that broke his neck while he went to __. I pray for your son __. I know that the suffering is over and I’m praying for complete healing in the name of Jesus. I pray, I speak the word of God even though to him the word of God says that Jesus Christ died. He has been healed. And, so, I pray that the Lord will arise in him __ in the name of Jesus. Father Lord, I pray that You will touch him God Lord, that the suffering that has already been done. Father, Lord, I pray Lord that there will be no complications and everything will be successful Lord. He will be able to move his legs. He will be mobile again in the name of Jesus. Father Lord of heaven I come against any kind of __ to the disability. Have mercy upon Your son oh God in Jesus name. And Keith, brother, I heard your prayer request. Slave of Jesus gave you very good advice. And, so, I’m just praying for deliverance from pornography for you, that God would touch Your heart, He would take that appetite away in the name of Jesus. That He will strengthen you and you will no longer have any desire. It was to go that way and I pray that God will heal your wife from depression. Sarah, my sister, new Christian, welcome to the family of God. I pray that God will strengthen you. You have discovered the secret that some new Christians don’t even know, the word of God…

Hi. Good morning family. First I want to say happy birthday to Ezekiel. Happy belated birthday. I can’t believe it has been six years. That’s amazing. I remember hearing all about it when Brian and Jill were going through it on the DAB. It was amazing but I don’t remember ever hearing the details Brian, that you told, you told just a few days ago. That’s a great story and a reminder…he is just…I’ve always loved hearing him on the DAB. __ little squeaks. And now he’s actually talking. Anyway, happy birthday Ezekiel. Anyway, I’m calling today for two people in particular, James, the teacher in LA. James, I remember when you and your wife were going to have a baby and I remember praying for you for that and now I am praying for you and your wife and hopefully the recovery of your wife after your children. I know that I can be tough. So, I am praying for you and I pray that you have a blessed marriage. The other person that is in my prayers, primarily, is Asia from Munich. Asia, I’ve been hearing your voice ever since I can remember. You’d always been so cheerful and happy. I remember everything you’ve gone through, from looking for a husband to finding a husband having a baby. Anyway, we all have our ups and downs and I’m glad I just heard your other prayer today that you are remembering that God, you are exactly what God wants you to be and that you’re still thanking God. We all must remember that. We must thank him every day no matter what happens in our lives. He is blessing us no matter what. Even if it’s a tribulation He’s blessing us. So remember that. Asia, you are in my prayers. God bless you and your family. God bless you all, Brian, Jill, all the DAB family. I love you. This is Kim from California. Have a blessed day.

August 1, 2018

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday August 1, 2018 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 30-31

Hezekiah Observes the Passover

30 Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem and observe a Passover celebration for the Lord God of Israel. ²The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month. ³They were unable to observe it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. ⁴The proposal seemed appropriate to the king and the entire assembly. ⁵So they sent an edict throughout Israel from Beer Sheba to Dan, summoning the people to come and observe a Passover for the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they had not observed it on a nationwide scale as prescribed in the law. ⁶Messengers delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah.

This royal edict read: “O Israelites, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may return to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria. ⁷Don’t be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their ancestors, provoking him to destroy them, as you can see. ⁸Now, don’t be stubborn like your fathers! Submit to the Lord and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the Lord your God so that he might relent from his raging anger. ⁹For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you if you return to him.”

¹⁰The messengers journeyed from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but people mocked and ridiculed them. ¹¹But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. ¹²In Judah God moved the people to unite and carry out the edict the king and the officers had issued at the Lord’s command. ¹³A huge crowd assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. ¹⁴They removed the altars in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

¹⁵They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt sacrifices to the Lord’s temple. ¹⁶They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them. ¹⁷Because many in the assembly had not consecrated themselves, the Levites slaughtered the Passover lambs of all who were ceremonially unclean and could not consecrate their sacrifice to the Lord. ¹⁸The majority of the many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun were ceremonially unclean, yet they ate the Passover in violation of what is prescribed in the law. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: “May the Lord, who is good, forgive ¹⁹everyone who has determined to follow God, the Lord God of his ancestors, even if he is not ceremonially clean according to the standards of the temple.” ²⁰The Lord responded favorably to Hezekiah and forgave the people.

²¹The Israelites who were in Jerusalem observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests were praising the Lord every day with all their might. ²²Hezekiah expressed his appreciation to all the Levites, who demonstrated great skill in serving the Lord. They feasted for the seven days of the festival, and were making peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their ancestors.

²³The entire assembly then decided to celebrate for seven more days; so they joyfully celebrated for seven more days. ²⁴King Hezekiah of Judah supplied 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for the assembly, while the officials supplied them with 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. Many priests consecrated themselves. ²⁵The celebration included the entire assembly of Judah, the priests, the Levites, the entire assembly of those who came from Israel, the resident foreigners who came from the land of Israel, and the residents of Judah. ²⁶There was a great celebration in Jerusalem, unlike anything that had occurred in Jerusalem since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel. ²⁷The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The Lord responded favorably to them as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.

31 When all this was over, the Israelites who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities.

The People Contribute to the Temple

²Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites to do their assigned tasks—to offer burnt sacrifices and present offerings and to serve, give thanks, and offer praise in the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary.

³The king contributed some of what he owned for burnt sacrifices, including the morning and evening burnt sacrifices and the burnt sacrifices made on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other appointed times prescribed in the law of the Lord. ⁴He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient to the law of the Lord. ⁵When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount. ⁶The Israelites and people of Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also contributed a tenth of their cattle and sheep, as well as a tenth of the holy items consecrated to the Lord their God. They brought them and placed them in many heaps. ⁷In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps and finished in the seventh month. ⁸When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.

⁹When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps, ¹⁰Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, “Since the contributions began arriving in the Lord’s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the Lord has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.” ¹¹Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Lord’s temple. When this was done, ¹²they brought in the contributions, tithes, and consecrated items that had been offered. Konaniah, a Levite, was in charge of all this, assisted by his brother Shimei. ¹³Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah worked under the supervision of Konaniah and his brother Shimei, as directed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the supervisor of God’s temple.

¹⁴Kore son of Imnah, a Levite and the guard on the east side, was in charge of the voluntary offerings made to God and disbursed the contributions made to the Lord and the consecrated items. ¹⁵In the cities of the priests, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in making disbursements to their fellow priests according to their divisions, regardless of age. ¹⁶They made disbursements to all the males three years old and up who were listed in the genealogical records—to all who would enter the Lord’s temple to serve on a daily basis and fulfill their duties as assigned to their divisions. ¹⁷They made disbursements to the priests listed in the genealogical records by their families, and to the Levites twenty years old and up, according to their duties as assigned to their divisions, ¹⁸and to all the infants, wives, sons, and daughters of the entire assembly listed in the genealogical records, for they faithfully consecrated themselves. ¹⁹As for the descendants of Aaron, the priests who lived in the outskirts of all their cities, men were assigned to disburse portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the genealogical records.

²⁰This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what the Lord his God considered good and right and faithful. ²¹He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God’s temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God.

New English Translation (NET)

Romans 15:1-22

Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak

15 But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. ²Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. ³For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ⁴For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. ⁵Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Exhortation to Mutual Acceptance

⁷Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.” ¹⁰And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” ¹¹And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.” ¹²And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.” ¹³Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s Motivation for Writing the Letter

¹⁴But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God ¹⁶to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. ¹⁸For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, ¹⁹in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation, ²¹but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

Paul’s Intention of Visiting the Romans

²²This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.

New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 25:1-15

Psalm 25

By David.

¹O Lord, I come before you in prayer.
²My God, I trust in you.
Please do not let me be humiliated;
do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!
³Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.
Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.
⁴Make me understand your ways, O Lord!
Teach me your paths!
⁵Guide me into your truth and teach me.
For you are the God who delivers me;
on you I rely all day long.
⁶Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord,
for you have always acted in this manner.
⁷Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!
Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord!
⁸The Lord is both kind and fair;
that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.
⁹May he show the humble what is right!
May he teach the humble his way!
¹⁰The Lord always proves faithful and reliable
to those who follow the demands of his covenant.
¹¹For the sake of your reputation, O Lord,
forgive my sin, because it is great.
¹²The Lord shows his faithful followers
the way they should live.
¹³They experience his favor;
their descendants inherit the land.
¹⁴The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance,
and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.
¹⁵I continually look to the Lord for help,
for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net.

New English Translation (NET)

Proverbs 20:13-15

¹³Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished;
open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.
¹⁴“It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer,
but when he goes on his way, he boasts.
¹⁵There is gold, and an abundance of rubies,
but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

New English Translation (NET)