Month: November 2018

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11/17/2018 DAB Transcript

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

Today is the 17th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is awesome to be here with you as we, well, as we prepare to close the books on another one of our weeks together. And even as we’re closing a week today we’ll be entering into some new territory when we get to the New Testament, and that will be the book of James. And we’ll talk about that when we get there. But first we’ve been reading from the Voice Translation all of this week and we’ll continue to do that today. Ezekiel chapter 35 verse 1 through 36 verse 38 today.

Introduction to the Book of James:

Okay. So, I like I mentioned at the beginning, we are entering into some new territory. We concluded the book of Hebrews yesterday and that is always quite an adventure and just a beautiful portrayal and image of our faith. And now we’re at the epistle of James and this is a new voice that we’ve not heard from in the Bible before. We’ve heard of James but now we’re hearing James writing. And there are plenty of things that are really interesting about the letter of James. It’s been scrutinized a number of ways throughout church history including exactly which James are we talking about that wrote this letter. And, so, because of that, dating James has been difficult, but there is a solid solidly supported scenario. The letter was probably written by James, the half-brother of Jesus, who didn’t believe in Jesus during his earthly ministry. But after the resurrection, James became a pillar of the early church and was instrumental in some of the major decisions that needed to be made in the early church, like the one held at the Jerusalem Council that opened the way for Gentiles to be accepted into the faith. So, the reason that many biblical scholars find this to be the most compelling scenario is because, like the book of Hebrews or the letter to the Hebrews, whoever wrote this letter that we know as James, this person had influence and authority among the early believers, obviously enough for the letter to be recognized and preserved and that we now find it as part of the New Testament. James, the half-brother of Jesus, certainly fits this criteria in a much more significant way than any other candidate, any other James would. And like the book of Hebrews this letter, the letter of James is clearly written from a Hebrew perspective. I mean, it was addressed to the 12 tribes, Jewish believers who were scattered abroad. So, this at least gives us clues to identifying the original intended recipients of the letter. And it might’ve been addressed like this because the gospel continued to spread and everywhere the gospel continued to spread the reaction seemed to be persecution in some way. And, so, people were definitely spreading out among the Roman Empire. And the stoning of Stephen that we read about in the book of acts, as kind of the first actual killing of someone for believing in Jesus, this could have caused people to flee the persecution and been a catalyst for this. So, if that’s the case then James was probably writing to early believers who had once been in his pastoral care in Jerusalem. And these would’ve been brothers and sisters who had fled in all directions to find some sort of place where they could live a peace, but they still felt connected to the Jerusalem church. And, of course they would, I mean, it’s like the mother church. So, hearing from Jerusalem would’ve been something that was treasured, especially if James, the half-brother of Jesus, was the leader of this church as church tradition tells us. But this theory would make James one of the earliest of Christian writings. And if that’s true, as many biblical scholars believe then it preserves inside of it some of the earliest postures of the Christian faith, some of the first postures ever written down. So, as we get into this letter, and it’s not a super long letter, more clearly than anywhere else in the New Testament we’re gonna see in the book of James that the choices that we make, that those matter. The core message here is gonna be that we can say whatever we want to say about what we believe, but in the end how we actually live is making the most declarative statement about our faith. In fact, as we learned about faith in Hebrews, this will go a step further in James and we’ll be told that faith without works is dead. And that hasn’t always been a popular position. James even got the ire of the reformer Martin Luther over it. James’s response to somebody like Martin Luther, though, would probably be indifference because this letter encapsulates some of the boldest and most direct and confrontational truths that we’ll find in the New Testament. So, like if there’s a butt kicker book in the New Testament it’s going to be James, but underneath it all, James is trying to make a plea. It’s a message that needs to be heard, ‘live your life by faith and live your faith by what you do”, which is poignant message for today, I mean, immediate enough that this, in some ways, could’ve been written last week. So, a new voice, some new territory for us as we move forward. And I let’s begin James chapter 1 verse 1 through 18.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for another week, another week in Your word, another week in the story of our lives, another week to share in community as we continue this journey forward. And Father, we’re about to enter into a busy week coming up and that will give way to the busy season that is the holiday season. So, it is upon us. And we thank You father for sustaining us. We thank You Father for giving us the right posture of heart as we move to and through this season. We ask father that guide you our steps, our choices, our decisions for they indeed do matter, as the letter of James will certainly tell us in the coming days. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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

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

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

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

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday November 17, 2018 (NIV)

Ezekiel 35-36

35 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message for Edom.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, turn toward Mount Seir and preach against it. 3 Tell the Edomites that this is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Pay attention! I oppose you, Mount Seir!
I will raise My hand against you, strike you,
and leave you an empty wasteland.
4 I will turn your cities to rubble,
and you will lie desolate and deserted.
Then you will know that I am the Eternal One.

5 You held an old grudge against the Israelites, and you handed them over to death and defeat when they were in the midst of disaster, at a crucial moment of their final punishment.

Israel has no more implacable enemy than Edom. As the descendants of Esau, whose brother Jacob stole his birthright and his father’s blessing, the Edomites view the Israelites as illegitimate rulers and thieves. So shortly after Nebuchadnezzar razes Jerusalem in 586 b.c., Edom seizes its opportunity for revenge and swoops in to fill the political vacuum that results. The Edomites are not operating as God’s instruments. They attack Israel out of their own greed, thinking no one is left to oppose them. They are wrong. The land of Israel never belongs to the people themselves; it belongs to God. When the Edomites sneak in to pillage the land of Israel, they find the stewards of the land gone or severely weakened, but the true Owner is at home and is ready to prosecute them for their actions.

Eternal One: 6 As surely as I, the Eternal Lord, live, what you have given, you will receive! I will hand you over to bloodshed, and it will come after you. Because you have been quick to shed blood, I will make your blood flow! 7 I will leave Mount Seir an empty wasteland and destroy any who come and go. 8 I will spread your corpses upon the mountains; all those slaughtered in battle will fill the hills and valleys and riverbeds! 9 I will turn you into an eternal wasteland; your cities and towns will lie empty and silent. Then you will know that I am the Eternal.

10 You keep saying, “We will take possession of these two countries and two nations—Israel and Judah. We will own them.” And you have the nerve to say this right in front of Me! 11 Consequently, as surely as I, the Eternal Lord, live, the rage and jealousy you have shown as a result of your hatred of them will be returned to you. When I judge you, I will show them who I am and remind them they are still mine. 12 When that day arrives, you will know that I, the Eternal One, have overheard all the despicable threats you made against Israel’s mountains: “They’re nothing but rubble! They’re as good as ours; let’s take what we want!” 13 You said so many haughty things against Me, and I heard every word of it.

14 This is what the Eternal God has to say.

Eternal One: While everyone else in the world sings songs and has happy feasts, I will leave you empty and desolate. 15 Since you celebrated the destruction of the land Israel was meant to inherit, I’m going to treat you the same way. O Mount Seir, you and the rest of Edom will be turned into an empty wasteland! Then you will know that I am the Eternal One.

36 Eternal One: Son of man, preach to Israel’s mountains. Tell them to heed the word of the Eternal.

2 Here is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Eternal One: The enemy rejoiced over you and said, “Finally! The ancient highlands are ours.” 3 Because they rejoiced, I, the Eternal Lord, say, “Your enemies crushed you from every side and left you nothing but an empty wasteland. They have carried you off in pieces, divided you up, and made you a remnant among the nations; and you became the topic of everyone’s gossip and malicious attacks.”

4 Because of this, you mountains of Israel, heed the word of the Eternal Lord. The Eternal Lord says this to the ancient mountains and hills, to the riverbeds and valleys, and to the empty wasteland and deserted cities that have been plundered and mocked by every nation around you.

Eternal One: 5 With fiery passion I have spoken against the rest of the nations, but most especially to Edom, who with malicious joy took My precious land for themselves and divided it up as their spoil. 6 Therefore speak out about the land of Israel to the ancient mountains and hills and rivers and valleys.

The Eternal Lord gave this message to me.

Eternal One: Look! I have spoken with fiery anger and jealousy because you have been scoffed at by the nations. 7 Therefore, I, the Eternal Lord, lift My hand and swear to you that those nations around you will suffer as you have; they’ll be mocked and put to shame.

8 But you, Israel’s mountains, will shoot forth new branches and bear fruit for My people Israel. They will be home soon. 9 I, of course, care about you and will turn My attention on you. Therefore, your soil will be plowed and your fields sown. 10 I will increase the population and replenish the whole community of Israel. I will bring life back into the desolate cities, and heaps of rubble will be turned into grand structures. 11 I will increase the population of people and animals that live on your slopes once again; they will be more numerous, and you will become more productive than ever before! After all these things come to pass, you will know that I am the Eternal. 12 I will settle My people Israel on you, and they will possess you, and you will be the land they pass from one generation to the next. You will never again take their children.

13 This is what the Eternal Lord said.

Eternal One: Because some say, “The land of Israel is known for devouring its people and depriving them of their children,” 14 I declare that you will never devour any of My people again or deprive them of their children. 15 I will see to it that you do not have to listen to the other nations scoff at you anymore, and you will no longer suffer humiliation or be the cause of your own nation’s faltering.

So said the Eternal.

16 Again the word of the Eternal came to me.

Eternal One: 17 Son of man, when Israel’s people lived in their own land, they desecrated it with their foul lifestyles. Their actions were as impure as a woman’s menstrual cycle. 18 Because they infected the land, pouring out innocent blood and filling their hearts and homes with idols, I poured out My wrath upon them. 19 I scattered them among the nations and dispersed them through many lands. I judged them based on their lifestyles and actions. 20 Whenever they settled among the nations of their exile, they defiled My sacred name. Everywhere they went people were saying, “These are the Eternal’s people, yet they have been forced out of His land.” 21 I became concerned for My sacred name, for everywhere they went the people of Israel were giving Me a bad name.

22 Consequently, tell the people of Israel that the Eternal Lord says, “When I act, people of Israel, it won’t be for your own good, but for the sake of salvaging My own reputation, which you have slandered in front of those outside our covenant.[a] 23 I will restore My great name to its holy state which has been desecrated in every nation by you! After all these things come to pass and I reveal My holiness through you right before their eyes, then these nations will know that I am the Eternal. 24 I will take you away from the nations, gather you from all the foreign soils, and bring you back to your own land. 25 I will sprinkle you with clean water, and you will be clean. I will wash away all of your dirtiness, and you will be clean and pure, free from the taint of idols. 26 I will plant a new heart and new spirit inside of you. I will take out your stubborn, stony heart and give you a willing, tender heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit inside of you and inspire you to live by My statutes and follow My laws. 28 Then you will live in the same land I gave your ancestors; you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29-30 I will rescue you from your impurity. I will summon the grain to produce large harvests and never bring a famine upon you again. I will increase your harvests of fruit and grain, so that you will never have to face the disgrace of famine again among the nations. 31 Then you will recall your evil ways and wicked deeds. You will recognize how bad they were and hate yourselves for all the shocking and despicable things you did! 32 But I, the Eternal Lord, am not doing this for your own good. You should still feel shame and humiliation for all you’ve done, people of Israel!”

33 This is what the Eternal Lord has to say.

Eternal One: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will bring people back into your desolate cities, and heaps of rubble will be turned into grand structures. 34 The wasteland will be plowed and sown—a vast change from the emptiness those passing by are used to seeing. 35 They will be amazed, saying, “This place used to be an empty wasteland. Now it’s like the garden of Eden! The cities were demolished, lying in ruins and completely abandoned. Now they are all restored, strong and full of people!” 36 Then the nations near you will know that I, the Eternal, am the One who rebuilt and restored the ruined cities and replanted the empty wilderness. I, the Eternal One, promise to do exactly what I’ve said.

37 This is what the Eternal Lord has to say.

Eternal One: I will soothe Israel’s desire and do as they have asked Me to do: I will make their population grow like a flock of sheep. 38 Just as flocks of sheep fill Jerusalem before the sacrifices at the public feasts, the cities filled with rubble will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Eternal One.

Footnotes:

  1. 36:22 Romans 2:24
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

James 1:1-18

1 James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, to the twelve tribes of Israel who are spread across the earth: I send you my warmest welcome!

2-4 Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. 5 If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.

Wisdom, as James understands it, is the ability to live life well and make good decisions. Wisdom doesn’t come from old age or hard knocks. Wisdom begins with knowing and depending absolutely on God, who is never stingy when it comes to wisdom for those who seek it. He supplies all the wisdom we need when we ask. But when we try to go it alone—without God—trouble is around the corner.

6 The key is that your request be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God. Those who depend only on their own judgment are like those lost on the seas, carried away by any wave or picked up by any wind. 7 Those adrift on their own wisdom shouldn’t assume the Lord will rescue them or bring them anything. 8 The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused.

9 If you are a brother of humble means, celebrate the fact that God has raised you up. 10 If you are rich and seemingly invincible, savor the humble reality that you are a mere mortal who will vanish like a flower that withers in the field. 11 The sun rises with a blazing heat that dries the earth and causes the flower to wither and fall to the ground and its beauty to fade and die. In the same way, the rich will fall and die in the midst of their busy lives.

12 Happy is the person who can hold up under the trials of life. At the right time, he’ll know God’s sweet approval and will be crowned with life. As God has promised, the crown awaits all who love Him.

13 No one who is tempted should ever be confused and say that God is testing him. The One who created us is free from evil and can’t be tempted, so He doesn’t tempt anyone. 14-15 When a person is carried away with desire, lured by lust, and when desire becomes the focus and takes control, it gives birth to sin. When sin becomes fully grown, it produces death.

If you give in to temptation and desire, then sin is born. If you give in to sin long enough, it overpowers you and costs you your life.

16 My dearly loved brothers and sisters, don’t be misled. 17 Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. 18 We have a special role in His plan. He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

1 I love the Eternal; for not only does He hear
my voice, my pleas for mercy,
2 But He leaned down when I was in trouble and brought His ear close to me.
So as long as I have breath, I will call on Him.
3 Once I was wound in the wrappings of death;
the terror of dying and the grave had a grip on me;
I could not get away, for I was entombed in distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Eternal:
“O Eternal One—I am begging You—save me!”

5 The Eternal is full of grace and naturally just;
our God is compassionate and merciful.
6 And the Eternal watches over the naive.
Whenever I was knocked down, He reached down and saved me.
7 O my soul! Return and relax. Come to your true rest,
for the Eternal has showered you with His favor.

8 God, You alone rescued my soul from the grips of death,
my eyes from weeping,
and my feet from slipping.
9 I will come before the Eternal
as long as I journey in the land of the living.
10 I believed Your promise; therefore I spoke,
“I am in deep trouble.”
11 In my confusion I blurted out,
“All people are liars!”

12 How will I pay back the Eternal
for all His graciousness toward me?
13 I will raise the cup of deliverance
and call out the name of the Eternal.
14 I will fulfill the promises I made to Him
here as a witness to all His people.

15 Precious in the eyes of the Eternal
are the deaths of those who follow after Him.
16 O Eternal One, You know I am Your servant.
I am Your servant, a child of Your maidservant, devoted to You;
You have cut me loose from the chains of death that bind me.
17 And I come, eager to offer a sacrifice of gratitude
and call on the name of the Eternal.
18 I will fulfill the promises I made to Him
here as a witness to all His people
19 In the courts of the Eternal’s temple,
among the people of God’s city, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Eternal!

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 27:23-27

23 Pay careful attention to your flocks,
and see to the welfare of your herds
24 Because riches do not last forever,
nor does one dynasty retain power through all generations.
25 When the hay is harvested and the autumn grasses begin to grow
and the herbs of the mountains are gathered,
26 Then the lambs will provide wool for your clothing,
young goats can be sold to buy a new field,
27 And there will be enough milk from your goats
to sustain you, your family, and your serving girls.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

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11/16/2018 DAB Transcript

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

Today is the 16th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here with you today. And locked and loaded here. I’ve got some steamy windfarm coffee to my left and, of course, some screens in front of me and a microphone in my face. So, I guess this is what it’s like from the cockpit. And off we can go into our reading for today, which will be our next step forward. And we’ll be concluding the book of Hebrews today when we get to the New Testament reading. But first, we’re reading from the Voice translation this week, Ezekiel chapter 33 verse 1 through 34 verse 31.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your beautiful word, this holy gift that we partake of every day. And we are grateful for the rhythm and for the gift because it transforms us from within. It is continually challenging the postures and intents of our hearts. And it goes deep, and we thank You for giving us the truth that can go so deep into our lives. And as we conclude the book of Hebrews today, we thank You for such a vision of the gospel that we have and for the opportunity to look at it through Your Hebrew eyes. And we ask, Holy Spirit, that You would plant the word of God deep into our hearts so that it may affect our hearts, our mind, our will, the shape of our entire lives. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ mighty name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to stay plugged in and connected, whether that be through social media.

And, of course, all of the links to the different social media channels that we’re on are in the Community section at dailyaudiobible.com. Or whether that be through the Prayer Wall, where there’s continual prayers being offered up. Stay as connected in any way that you like as we continue our journey forward.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, that can be done at dailyaudiobible.com. There’s a link on the homepage and I thank you, I thank you humbly for your partnership. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner. And incidentally, you can also get to things like the Prayer Wall right from within the app, pray for your brothers and sisters there. If you prefer the mail, 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 community, my name is Scott, I’m a nurse in Michigan. It’s been a few years since I’ve called then. I have a burden, heaviness on my heart that I need to share that I’ve been prompted to share by the Holy Spirit. I’m a nurse here, I work in an ICU and the ICU is also a trauma unit and I’ve just seen some pretty bad things happening lately and I think the cumulative effect has had a real impact on me, maybe even more than I’ve realized where I had a just a little mini meltdown last week. I feel like I’m better with prayer and talking with God but I just wanted to share that with the community and have you, not only pray for me but, when you pray for loved ones her family and friends that are dealing with serious illnesses or cancers or something like that, if you can pray for the nurses, the doctors, anybody else in the medical field there because it does take a toll on us too. We are human, and we want people to get better and it’s tough, especially where I’m at where you see a lot of people and no matter what you do, besides a miracle from God there’s not going to be a good outcome. So, again, if you could pray for me and again those in medical field, thank you.

Hey DAB brothers and sisters this is Abiding in Him. I want to pray for Brave in New Jersey. Lord, we lift up brave to You. She’s a first-time caller, calling with an urgent need for her daughter. She’s willing to save that she can go to college and she’s taken all of her retirement and placed it into this home, heavenly Father, an extra home to provide income so this girl can go through school. And Lord she’s overcome to fears and brought this before the community Lord and presented to us Lord and we take up the burden and we lift up her arms before You heavenly Father and we just ask for Your blessing to be on this situation Lord, for this mother who loves her daughter so much that she would sacrifice her on needs to her go forward, planting that seed of faith into the future Lord. Honor that. Remove the barriers from constructing this house Lord. Start moving in the heart of the person that You want to take up residence there, heavenly Father Lord. Open up the doors for that income to flow Lord, for that so needs can be provided Lord and open up all other assets and opportunities heavenly Father that she has even thought about Lord, enabling her daughter to be able to the school, to be able to get the education heavenly Father. We just pray Lord that You show up for Your children and You take care of Your family Lord. For You are our provision, our source and our provider Lord and we give You glory. We thank You Lord that You’ve never let us down and that You’ve taken care of us every single day Lord. We realize that You bless us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family this is Jay from Nashville. So, day three here of this 30-day challenge. I guess I wouldn’t really call it a challenge, I’m just calling in to talk to guys and love on you. I want to pray for the DAB today because it’s such an amazing platform for us to communicate and to pray and to seek prayer for each other. So, join me in this prayer. Most gracious God, heavenly Father, wonderful Holy Spirit, and Christ our Lord, we come to You this morning lifting up the Daily Audio Bible, the Daily Audio Bible team, the Daily Audio Bible infrastructure, the Daily Audio Bible family. Lord, this has been a life-changing way to interact to with Your word, to come closer to You in Scripture, to meet new people around the world who love You, and it’s also been a doorway, an opportunity for those who don’t know You to learn about You. Father, I pray that You will continue to bless the Daily Audio Bible its finances, its infrastructure, Brian and Jill and the entire Daily Audio Bible team. Without them I would not have had the relationship with You that I have today. So, in that Father we pray for everything that is needed by this group to continue to spread the word of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Hi DAB family this is Dash from Indiana. I wanted to reach out to Karen from St. Louis. I just…I heard your…I heard you on the Daily Audio Bible a couple days ago in it was just…it was heartbreaking and I was just really…I’ve been praying for you and I really…really am praying that your 60th birthday is gonna just surprise you and it’s just going to be one of the happiest and most memorable birthdays you’ve had. You know, I love you, God loves you and just hang in there, sister. We don’t know what God has in store for us. I’d also like to put in a prayer request for my brother in Christ out here in Indiana, Cliff. He’s an older fella and he fell off his son’s porch onto some flag stones and broke his hip and he’s just been…it’s been pretty miserable for him. And, you know, he’s been kind of a mentor to me. So, I just pray that…I just ask that you guys will pray that he can get through this pain and recover quickly. And I just thank you guys so much for being here and for hearing our prayers, and for passing them along to God. God bless you all. Thank you, Brian and family for all that you do. Love you guys. Bye.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday November 16, 2018 (NIV)

Ezekiel 33-34

33 The word of the Eternal came to me.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, talk with your fellow exiles, and tell them, “If I wage war against a country and the people appoint one of their own to be a lookout, 3 and if the lookout sees an army advancing toward the land and blows a trumpet to warn the people, 4-5 and if someone hears the alarm and ignores it, allowing that army to come and capture him; then it is his own fault for not taking appropriate action. His blood will be on his own hands. If he had done something, he could have saved his life and the lives of others. 6 But if the lookout sees an army advancing and does not sound the alarm to warn the people and if some are captured or killed, then their blood will be on the hands of the lookout.”

7 Son of man, I have appointed you as a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must listen to what I have to say, then go and pass My warning on to your countrymen. 8 If I have a message for the wicked such as, “Wicked one, you are going to die,” and you don’t warn him to change his ways, then he will surely die because of his wickedness; but I will hold you responsible for his death. 9 If you do warn him to change his ways and he doesn’t do anything about it, then he will die because of his wickedness; but you will have saved your own life.

10 Son of man, you must tell the people of Israel, “You keep saying, ‘Our crimes and sins are weighing us down! We are rotting away! How can we live?’” 11 Tell them, “As I live,” says the Eternal Lord, “I don’t enjoy watching the wicked die; I want the wicked to stop doing what they’re doing and live! Repent! Turn from your wicked ways. Why would you choose to die instead of live, people of Israel?”

12 Son of man, tell your people, “The righteousness of the righteous won’t save him on the day he breaks My law, and the wickedness of the wicked won’t cause him to stumble and fall if he turns away from his wickedness. The righteous is not able to depend on his former right actions to save him when he decides to sin. 13 If I assure life to the one who does what is right, but he depends on his reputation for doing right and ends up sinning, then none of his former right actions will be remembered or tallied in his favor. He will surely die because of his sins. 14 If I tell the wicked, ‘You are certainly going to die,’ but he turns from his wicked path and chooses to be honest and do what is right, 15 if he gives back a debtor’s collateral, if he returns what he has stolen, if he lives by the laws that offer true life and abandons his evil ways; then he will certainly live. He will escape death. 16 Not one of his former sins will be remembered and tallied against him. He has lived by what is right and true, and he will certainly live.”

17 Still your own people say, “The Lord’s way is not fair at all.” But they are the ones with perverted ways. 18 If a good person turns from the good path he is on and chooses to act wickedly, he will die for it. 19 If a wicked man turns from the wicked path he is on and chooses to live by what is right and true, he will save his life. 20 But you, people of Israel, continue to complain, “The Lord’s way is not fair at all.” I will judge each of you according to what you have done.

21 During the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth day of the tenth month, someone who had survived the Babylonian attack on Jerusalem brought me news as God said he would:[a] “The city has been captured!” 22 The evening before the Judean refugee came to me, the Eternal took hold of me; and by the time the refugee arrived the next morning, He had opened my mouth, renewed my voice, and broken my silence.

23 Then the word of the Eternal came to me with a message for the survivors.

Eternal One: 24 Son of man, the survivors dwelling in the rubble in the land of Israel are speaking nonsense, saying, “Abraham was but one man, yet he took possession of the land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us to own.” 25 Because they continue in their false hope, go give them this message from the Eternal Lord: “You eat raw meat with blood still in it, you worship idols, and you shed innocent blood. Do you really think you are worthy of owning the land of Israel? 26 You rely on your own strength in battle, you do shocking things, and you all partake in adulterous sex with your neighbors’ wives. Do you really think you are worthy of owning the land?” 27 Tell them the Eternal Lord says, “As surely as I, the Eternal live, those dwelling in the rubble will be killed in battle, those who live out in the open will be fed to wild beasts, and those hiding in fortresses or caves will die of disease. 28 I will turn this land into a wasteland, and no one will step foot there. Her pride in her power will be knocked out from under her, and Israel’s mountains will become so desolate that no one will dare to pass through them. 29 When I have made the land nothing more than a wasteland of rubble because of their shocking actions, they will know that I am the Eternal One.”

30 But you, son of man, your own people are talking about you everywhere—in the streets and at doorsteps—saying to their kinsmen, “Come listen to what Ezekiel is saying. He has a word from the Eternal.” 31 They come to you, just as people flock to see someone famous. My people sit at your feet and seem to hang on your every word, but they never apply those sacred instructions to their own lives. For they act as they speak—with lustful desire—and think only of how they’ll make a profit. 32 To them you are nothing more than a gifted singer of lustful songs, a teller of tales, a master of instruments! They hear what you say but fail to put any of it into practice. 33 But when the messages you’ve given them actually come true—and I assure you, everything you tell them is going to come true—they will realize a true prophet has been among them.

The fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. must confound Ezekiel. While he is, of course, devastated by the destruction of his homeland and the deaths of his countrymen, their defeat vindicates him and his life’s work. Everyone now knows that Ezekiel is a true prophet of God, and his years of suffering to bring his fellow exiles God’s message are rewarded by the people fawning over him. Unfortunately, the people’s sudden attention to Ezekiel’s words is akin to a person’s adoration of his favorite entertainer. They love to be in his presence, but they take him no more seriously than they ever have. Ezekiel’s popularity will be short-lived.

34 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message for Israel’s leaders.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, preach against Israel’s shepherds! Speak directly to the shepherds and tell them this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel whose only concern is to protect and nourish themselves! Isn’t a shepherd’s job to look after the sheep? 3 Yet you exploit them in every way. You devour their fat, make soft clothes and blankets out of their wool, and slaughter the best sheep for your table. Meanwhile you don’t take care of the sheep at all. 4 You have not sought to nurse the weak. You have not gone out to tend to the sick. You have not bandaged the injured. You don’t bring back the strays or look for the lost. You have led them with neglect, ruled them with harshness, shepherded them with cruelty! 5 They had no real shepherd, so they have scattered; the entire flock was prey for wild beasts. 6 My sheep drifted aimlessly through all the mountains and up and down every hill. My flock was scattered all over the world, scattered like the stars in the night sky, and not a single shepherd went looking for them.”

God condemns the shepherd-rulers of Israel for neglecting their duties and exploiting their human flock. Heaven will not remain silent at this injustice. A change is coming.

7 Now pay attention, shepherds, to My word: 8 As surely as I, the Eternal Lord, live, because My sheep are without a shepherd, because they have become prey for all the wild beasts to feed upon, because my shepherds have not gone in search of My sheep but have only looked out for themselves and not watched after and cared for My flock; 9 I encourage you, shepherds, to listen to the word of the Eternal.

10-11 Those self-centered shepherds are My enemies! As far as I am concerned, they are no longer shepherds. They will not help themselves to My sheep any longer. I will recover My flock from those corrupt shepherds. I will snatch My sheep from their mouths! My sheep will no longer provide milk, clothing, or meat to them. I will personally go out searching for My sheep. I will find them wherever they are, and I will look after them. 12 In the same way one shepherd seeks after, cares for, and watches over his scattered flock, so will I be the guardian of My sheep. I will be their Rescuer! No matter where they have scattered, I will go to find them. I will bring them back from the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13-14 I will call them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them in the high mountain pastures and meadows of Israel. I will feed them on good pastures; they will graze on the mountain heights of Israel. They will lie down to rest on this good ground, and they will feed on succulent grasses in bountiful pastures on the slopes of Israel’s sanctuary mountains. 15 I Myself will watch over My sheep and feed My flock. Whenever they are tired, I will lead them to rest on the cool mountain grass. 16 When they are lost, I will seek them and bring back every last stray. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. However, I will destroy the fat and powerful. I will feed them a healthy portion of judgment.

17 As for you, My flock, this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Watch carefully! I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats.” 18 Are you not satisfied grazing in blooming pastures, feasting off rich mountain lands? Do you have to trample all of the pastures with your feet? Are you not satisfied drinking out of clear mountain streams? Do you have to muddy all of the mountain streams with your feet? 19 Why should the rest of My flock have to graze on trampled pastures and drink from muddied streams because of your careless feet?

20 So this is what the Eternal Lord has to say to them: “Watch carefully! I will personally judge between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep.” 21 Because you fat sheep bully the weak, push them around, and threaten them with your horns until you scatter them to distant mountains, 22 I will step in and save them. I will rescue them, and they will no longer be hunted and hassled. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will designate one shepherd over the entire flock: My faithful servant, David. He will watch over them and care for them. He will be their shepherd. 24 I, the Eternal, will be their God; and My faithful servant, David, will be their prince.

I, the Eternal One, have spoken.

25 I will establish a covenant of peace with them and drive away all the dangerous wild animals from the land. Then they will be able to live safely in the wilderness and sleep soundly in the forests. 26 I will make them and the area around My holy hill a blessing. At My direction, there will be plenty of rainfall when it is needed. There will be showers of blessing! 27 The trees of the fields and orchards will bear abundant fruit, the soil of the fields will produce ample crops, and My people will rest securely within their land. They will know that I am the Eternal when I destroy the dominion of their oppressors and liberate them from those who made them slaves. 28 Foreign powers won’t ravage them anymore, and wild beasts will no longer feast on their flesh. They’ll be safe and free and fearless. 29 I will make their land famous for its beauty and productivity. Never again will famine strike their land. Never again will other nations sneer at them. 30 They will know that I, the Eternal One their God, am on their side and that they, the people of Israel, are My people.

After God declares His opposition to the shepherd-rulers who neglected and exploited their human flock, God pledges to get involved personally. He will search for the lost sheep, return the strays, and care for them tenderly back in the beautiful land of Israel, the land of promise.

But in God’s human flock are trouble and competition. Even as God lovingly supplies His flock with plenty of good food, clear water, and pleasant pastures, some trample what they can’t control and foul what they can’t consume. Some bully and push their weight around, while others move aside or run for the hills. Again God sees the problem and promises to step in, personally, to rescue His hassled people and put an end to injustice. So God promises to send another shepherd-ruler, in the spirit of King David, who will love and care for the flock as God Himself does. This Davidic shepherd will be unlike the wicked, neglectful shepherd-rulers in Israel’s past; this son of David will rule as their prince in submission to Israel’s one True God.

But there is more. In the final movement of this oracle, God announces a new covenant—a covenant of peace. Its scope is beyond human community and politics. It is a renewal of life in the land of Israel and, by extension, in the rest of creation.

The Eternal said this, 31 then added,

Eternal One: As for you, you are My sheep, the human flock of My pasture, and I am your God.

Footnotes:

  1. 33:21 Ezekiel 24:26
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Hebrews 13

13 Let love continue among you. 2 Don’t forget to extend your hospitality to all—even to strangers—for as you know, some have unknowingly shown kindness to heavenly messengers in this way. 3 Remember those imprisoned for their beliefs as if you were their cellmate; and care for any who suffer harsh treatment, as you are all one body.

4 Hold marriage in high esteem, all of you, and keep the marriage bed pure because God will judge those who commit sexual sins.

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have because He has said, “I will never leave you; I will always be by your side.”[a] 6 Because of this promise, we may boldly say,

The Lord is my help—
I won’t be afraid of anything.
How can anyone harm me?[b]

7 Listen to your leaders, who have spoken God’s word to you. Notice the fruits of their lives and mirror their faith.

8 Jesus the Anointed One is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange ways of believing or worshiping. It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about what you can eat (which do no good even for those who observe them). 10 We approach an altar from which those who stand before the altar in the tent have no right to eat. 11 In the past, the bodies of those animals whose blood was carried into the sanctuary by the high priest to take away sin were all burned outside the camp. 12 (In the same way, Jesus suffered and bled outside the city walls of Jerusalem to sanctify the people.)

If we are honest, we have to admit that coming to Jesus and entering into His church ruins us—at least as far as this world is concerned. If we identify with Him in His suffering and rejection, we become a reproachful irritation to the powers that rule this culture. If we ever felt at home in this world—if we ever sensed that we belonged—then we would wake up one day to discover that we will never be at home again until we enter the city of God. By entering through Jesus, we become citizens of another city, subjects of another king. As long as we are here, we should live as resident aliens longing to go home.

13 Let’s then go out to Him and resolve to bear the insult and abuse that He endured. 14 For as long as we are here, we do not live in any permanent city, but are looking for the city that is to come.

15 Through Jesus, then, let us keep offering to God our own sacrifice, the praise of lips that confess His name without ceasing. 16 Let’s not neglect what is good and share what we have, for these sacrifices also please God.

17 Listen to your leaders and submit to their authority over the community, for they are on constant watch to protect your souls and someday they must give account. Give them reason to be joyful and not to regret their duty, for that will be of no good to you.

18-19 Pray for us, for we have no doubt that our consciences are clean and that we seek to live honestly in all things. But please pray for me that I may be restored to you even more quickly.

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, back from the dead through the blood of the new everlasting covenant, 21 perfect you in every good work as you work God’s will. May God do in you only those things that are pleasing in His sight through Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, to whom we give glory always and forever. Amen.

22 Please, brothers and sisters, pay attention to this word of exhortation, for I have written only a few words to you.

23 I want to tell you that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he arrives soon, he will come with me when I see you next.

24 Give my greetings to your leaders and to all of God’s people. Those of Italy greet you.

25 May grace always be with you.

Footnotes:

  1. 13:5 Deuteronomy 31:6
  2. 13:6 Psalm 118:6
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 115

Psalm 115

1 Not for us, O Eternal One; this glory is not for us—but for Your name
because of Your loyal love and truth.
2 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is their God now?”

3 Our God is in heaven
doing whatever He chooses.
4 Those nations worship idols of silver and gold,
crafted by human hands:
5 They have given their gods mouths, but they cannot speak;
eyes, but they cannot see.
6 They have provided their idols with ears, but they cannot hear;
noses, but they cannot smell.
7 They have fashioned hands, but the idols cannot reach out and touch;
feet, but they cannot walk.
Their idols cannot make a sound in their finely crafted throats.
8 The people who make idols will become useless like them,
like all who trust in idols.

9 O Israel, put your trust in the Eternal.
He is their helper and defender.
10 O family of Aaron, put your trust in the Eternal.
He is their helper and defender.
11 All who fear and know the Eternal, put your trust in Him.
He is their helper and defender.

12 The Eternal has remembered us, and He will bless us.
He will bless the people of Israel.
He will bless the priestly family of Aaron.
13 The Eternal will bless those who worship and stand in awe of Him,
from the least to the greatest.

14 May the Eternal prosper your family,
growing both you and your descendants.
15 May the blessings of the Eternal,
maker of heaven and earth, be on you.

16 The heavens above belong to the Eternal,
and yet earth in all of its beauty has been given to humanity by Him.
17 The dead do not praise the Eternal,
nor do any who descend into the silent grave.
18 But we will praise and bless You—our Eternal One—
today and forever.
Praise the Eternal!

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 27:21-22

21 The crucible is used for refining silver, the furnace for gold,
but praise is what tests a person’s mettle.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain
in a mortar with a pestle,
still his foolishness will not be separated from him.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

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11/15/2018 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalms 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:18-20

Today is the 15th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is always a joy to be here with you as we do what we’ve come to do, come around the global campfire together as a community and step forward as we move through the Scriptures. So, here we are in the middle of the month, middle of the 11th month. And we’ve been reading from the Voice Translation this week, which is what we will continue to do while it’s still this week. Today, Ezekiel chapter 31 verse 1 to 32 verse 32.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we’ve spent the last few days in Hebrews pondering faith and how necessary faith is in our lives. And, so, as we’re doing this we went down the hall of faith, right, this list of examples starting in Genesis and working forward through the Hebrew Scriptures to see that faith is not a new concept. And, so, through the examples in the hall of faith we learn that it’s no different for us. We’re not gonna be able to enter into a new covenant with God through Jesus, unless we have faith and endurance. So, Hebrews has given as an anchor for the gospel for sure and it certainly outlines the shape of faith, but this wasn’t the purpose or rat least the only purpose of Hebrews. It was intended to remind Hebrew believers of what they were taught and to warn them against apostasy because too many of the early brothers and sisters were giving into the pressures and the marginalization and persecution that began to surround the faith. And, so, they were hiding their belief in Jesus, just kind of keeping it on the down low completely or renouncing it, going back to their former old covenant understanding. So, the writer of Hebrews issued a word of prophetic counsel in our reading today and he did that by quoting from the prophet Hagei. So, quoting from Hebrews who is quoting from Hagei, “see that you don’t turn away from the one who is speaking. For if the ones who heard and refused the one who spoke on earth faced punishment then how much more will we suffer if we turn away from the one speaking from heaven, the one whose voice in earlier times shook the earth and now makes another promise. Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The phrase yet once more means that those things that can be shaken will be removed and taken away. Namely, the first creation. As a result, those things that remain cannot be shaken.” So for Hebrew believers in the first century when this letter was written and distributed, this would’ve been a timely word when they first believed they were able to see through the eyes of faith what God had done in fulfilling the law and inaugurating a new covenant that would pave the way for true fellowship and intimacy with God. And they understood that it was no longer necessary to sacrifice animals in order to atone for sin. It was Jesus blood who made all who believe righteous before God. But, and this is a big one, most of the Hebrew culture did not embrace this good news, right? Mostly they fought against it as they ultimately had fought against Jesus, which meant that those who received this letter that we now know as the book of Hebrews, those who did believe in Jesus, they were being absolutely opposed aggressively. Their lives were being shaken. So, the intention of the writer of Hebrews wasn’t just to encourage persecuted Hebrew believers to endure, it was to reveal that the shaking they were sensing around them was something that had been foretold in prophecy and things were gonna keep shaking until only what was unshakable was left. So, when things are shaking in our lives everything does feel unstable and it feels like we can’t keep our balance. And for the most part we hate it, right? We don’t view it as a positive thing, as like a surprise. Like, what a pleasant surprise, everything is shaking in my life. And, so, our prayers are centered around asking God to stop the shaking, but what if God is doing the shaking as foretold. So, I mean, maybe before all of our crying out to God to make whatever is making us uncomfortable go away and smooth it all out, maybe we should put a step before that step and discern and embrace what God might be doing within us because the shaking might really be uncomfortable like it always is for me, but in the end, what’s happening here is that all that cannot be shaken is what remains. And we begin to realize that we’ve glued our lives together with all kinds of stuff that is unshakable, it’s not solid. The writer of Hebrews encouraged the Hebrew believers to embrace shaking, knowing that there was purpose, like it what was in for no reason. God was instituting a new and unshakable covenant in an unshakable kingdom being populated by the people who had endured until the end and were unshakable. Quoting Hebrews, “Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward him, for He is like a fierce fire that consumes everything.” So, we probably all have a little bit of shaking going on, right? I mean, we all experience these seasons. I certainly have shaking going on, but let’s give some thought to exactly what is shaking in our lives over these last months or this year or the last season. Maybe we’ve been working so hard to keep things together when actually maybe God’s been shaking things loose - the things that will not endure, right? We talked about this yesterday, there may be some things we need to lose, and those things may amount to the weight that is slowing us down. So, if we lose the weight that is slowing us down and allow everything to shake so that all that is left is what is unshakable, I mean, isn’t this ultimately what we are asking God for in our lives. We just keep all these expectations on it and to the point that we don’t know what we’re asking anymore and we’re exhibiting a lack of faith and an absence of trust because we’re just trying to keep it all together so that it can be the most comfortable experience possible. I mean, is that the pursuit of our lives, the most comfortable scenario possible for us or is it that that we become intertwined in a love affair with the God of all things and walk through this life upon the earth His creation where he knows every nook and cranny and we’re an adventure together? Maybe some the shaking happening in our lives is to draw us close. Maybe some of the shaking in our lives actually an answer to prayer.

Prayer:

Father, we invite You into that. We invite Your Holy Spirit to show us what it is You are shaking and what we are fighting You on, trying to hold onto when it’s not going to endure and it’s a weight that is slowing us down. Come Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth. You have promised to do this, and we open ourselves to it fully. Come Jesus we pray. In Your precious name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here. So, well, be sure to stay tuned and check out. We’re kind of getting into that season.

I cannot believe, like it’s a week away till Thanksgiving. Now, that may not mean much to all of you all over the earth but that’s a pretty big national holiday in United States and kind of marks the beginning of the Christmas holiday season. Like, so, man, we are here and this kind of time of year we can experience lots of shaking on lots of levels. And, so, the book of Hebrews has given us a timely word today and let’s live into that and stay in community as we move through this season. So, yup, dailyaudiobible.com is the place to find out what’s going on around here. So, stay connected that way.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that dailyaudiobible.com as well. And I thank you with all my heart because the global campfire wouldn’t burn, and we wouldn’t have this community, and this wouldn’t be happening if we didn’t do this together. So, thank you profoundly for your partnership. There’s a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

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

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

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday November 15, 2018 (NIV)

Ezekiel 31-32

Egypt is the last in this series of oracles against the nations. The imagery is just as profound and poetically graphic as in the other oracles. The terror of Tyre and Sidon’s defeat is fresh on the minds of Jerusalem’s citizens, and they wonder, what else will Nebuchadnezzar do to the Egyptians and their forces? The prophet has the answer. Like a locust hopping from city to city, the Babylonian army will move from the northern capital, Memphis (in lower Egypt), to the southern capital, Thebes (in upper Egypt). God proclaims through His living example, Ezekiel, that He has put His sword in Nebuchadnezzar’s hand to punish Egypt. If Egypt with all its history and splendor will fall to Babylonia, what chance do other nations have?

31 During the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the Eternal came to me with a message about the Pharaoh.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his subjects,

Who is comparable to your greatness, Pharaoh?
3 Think about Assyria—a land once broad and handsome.
Like a cedar in Lebanon offering shade and beauty,
it grew high enough to reach the clouds!
4 Heaven’s waters made it grow, kept it healthy;
the deep waters made it grow tall,
Causing the rivers to flow around where it was planted,
channeling water to all the thirsty trees of the field.
5 It towered high above all the other trees in that place.
Its boughs increased in number;
Its branches grew stronger, thicker, and longer—
nourished by the generous waters beneath it.
6 All the birds of the air built their nests in its strong limbs;
all the wild beasts of the earth gave birth beneath its mighty branches;
all the great nations flourished in its long shadow.
7 It was magnificent in its beauty,
grand in its form, and long in its branches;
For its roots grew deep and tapped the sources of many waters.
8 No cedar trees in God’s garden could rival it;
no junipers could grow as many boughs;
no oriental plane trees could match its many branches;
No trees in God’s garden could rival its magnificent beauty!
9 I made it mighty and beautiful;
I molded its limbs, leaves, and branches
To be the envy of every tree in Eden,
of each tree in God’s garden.

10 Therefore, this is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Eternal One: Because it is a giant tree, towering high above the rest, because its upper branches reach the clouds and it boasts of its unrivaled, stately stature, 11 I will hand it over to the ruler of the nations for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have cast it aside. 12 Foreigners who strike terror in the heart of the nations chopped it down and left it to rot. Its mighty branches crashed to the ground upon mountains and valleys. Its limbs shattered in ravines and littered rivers and streams. The tree was no longer a giant and no longer provided cool shade, so all the nations of the earth abandoned it. 13 Birds of the air perched on the trunk of the fallen tree. Wild beasts made homes within its limbs. 14 Consequently, no trees should ever boast of their stately stature, nor have their branches reach the clouds, nor tower high above the rest. There will be no more giants nourished by the deep waters of the earth, for they’re all destined to die and be for the world below. They will go down to the pit with all the people of the earth.

15 So I, the Eternal Lord, say that on the day when Assyria, the giant cedar, went to the place of the dead, I filled the deep waters with mourning. I halted the flow of its rivers and streams and veiled Lebanon’s hills and mountains with black for mourning. All the trees in the woodland withered away because of its demise! 16-17 I caused the nations to shake at the sound of its fall when I sent the giant tree to the destiny of all mortal things—death. All the trees of Eden, the finest and most well-watered trees in all of Lebanon, were comforted in that place of death. They accompanied it to the pit along with all those slain in battle—those who once kept it strong and rested in the cool of its shade along with the rest of the nations. 18 Which of the trees in Eden could rival your magnificent beauty and stately glory? But even you will perish and be taken to the earth below, along with other trees of Eden. You will lie in the grave beside the uncircumcised who were slain in battle. This is the fate of Pharaoh and all his people.

So said the Eternal Lord.

32 During the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month, the word of the Eternal came to me with a lament over Pharaoh and his people.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, sing a lament over Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him,

You imagine yourself a lion moving mightily through the nations,
but you’re really like the great sea monster
Rampaging through the waterways—muddying up the streams
and fouling the rivers with your feet.

3 So I, the Eternal One, say:
I will use a company of many people to cover you with My net
Using the nations to make the trap.
Once you are caught, they will haul you up in My net.
4 I will leave you on dry land
and cast you in an open field.
I will summon the birds of the sky to land on you and feast on your flesh.
I will bring the wild beasts of the earth to satisfy their hunger with you.
5 I will scatter bits and pieces of you on the hills
and fill the valleys with your remains.
6 I will see that the land drinks your flowing blood
as it streams to the mountains and fills the dry riverbeds.
7 When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and dim the stars;
I will hide the sun behind a cloud, and the moon will not shine.
8 I will darken the lights that shine in the heavens
and shroud your land in darkness.

9 I will disturb the hearts of many people across the world with accounts of your destruction. The news will travel to places you have never heard of or knew existed. 10 I will shock many peoples with your story; kings will be terrified to remember your fate when I wave My sword at them. On the day of your destruction, they will tremble constantly, fearing your tragic destiny might also be theirs.

11 I, the Eternal Lord, say that the sword of the Babylonian king will strike against you, Egypt. 12 I will use the swords of mighty warriors—all from the most ruthless nation on earth—to strike down your vast population.

They will hack the pride of Egypt to pieces
and slaughter her vast population.
13 I will destroy all her livestock that drink from the abundant rivers and streams
so they will no longer be muddied by the feet of man or beast.
14 Once they are gone, I will settle the waters of Egypt
and let them flow as smoothly as olive oil.
15 After I make the land of Egypt a wasteland,
strip the land bare, and crush all of her inhabitants,
Then they will know that I am the Eternal One.

16 This is the lament they will sing over her. The daughters of the nations will mourn
and sing for Egypt and for all her people.

So says the Eternal Lord.

17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the first month, the word of the Eternal came to me regarding Egypt.

Eternal One: 18 Son of man, grieve for the vast population of Egypt. Deliver Egypt and her foreign allies to the lowest regions of the earth, to the pit where they may join the rest of the dead.

In Ezekiel’s day the Israelites believe that after death, all people go down to the pit, often called “Sheol.” The Hebrew word comes from a root that means “to ask a question” because no one knows exactly what happens on the other side. The afterlife remains an open question for Ezekiel’s contemporaries. The Bible describes it as a dark, shadowy place, located perhaps in the lowest regions of the earth. It stands in sharp contrast to the descriptions Jesus’ apostles will give of heaven and hell later in the New Testament. The Scriptures do not reveal everything at once. They invite the reader to keep digging and keep seeking to find answers.

Eternal One: 19 Ask Egypt, “Who compares to your beauty now?

Go down into the pit and rest among the uncircumcised pagans.”

20 They will fall and be buried with those who died in battle. The sword is drawn and at her throat! They have dragged her and all her vast population away. 21 The mighty rulers in the place of the dead will hail them: “Welcome to the world of the dead! Come on down and take your place among the uncircumcised pagans and those killed in battle.”

The Egyptians practice circumcision and are careful in burying their dead. They consider it an insult to be laid to rest with the uncircumcised and those never properly buried.

22 Assyria is in the pit—she and her entire company. She is encircled by the graves of her people—all of them slain, fallen by the sword. 23 Their graves are in the lowest regions of the pit; a vast company encircles her grave; all of them are slain, fallen by the sword. Their reign of terror among the living has ended in an eternity of dishonor.

24 Elam is there, too, with all her population around her grave. They all died in battle, slaughtered by the sword. They descended to the lowest regions of the pit uncircumcised. 25 Their reign of terror among the living has ended in an eternity among the disgraced in the pit. They have made her a bed among those killed in battle. The graves of her people surround her. They were slaughtered by the sword and descended into death without being circumcised. Their reign of terror among the living has ended in an eternity among the disgraced in the pit. They have taken their place among the slain.

26 Meshech and Tubal take residence in the lowest parts of the pit as well. The graves of their people surround them. Although they terrorized the living, they have all died in battle without being circumcised. 27 But they won’t share a space with the other uncircumcised pagan warriors (who also reigned down terror on earth) inhabiting the place of death honorably, buried with their weapons. Meshech and Tubal won’t rest on their swords in valor; instead, the punishment for their wickedness will rest on their bones. 28 Pharaoh, you, too, will lie with the other residents of the underworld. Your place is set beside the uncircumcised and those who died in battle.

29 Edom is there, too, with all her royalty and leadership. Even though they possessed great power while on earth, they dwell with others in the pit. They lie beside the uncircumcised and those who died in battle.

30 All the northern princes and all the Sidonians will end up in the pit too. They used their power to terrorize others in the land of the living. But now they dwell in shame with others in the pit. They lie beside the uncircumcised and those who died in battle.

31 I, the Eternal One, declare that Pharaoh will see and take comfort in the company of all his people—especially his army—slaughtered by the sword. 32 Even though I used him to terrorize the living, I am consigning him and all his people to lie in the deepest parts of the pit beside the uncircumcised and all those who died in battle.

So says the Eternal Lord.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Hebrews 12:14-29

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, since no one will see God without it. 15 Watch carefully that no one falls short of God’s favor, that no well of bitterness springs up to trouble you and throw many others off the path. 16 Watch that no one becomes wicked and vile like Esau, the son of Isaac, who for a single meal sold his invaluable birthright. 17 You know from the stories of the patriarchs that later, when he wished to claim his blessing, he was turned away. He could not reverse his action even though he shed bitter tears over it.

The Bible is a brutally honest book. It contains stories of liars, murderers, and adulterers; and these are the good guys. If we read the Bible looking only for positive role models, we’ll be quickly disappointed. But if we are honest with ourselves and confess our own faults, we will find in Scripture, particularly in the First Testament, that we have much in common with many broken saints of the past. But we must not stay broken. We must follow their path to transformation through repentance and faith. Repentance means a change of heart, a change of mind, and ultimately a change of how we live. God’s grace comes to us and enables us to turn away from sin and to turn back to Him.

18 You have not come to the place that can be touched (as Israel did at Mount Sinai)—to a mountain crowned with blazing fire, darkness, gloom, and a windstorm— 19 or to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of a voice—a voice and message so harsh that the people begged not to hear another word. 20 (They could not bear the command that was given: that if even a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The sight was so terrible that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”)[a]

22 No, instead you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to heavenly messengers unnumbered, to a joyful feast, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn registered as heaven’s citizens, to God the righteous Judge of all, and to the spirits of all the righteous who have been perfected. 24 You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant between God and humanity, and to His sprinkled blood, which speaks a greater word than the blood of Abel crying out from the earth.

25 See that you don’t turn away from the One who is speaking; for if the ones who heard and refused the One who spoke on earth faced punishment, then how much more will we suffer if we turn away from the One speaking from heaven— 26 the One whose voice in earlier times shook the earth now makes another promise: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens”?[b] 27 The phrase, “Yet once more,” means that those things that can be shaken will be removed and taken away, namely, the first creation. As a result, those things that remain cannot be shaken. 28 Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him, 29 for He is like a fierce fire that consumes everything.[c]

Footnotes:

  1. 12:20–21 Exodus 19:12–13; Deuteronomy 9:19
  2. 12:26 Haggai 2:6, 21
  3. 12:29 Deuteronomy 4:24
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 113-114

Psalm 113

Psalms 113–118 comprise an important unit called the Hallel, which in Hebrew means “praise.” Composed after the exile, these six psalms are recited together by observant Jews during some of the major holidays on the Jewish calendar. The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus and His disciples sang a song following their last meal together, which was the Passover (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). That may have been the Hallel.

1 Praise the Eternal!
All of you who call yourselves the children of the Eternal, come and praise His name.
Lift Him high to the high place in your hearts.

2 At this moment, and for all the moments yet to come,
may the Eternal’s name ascend in the hearts of His people.
3 At every time and in every place—
from the moment the sun rises to the moment the sun sets—
may the name of the Eternal be high in the hearts of His people.

4 The Eternal is seated high above every nation.
His glory fills the skies.

5 To whom should we compare the Eternal, our God?
No one.
From His seat, high above,
6 He deigns to observe the earth and her thin skies,
stooping even to see her goings on, far beneath His feet.
7 He gathers up the poor from their dirt floors,
pulls the needy from the trash heaps,
8 And places them among heads of state,
seated next to the rulers of His people where they cannot be ignored.
9 Into the home of the childless bride,
He sends children who are, for her, a cause of happiness beyond measure.
Praise the Eternal!

Psalm 114

1 When the time came for Israel to leave Egypt—
for Jacob’s family to be free of those who spoke another language—
2 God chose to make Judah His sacred place,
and Israel became His realm.

3 And the waters of the sea witnessed God’s actions and ran away;
the Jordan, too, turned around and ran back to where it came from.
4 All of the mountains leapt with the strength of mighty rams,
and all of the hills danced with the joy of little lambs.

5 Why do you retreat, O sea?
Why do you roll back your waters, O Jordan?
6 Why, O mountains, do you leap with the strength of rams?
Why, O hills, do you dance with joy like little lambs?

7 Shudder and quake, O you earth, at the sight of the Lord.
The God of Jacob comes,
8 Who turns rock into pools of refreshing water
and flint into fountains of life-giving streams!

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 27:18-20

18 Whoever takes care of a fig tree will eat of its fruit,
and whoever cares for his master will be honored.

19 Just as water reflects a person’s true face,
so the human heart reflects a person’s true character.
20 Neither the grave nor destruction is ever satisfied;
the desires of people are never totally fulfilled.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

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11/14/2018 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 29:1-30:26, Hebrews 11:32-12:13, Psalms 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17

Today is the 14th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and what a pleasure it is to be here with you today as we move our way through the center of the week. And this week we’ve been reading from the Voice Translation, which is what we we’ll continue to do as we take this, our next step forward through the Scriptures. And that will lead us back into the book of Ezekiel. Today we’ll read chapter 29 verse 1 through 30 verse 26.

Commentary:

Okay. Okay. So, do you need to lose a little weight? Alright. A disruptive enough question. It’s nobody’s business what you do or do not need to lose, right, probably? And seems like an odd question coming out of our time in the Scriptures. But do you? Do you need to lose a little weight? I mean carrying around extra weight as we know stresses…stresses our physical systems that are ultimately gonna lead to problems if we just leave them unchecked. We all know this but have you ever considered this from a spiritual perspective? Are we growing a bit flabby and lethargic within, like from inside of ourselves. Today in the book of Hebrews we’re told how to lose the weight. But before that we continued to finish walking down the hall of faith that we’ve been walking down for the last couple of days. And as we could see, drawing to the conclusion of that little exercise of kind of walking through the Old Testament and seeing that faith has always been the main point of the whole story. As we drew the end we could see that does not…I mean we can immediately switch over and go, so, if I have the right amount of faith I can get just about anything that I want. And as we can see, that wasn’t how it works. Everything didn’t tie off in a nice bow for all of these people. The long list of these examples wasn’t trying to communicate this assurance that we’d have no struggles in life or our victories would be off effortless for the person who has the right amount of faith. It’s Actually completely quite the contrary. The people that we read about, they faced all kinds of opposition. And if we just remember their stories, we walked through a lot of that with them as we read it in the Bible and they suffered a lot along the way, but it was their faith that propelled them forward even if it meant that they were going to arrive at the end of their physical life. Through faith they had seen the promise of God out in front of them, they could see it and they would not and could not be moved and no matter what suffering it may have brought them. So, it was, in summing all of that up, that the writer of Hebrews instructed us in a very famous passage on exactly how it is we can lose the weight. And I’m quoting from Hebrews 12. “So, since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace and let us run with endurance the long race set before us.” So when our faith gets out of shape, starts getting to be flabby, we have a spiritual issue, we have a problem that needs to be dealt with because if we don’t we’re going to get spiritually sick in the same way that our bodies are going to break down and deteriorate if we don’t care for them. And, I mean, that’s just inevitable. That’s how it works. And as we’ve seen this abundantly in Hebrews, a strong faith can endure anything and can accomplish the impossible. So, without that in mind, we’re to drop every weight that slows us down. In other words, anything that interferes with our faith is excess baggage, it’s the extra pounds. And sin is the junk food we keep feeding ourselves and we have to lose the weight. So, rather than living in some kind of morbid, unhealthy, spiritual situation, we’re going to have to get off our butt, we’re gonna have to get off the couch and train our faith by running with endurance the race that God has set before us. And according to the writer of Hebrews, the way that we do this is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. So, if we’re gonna try to live in a more healthy story, whether that’s a physical story or a spiritual one or both, we gonna need a component spoken of in Hebrews. But it’s one that we’ve mentioned and that will continue to show up everywhere as we move through the rest of the year. We keep mentioning it because it keeps showing up - endurance. So, like, to lose the extra weight physically we’re gonna have to endure, right, a lot of things. We’ll have to endure the changing of habits, bad habits. We’ll have to endure our cravings until our pallet is kind of resetting itself. And we’ll have to discipline ourselves, which is gonna require endurance. We’ll have to use resistance to build endurance, right? That’s exactly what happens when you go to the gym. Whether you’re on the treadmill or whether you’re using the weights, it is the resistance that is building your strength because you are enduring so that your body can gain strength and build muscle that ultimately will consume the flabbiness that you are carrying around. That’s, I don’t think I’m saying anything that everybody doesn’t already know. To lose the weight spiritually, we’re gonna have to build up spiritual endurance so that we can run the race that’s set before us. And we’ll actually have to consider the things that are slowing us down. Those very well may be the things that have to change for you to get healthy. Otherwise, if we stay lethargic within ourselves or in our bodies, whatever’s going on is only going to get worse. It’s only going to be more problematic as we go forward. So, we have to endure the changes that are necessary so that our faith is strengthened. And in our bodies, it’s fat that gets consumed, right, as we endure and build up muscle. In our Spirit, it’s sin that gets consumed and overwhelmed and eaten up and gone because of our spiritual endurance and strength. Our weakness is turned to strength through faith. So, all of a sudden maybe the book of Hebrews should start to be revealing itself. Like, ahhh, there’s a big picture here. What a picture this is. And one of things that we’re learning is, we will not get anywhere without faith and we will not get anywhere without endurance. And, so, this is this is why Hebrews took us down this hall of faith. And let’s give it some thought. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to guide today, the next decisions about today. I mean, becoming healthy starts right now, it starts today, it starts with the next right decision that you make. And, so, while we’re at it, as we’re inviting the Holy Spirit, let’s remember what we read in the book of Hebrews today as a means of encouragement, “lift up your hands that are dangling. Embrace your weakened knees. Make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame in you won’t be put out of joint but will heal.”

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for the way that Your word sneaks up on us, grabs us by the heart, shakes us awake, and all of a sudden, we’re seeing things differently. And we can see what needs to happen here on a lot of levels. And, so, we’re inviting You into that because, frankly, for each of us it’s a different story and we need You in that story. What is it Jesus that is slowing us down? What is it Jesus that is convincing us to stay week? What is it Father that we’ve allowed to continue in our lives that’s making us sick, that’s making us flabby. What is the weight that we need to lose? Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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

When you’re running the race and it’s a long race and there’s much endurance and there’s seasons that are very, very long, it’s helpful to know that someone’s running alongside of you, right? It’s so much easier when you can see someone else and they’re fighting the fight and you’re fighting the fight and you’re gonna get to the top of the hill because they’re gonna get to the top of the hill and you’re gonna inspire each other. This is why being in community as we go through the Scriptures, as we spend a year together of life why this is a so meaningful, which is why I remind us every day, dailyaudiobible.com is home base. This is where you find all the ways to stay connected. And, so, do. Stay connected.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if the global campfire community that we are, if what we’re doing here brings life to you and encouragement and gets you motivated to continue on your journey with the Lord, then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage of 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:

Good morning daily audio Bible family, this is Erin in Michigan. I hope you’re all well. I have two things. First thing is in urgent prayer request. My friend Michael has cellulitis on his leg and it is not getting any better because he’s not getting off of it. He has to work and just all that stuff. So, please lift up Michael in Michigan and just pray for, not only his leg, his cellulitis, the deep infection to go away, but also for his salvation and a relationship with God. The main reason I’m calling today is I just wanted to praise the Lord for the Daily Audio Bible and how it’s changed my life. And I could go on and on about how it’s changed but I chose this morning one thing because it’s very poignant for today, which is Monday, November 12th. So, Monday for my whole life has been the first of the week. And, so, then, you know there’s, the all the stereotypes about how terrible Monday is, and how we hate Monday. And I’m a very positive person, so generally Mondays don’t bother me, but when they do, I’m like, oh here’s how my weeks starts and blah blah blah. Well, Brian, you and the Daily Audio Bible have just changed my life, you’ve just revolutionized it because you’ve made Sunday my first day of the week. And, so, the world doesn’t get to choose how my week starts, God does. God gets to choose because I am at church on Sunday worshiping Him among family and friends and I just am able to start my week fresh and in a beautiful place and a happy place as I call it. So, I just thank you Brian. I thank you for helping me through that. The week starts on Sunday. And I know that may seem like a silly thing or a little thing but to me it’s been revolutionary. So, thank you. And just going into my week, this Monday the second day of my week is going to be a great week because it started with God and it started in church. All right, hope you have a wonderful week. See you my friends and I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family, this is Pamela calling, the pastor’s wife from Huntington New York. I hope all is well with everyone. I’ve not called in in a while, however I’m still listening, still taking in the word of God, building up my spiritual man, still praying for all of those who call in daily with your requests. For those who pray can expect a miracle. According to Matthew 7:7, ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and the doors shall be opened unto you for every man that askith receivith, and to him that seekith findith, and to him who knocks the door shall be made open. I’m calling right now for a special prayer request. My heart burns right now. I shouldn’t use that word, but my heart is just turned towards California with the raging fires. Today I woke up to the news, and today is the 12th, it’s Monday morning, 31 dead, 228 missing, and 7000 structures burned in California as the blaze grows. Please, let’s pray for rain, a torrential downpour in California. __ can stop the rain. Everyone please let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in California and let’s not judge them cause no state can judge any state. All of sin comes short of God’s glory. I thank you for that. Love you all. Blessings to you. Bye.

Hi Daily Audio Bible. This is Pamela from Northern California. When I woke up on Thursday morning the sky looked so strange and I thought that was just a storm coming. It was kind of dark and purpley. And yes, a storm was coming but the fire storm, they’re calling it the campfire. In just a few days 190,000 acres have been burned, 6700 businesses and homes, mostly homes, 29 lives have been lost and it’s like an avalanche of grief descending upon this area. I facilitate the grief, share recovery, of course with my local church here and I’m just praying that the Lord will give me creativity and strength to help all of the broken hearts and the Lord himself is near to the brokenhearted and I pray that our community will be restored. I attended a little church in Chico yesterday, the whole church was wiped out, but they met to worship here. And I was so encouraged by worshiping in the midst of grief. And, so, when grief happens we all want to run from it but running from grief is never a good idea. And, so, I pray that we will all take the accurate __ steps that lead in the direction of grief recovery. The apostle Paul said…

Hi DABbers, this is Doddy from Indonesia. Today is 12th November, 2018 and this is my second time calling. My first call was a few months back asking for a prayer regarding my father’s brain tumor. So fast forward to today and my father’s condition is not looking so good. And because of this I sometimes struggle with my faith. And it just so happened that on today’s DAB reading there is a part regarding faith. It made me realize that faith is not about us, that it is about God. And it is so much more than having our prayer to be answered or fulfilled. But it is about to truly believe that God is God and that God truly loves us. And I know that in life this is not easy and sometimes we can be very disappointed on why God is not answering us. But by truly having faith in God we can have relief. So, I pray that you all DABbers to just hang in there as I am too. And I hope that May God guide us in our struggle. Amen.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday November 14, 2018 (NIV)

Ezekiel 29-30

29 In the 10th year, on the 12th day of the 10th month, the word of the Eternal came to me with a message about Egypt.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, face Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and preach against him and against all of Egypt! 3 Tell him this is what I, the Eternal Lord, have to say:

Look, I am against you,
Pharaoh king of Egypt.
You are like a great river monster,
snaking through the streams in the Nile,
declaring, “I own the Nile. I made it, and it is mine.”
4 But I will set a hook in your jaws
and make the fish of the Nile cling to your scales.
I will haul you in out of your waterways,
with all the fish clinging to your scales.
5 Then I will take you and leave you out in the desert,
you and all the fish of your waters.
You’ll collapse in the wide open space,
but no one will bother to collect your remains
Or bury you with your ancestors.
You’ll be food for wild beasts of the earth and birds in the sky.
6 Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Eternal One.
You have been nothing more than a staff made of wobbly reeds to the people of Israel.
7 When they took hold of you, looking for support,
you splintered and tore their hands.
When they leaned on you, you snapped in two,
and they wrenched their backs because of you.[a]

8 So this is what I, the Eternal Lord, have to say: “Look, I will march an army against you! It’s coming to slaughter your people and your animals. 9 I am going to make the land of Egypt a lonely wasteland; then they will know that I am the Eternal One.”

Because of your arrogant utterance, “I own the Nile. I made it, and it is mine,” 10 I oppose you and your streams. I will turn the land of Egypt into a lonely wasteland from Migdol to Aswan,[b] all the way to Ethiopia.[c] 11-12 No people or animals will pass through there. Not a single person will live there for 40 years. I will turn the land of Egypt into a wasteland, a tragedy among tragedies, the most devastating of devastations! Any cities still standing after the war will lie in ruins for 40 years. I will scatter the Egyptians to the wind and divide them among the nations.

13 After 40 years have passed, I am going to gather the Egyptians from the nations where I scattered them. 14 I will restore their fortunes and lead them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their ancestors. There, Egypt will begin again, but this time as an insignificant kingdom.

According to Egyptian legends, their people originate in southern Egypt near Pathros. Ezekiel is apparently aware of these stories and indicates God will give Egypt a new start.

15 She will be the weakest of any kingdom, never gaining power and never again ruling over other nations. 16 The people of Israel will never again turn to Egypt in a time of crisis because Egypt’s fate will be a reminder of her sins—when Israel chose to trust a pagan nation instead of Me. Then My people will know that I am the Eternal Lord.

The prophet directs his oracle against Pharaoh, but in reality the pharaoh represents all of the people. Pharaoh’s audacious claim that he created the Nile stands in clear contradiction to the fact that Israel’s God created the heavens and the earth. So God becomes his enemy, fishes the great river monster out of the river—the lifeline of Egypt—and leaves his body as food for the animals and birds of the desert. The “monster” could refer either to the Nile crocodile—a symbol of the Pharaoh’s power—or the mythical creature of chaos who opposes God but is ultimately defeated by Him. The other fishes clinging to his scales appear to represent all those who depend on Pharaoh, including the Egyptian people and those foolish enough to align with them.

17 In the 27th year, on the 1st day of the 1st month, the word of the Eternal came to me.

Eternal One: 18 Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has exhausted his army with the long siege of Tyre. His soldiers’ bodies are spent, their heads bald and shoulders rubbed raw, yet they have made little progress. The king and his army have not been rewarded for all of their hard work against Tyre.

19 Therefore, the Eternal Lord says:

Eternal One: Look, I am going to hand the land of Egypt over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He will take away her wealth—her goods and her population—by force and pay his army with the treasures he acquires there. 20 I have given him Egypt’s land as his reward to compensate him for all the work he has done for Me.

21 When that day comes, I will make a horn grow for the people of Israel so that they will be confident that My deliverance is near. Then I will open your mouth so that they will realize you have been speaking for Me all along. Then they will know that I am the Eternal One.

30 The word of the Eternal came to me with a lament for Egypt.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, speak! Tell them this is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Weep and wail,
for today is the day you’ve dreaded;
3 The day of God’s judgment is near;
the day of the Eternal is closing in!
It is a day of dark clouds and gloom
that foreshadows the doom of the nations.
4 A sword will come against Egypt,
agony will invade Ethiopia,
When the dead cover the land of Egypt,
when her wealth is taken away and her foundations are leveled.

5 Every nation in league with her will be destroyed in the war: Ethiopia,[d] Put, Lud, all of Arabia, and Libya.

6 Egypt’s friends will crumble
along with her arrogance, her proud strength.
From Migdol to Aswan,[e]
they will fall by the sword.

7 Egypt will be laid waste, a tragedy among tragedies, the most devastating of devastations! Her cities will lie in ruins, surrounded by the empty desolation of other ruined cities. 8 Then they will all know that I am the Eternal One after I burn down Egypt and demolish her allies. 9 On that day of destruction, I will dispatch messengers in ships to wake up the sleeping nation of Ethiopia. They will drown in agony when they hear the news of Egypt’s doom! They will know, “We’re next! Judgment is on the horizon!”

10-11 This is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Eternal One: I will put an end to the wealth and population of Egypt
using the power of Nebuchadnezzar as My weapon.
I will dispatch the king of Babylon and his armies—
the most ruthless in the world—
to ravage the land!
They will unsheathe their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.
12 I will dry up the waterways of the Nile
and sell the land to those who have evil designs.
I, the Eternal, promise to recruit foreigners
to destroy the land and plunder away everything of value.

13 I, the Eternal Lord, have this to say:
I will demolish the breathless idols
and destroy the vulgar images in Memphis.[f]
There won’t be a prince left in all the land of Egypt anymore;
I will infect the entire nation with a plague of fear!
14 I will crush Pathros in the south, set fire to Zoan in the delta,
and deliver a horrific punishment to Thebes[g] and all its temples.
15 I will drown Sin[h]—the great fortress of Egypt—in My wrath
and put an end to the wealth and population of Thebes.
16 I will set fire to all of Egypt!
Sin will writhe in pain.
Thebes will be torn apart;
day after day Memphis will live in fear.
17 The young soldiers of Heliopolis[i] and Pi-beseth will die in the battle;
the women will go into captivity.

In the ancient world, conquered peoples become the victors’ property. While the men are often killed, the women are taken away and used as slaves for various purposes.

18 An unnatural darkness will cover Tehaphnehes
when I destroy the dominion of Egypt.
I will put an end to her arrogance, her proud strength!
Dark clouds will veil her,
and her daughters will be led away as slaves.
19 This is how I will deliver My punishing judgments against Egypt;
then they will know that I am the Eternal One.

20 During the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the Eternal came to me with a message about Egypt:

Eternal One: 21 Son of man, I’ve broken the arm of the Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Look! The bone has not yet been set, and his arm has not been splinted in order to promote healing. Therefore, he won’t be able to handle a sword to defend the nation’s power. 22 So this is what I, the Eternal Lord, have to say: Look! I oppose Pharaoh, king of Egypt. I will break both arms—the strong one and the already-broken one. I’ll make sure he’ll not be able to handle a sword! 23 I will scatter the Egyptians to the wind—dividing them among the nations. 24-25 Meanwhile I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, and I will place My sword in his hand. But I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and the king of Egypt will groan with the pain of his injury before Nebuchadnezzar. So I will make the arms of Babylon’s king strong, even as the arms of Pharaoh grow weak and fall limp at his side. Then Egypt will know that I am the Eternal One—when I place My sword in the hands of the Babylonian king and he wields it against the land of Egypt. 26 When I scatter the Egyptians to the wind and divide them among the nations, they will know that I am the Eternal One.

Footnotes:

  1. 29:7 Hebrew reads, “made their loins shake.”
  2. 29:10 Hebrew, Syrene
  3. 29:10 Hebrew, Cush
  4. 30:5 Hebrew, Cush
  5. 30:6 Hebrew, Syrene
  6. 30:13 Hebrew, Noph
  7. 30:14 Hebrew, No
  8. 30:15 Egyptian city of Sais.
  9. 30:17 Hebrew, On
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Hebrews 11:32-12:13

32 I could speak more of faith; I could talk until time itself ran out. If I continued, I could speak of the examples of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets. 33 I could give accounts of people alive with faith who conquered kingdoms, brought justice, obtained promises, and closed the mouths of hungry lions. 34 I could tell you how people of faith doused raging fires, escaped the edge of the sword, made the weak strong, and—stoking great valor among the champions of God—sent opposing armies into panicked flight.

35 I could speak of faith bringing women their loved ones back from death and how the faithful accepted torture instead of earthly deliverance because they believed they would obtain a better life in the resurrection. 36 Others suffered mockery and whippings; they were placed in chains and in prisons. 37 The faithful were stoned, sawn in two,[a] killed by the sword, clothed only in sheepskins and goatskins; they were penniless, afflicted, and tormented. 38 The world was not worthy of these saints. They wandered across deserts, crossed mountains, and lived in the caves, cracks, and crevasses of the earth.

Stories of faith and faithfulness are central to the First Testament. The writer of Hebrews recalls some of the most memorable examples of how people of faith lived their lives. But what is faith? Faith is more than belief; it is trust, assurance, and firm conviction. Ironically most of those who lived by faith never fully realized the promises God had made. Like us they journeyed as strangers and exiles, longing for another country. We should remember their patient faith when we face prolonged hardships and allow the trials we face to strengthen our faith rather than destroy it. If we are comfortable here and don’t face suffering for our faith, perhaps we aren’t fully living by faith and looking forward to a future hope.

39 These, though commended by God for their great faith, did not receive what was promised. 40 That promise has awaited us, who receive the better thing that God has provided in these last days, so that with us, our forebears might finally see the promise completed.

12 So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us.

We may feel alone, but we aren’t. We are surrounded by an army of witnesses. They have run the race of faith and finished well. It is now our turn.

2 Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

3 Consider the life of the One who endured such personal attacks and hostility from sinners so that you will not grow weary or lose heart. 4 Among you, in your striving against sin, none has resisted the pressure to the point of death, as He did.

God “disciplines” His “disciples.” God is training us not just to live here and now, but to have life in the age to come, to share His life and holiness.

5 Indeed, you seem to have forgotten the proverb directed to you as children:

My child, do not ignore the instruction that comes from the Lord,
or lose heart when He steps in to correct you;
6 For the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and He corrects each one He takes as His own.[b]

7 Endure hardship as God’s discipline and rejoice that He is treating you as His children, for what child doesn’t experience discipline from a parent? 8 But if you are not experiencing the correction that all true children receive, then it may be that you are not His children after all. 9 Remember, when our human parents disciplined us, we respected them. If that was true, shouldn’t we respect and live under the correction of the Father of all spirits even more? 10 Our parents corrected us for a time as seemed good to them, but God only corrects us to our good so that we may share in His holiness.

11 When punishment is happening, it never seems pleasant, only painful. Later, though, it yields the peaceful fruit called righteousness to everyone who has been trained by it. 12 So lift up your hands that are dangling and brace your weakened knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame in you won’t be put out of joint, but will heal.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:37 Some early manuscripts read “sawn in two.” Other early manuscripts read “tempted.” Later manuscripts have both.
  2. 12:5–6 Proverbs 3:11–12
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 112

Psalm 112[a]

1 Praise the Eternal!
How blessed are those who revere the Eternal,
who turn from evil and take great pleasure in His commandments.
2 Their children will be a powerful force upon the earth;
this generation that does what is right in God’s eyes will be blessed.
3 His house will be stocked with wealth and riches,
and His love for justice will endure for all time.
4 When life is dark, a light will shine for those who live rightly—
those who are merciful, compassionate, and strive for justice.
5 Good comes to all who are gracious and share freely;
they conduct their affairs with sound judgment.
6 Nothing will ever rattle them;
the just will always be remembered.
7 They will not be afraid when the news is bad
because they have resolved to trust in the Eternal.
8 Their hearts are confident, and they are fearless,
for they expect to see their enemies defeated.
9 They give freely to the poor;
their righteousness endures for all time;[b]
their strength and power is established in honor.
10 The wicked will be infuriated when they see the good man honored!
They will clench their teeth and dissolve to nothing;
and when they go, their wicked desires will follow.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 112 A Hebrew acrostic poem
  2. 112:9 2 Corinthians 9:9
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 27:17

17 In the same way that iron sharpens iron,
a person sharpens the character of his friend.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

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11/13/2018 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalms 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16

Today is the 13th day of November. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is a pleasure and an honor, like always, to be here with you and take these next steps forward in the old and new Testaments, in the Psalms, and Proverbs. Those all equal one step forward in our adventure through the Scriptures this year. So, let’s go ahead and take that next step forward. We’re reading from the Voice Translation this week. Ezekiel chapter 27 verse 1 through 28 verse 26 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, yesterday in our reading from the book of Hebrews we started walking down what we often refer to as the hall of faith, which, I guess is a little cheesy, but the point and the content are anything but. The writer of Hebrews started in the book of Genesis. So, at the beginning of the story and then began to point out instances in the Hebrew Scriptures where faith was required for the story to be told at all. And, so, in our reading today we spent the whole time walking down the hall of faith and walking through further examples of faith from the Old Testament. And, so, what the writer of Hebrews is trying to do here is to point out what had always been obvious, but hadn’t been seen from this perspective before, especially as it had anything to do in Jesus. So, we walked down this hall of faith, right? It’s by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him or it was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future of his sons or it was by faith that Jacob, when he was dying blessed Joseph’s sons. And then we had the example of Joseph and then Moses and his parents and his family and then Moses leaving Egypt and not fearing Pharaoh. And that was through faith. And it was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and begin these traditions. And it was by faith that the people of Israel went smack through the Red Sea on dry ground. And it was by faith that the Israelites marched around Jericho and the walls crashed down. And it was by faith that Rahab the prostitute wasn’t destroyed in all of that because she put her faith in God and aided the spies as they were spying out Jericho. So, the intention here for the writer of Hebrews in making a list like this and chronicling the faith of their ancestors, this wasn’t just like a random thing, right? And, so, it was by faith is repeated over and over as we walk down the hall of faith for a reason, to lock in the understanding that faith was always the essential component for any of these stories to work. And that’s correct as we can see in the examples from the book of Hebrews. We’ve worked our way through the Hebrew story from Genesis to Joshua and without faith that story couldn’t have been told. So, I mean, imagine what the Bible would look like if all of those people didn’t have faith, right? We would be reading, like, a completely different Bible than the Bible that we have. If faith hadn’t been exercised in each of these people’s lives, they would’ve lead to radically different outcomes and it would be a completely different story, which is the writer’s point. Faith has always been and will always be the essential and necessary component to a life with God. Without faith, we can’t please God. And in each of the examples that we’re working our way through in the hall of faith, God responded to them, but His response didn’t always meet their expectations. It didn’t always mean that hardship was going to be removed. And we’ll see that as we conclude the hall of faith tomorrow. God…God responds to our faith. He responds to our faith in the same way He has always responded to faith. It’s always been this way, which is so deeply ingrained in the writer of Hebrews and in the apostle Paul’s writings. And, as we kind of talked about yesterday, we are a people of faith. Like we believe in all kinds of…like we put our faith in all kinds of things. So, we can get all cross eyed and go like…why can’t I just see God? God why can’t I just see, why can’t I just hear you? Like, why this faith bridge? Why do I gotta access you through faith. It has always been this way. And we can place our faith in whatever we want to. And whatever that is, it’s our God. And as we’ve seen in Hebrews, faith in God alone is what has propelled this story forward. And it is the only thing that can propel our story forward. Anytime this changed…and we’re so far in the Bible we have to be able to see the rhythm of this…anytime this changed disaster was soon to follow. So…so let’s think about it again because this is the intention of the writer of Hebrews. What, exactly, in whom or in what have we put our faith?

Prayer:

Father, we invite Your Holy Spirit once again into this question. Seems like a simple question. Seems easy enough to say, well, my faith is in Christ alone or my faith is in God. And these things would be true but often…often there’s other things going on. And when we feel the anxiety beginning to well up inside of us or the depression beginning to flatten us or any other number of emotions or experiences that we have in life, we can stop when those things start and begin to consider exactly where it is that our faith is at, exactly what it is that we have put our faith in. This isn’t a magic elixir thing. You’re not gonna take all our problems away, but it is the invitation to reconsider the trajectory that we are headed in and where that is going to go and reconnect with You Father and put our hope and our faith in You alone. So, come Holy Spirit. Thank You for these examples that we were given in the book of Hebrews in what we call the hall of faith. All of these examples of people who went through a whole lot of very, very difficult things, but by faith…by faith You showed up, by faith the story was told. And this is exactly what’s happening with us. So, come Holy Spirit increase our faith. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

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And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, there are a number of numbers that you can call depending on where you are in the world. Of course, I guess no matter where you are in the world you can use any of the numbers, but you may be calling internationally. Anyway, if you’re in the Americas, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial. If you are in the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078 is the number to dial. And if you are in Australia 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call.

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

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday November 13, 2018 (NIV)

Ezekiel 27-28

27 The word of the Eternal came to me with a lament for Tyre.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, sing a lament over Tyre. 3 Sing of Tyre, gateway to the sea, merchant to many ports and many people. I, the Eternal Lord, say to you:

Tyre, you have claimed,
“I am perfect in beauty.”
4 Your territory extends to the heart of the seas;
your builders have perfected your beauty.
5 Like a great ship they have made you from the finest firs of Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a noble mast.
6 They brought oaks from Bashan and made your oars.
They planked your deck with pines from the coasts of Cyprus
and inlaid it with ivory!
7 Your sail was made of fine linen from Egypt, embroidered by hand;
your blue and purple awning was tinted with dyes imported from the coasts of Elishah.
8 Your oarsmen were strong men from Sidon and Arvad;
your crew was the most skilled and experienced men, O Tyre.
9 Expert craftsmen from Gebal were on board
to make any repairs needed.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors huddled around you
to trade for your goods.
10 Soldiers from Persia, Lydia, and Libya[a] were your army.
Their shields and helmets hung from your ship and announced your splendor.
11 Men from Arvad and Helech patrolled your walls,
and men from Gammad manned your towers.
Their shields hung on all your walls and announced your splendor.
They have perfected your beauty.

12 Tarshish traded with you because of your great wealth and plentiful goods; they bartered silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. 13 Greece,[b] Tubal, and Meshech did business with you as well. They bartered slaves and boatloads of bronze for your wares. 14 The men of Beth-togarmah bartered work horses, war horses, and mules for your goods. 15 The people of Rhodes[c] traded with you too. You made the people of the coastland your own special market, and they paid you in ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Aram[d] traded with you because your goods were plentiful. They bartered precious stones,[e] purple cloth, embroidered work, exquisite linens, coral, and rubies for your wares. 17 Judah and the rest of Israel did business with you. They paid you fine wheat, fresh produce,[f] sweet honey, fragrant oil, and exotic balm for your merchandise. 18 Damascus—the hub of caravan trading—traded with you because of your great wealth and plentiful goods as well. They brought wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar[g]; 19 Greeks from Uzal[h] bartered iron, cassia bark, and other herbs for your goods. 20 Deban traded in saddle blankets with you. 21 Arabia and all of the Kedar princes certainly traded with you. They traded lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The businessmen of Sheba and Raamah exchanged the finest spices, gems, and gold for your plentiful goods. 23-24 Haran, Canneh, Eden, and merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad did business with you, exchanging exquisite clothing, indigo fabrics, embroidered cloth, carpets dyed of various colors, and tightly braided ropes. 25 Commerce was bustling as Tarshish’s ships transported your goods. In the heart of the sea your docks were full, Tyre, and your business brought you glory and success.

Tarshish was probably located in what is southern Spain today, so Tyre’s commercial reach extended to the other side of the Mediterranean.

26 Expert seafarers row you out into the high seas;
there, a squall from the east shatters you in the heart of the sea!
27 All is lost: your treasures and goods and products
along with all crew aboard—seafarers, pilots, carpenters, traders, and soldiers.
Everyone and everything will sink into the heart of the sea
when the ship is wrecked.
28 The coastal plains shudder
at the shrieks and cries of your pilots.
29 All oarsmen, seafarers, and pilots come down from their ships.
They stand on the shore and gaze out to your catastrophe.
30 They mourn over you with bitter cries that drown out your screams.
They throw dust on top of their heads and wallow in beds of ashes.
31 They shave all their hair and wear sackcloth around their waists.
They grieve and weep over you, deeply and bitterly.
32 And they shout their dirge over your demise:
“Who is like Tyre, sunken and silent in the heart of the sea?”
33 Your goods pleased many people when your sailors went to sea.
Your treasures and products made kings rich all over the world.
34 But now you are shipwrecked, devoured by the great waves.
Your products and all your crew have been swallowed by the sea.
35 All the inhabitants of the coasts
are shocked at what happened to you;
their kings grimace in fear as they look on.
36 And the traders of the nations jeer at you;
the end of your story is a horror,
for you are gone, never to return.

28 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message about the prince of Tyre.

Tyre’s troubles start not long after Judah is destroyed in 586 b.c. Nebuchadnezzar marches there and begins a siege that lasts for almost 13 years. The part of the city on the mainland is captured by Nebuchadnezzar, but the princes of Tyre continue to rule from their island palace for another two centuries. In 332 b.c. Alexander the Great will use the rubble of the mainland city to construct a bridge to the island. Soon the island of Tyre will be in ruins, as it will remain forever.

Eternal One: 2 Son of man, go to the prince of Tyre, and give him this message. This is what I, Eternal Lord, have to say:

Your heart is swollen with pride—
a pride that says, “I am a god.
I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.”
But I assure you, prince, you are nothing more
than a mortal man—a man of mortal destiny.
Even though you have the self-confidence of a god,
you are made entirely of flesh and blood.
3 But obviously you must be wiser than Daniel, that ancient judge in Ugarit.
Clearly, you understand every mystery.
4 You used your wisdom and discernment to amass a great fortune,
to fill your treasuries with gold and silver.
5 Your knack for trade has built your wealth,
but your success and riches have made your heart swell with pride.

Because of Tyre’s location off the coast, she receives daily supplies and survives a long war; therefore, her ruler, Ethbaal III, has every human reason to be confident. Such confidence and wickedness is bred into him: Ethbaal’s ancestor, Ethbaal I, was a priest of their goddess Astarte and seized the throne for himself. He was a powerful prince, making political connections and spreading the worship of his goddess all over the region. Ethbaal I’s daughter, Jezebel, was famous for entrenching pagan worship in Israel, so Tyre is indirectly the root of Israel’s wickedness.

6 Here is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Eternal One: Because you imagine yourself as wise as a god,
7 I am going to recruit outsiders—merciless nations—to take you down.
They will draw their swords and cut you down to size,
attacking the beautiful things your wisdom procured and destroying your splendor.
8 They will force you down to the pit,
and you will die the death
of those struck down in the heart of the sea.
9 At that moment, will you protest to your executioners, “But I’m a god!”?
To those who strike you down you are no god.
To them, you are nothing more than a mortal man.
10 You will die the death of all who are uncircumcised,
at the hand of outsiders.

Like the Israelites, the people of Tyre practice circumcision.

So said the Eternal Lord.

11 The word of the Eternal continued giving me His message.

Eternal One: 12 Son of man, sing a lament for the prince of Tyre. Tell him this is what I, the Eternal Lord, have to say:

You were a paradigm of perfection, human life at its best.
You had everything a leader needs: immense wisdom and perfect beauty.
13 You lived in Eden, God’s garden.
You were clothed in magnificent splendor, covered in jewels:
Sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper,
lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald.
All the mountings were made of gold,[i]
prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 I anointed you the guardian[j] of the garden and stationed you at your post to protect it.
You were on the divine mountain, the holy mount of God.
There you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were entirely pure from the day you were created,
until wickedness crept in and was found in you!
16 Too much buying and selling—a greedy obsession!
You became motivated to violence and did wicked things.
Polluted and disgraced, I drove you off the mountain of God!
I expelled you, O guardian protector, from the fiery stones.
17 Your heart swelled with pride because of your beauty and talents.
Your hunger for fame, your thirst for glory corrupted your wisdom.
This is why I drove you to the ground
and made an example out of you before a company of kings.
18 You desecrated your sanctuaries
by pursuing sin after sin and cheating in business.
I set a flame inside of you, and it devoured you completely.
I reduced you to a pile of ashes on the ground,
a sight for all to see.

Ezekiel prophesies that the prince of Tyre will die violently without the benefit of a proper burial and find no peace in the afterlife.

19 All the nations who know you are appalled at what has happened to you.
The end of your story is a horror:
you are gone, never to return.

The prince of Tyre’s biography echoes the creation story. Adam, too, is described as a perfect and honored creation of God, given guardianship of the earth and full access to God. Expelled from paradise, wickedness becomes entrenched and spreads until God is forced to execute His judgment.

20 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message against Sidon.

Eternal One: 21-22 Son of man, face Sidon and preach to her. This is what I, the Eternal Lord, have to say:

Look, Sidon! I am against you;
My glory will be revealed when I prevail over you.
They will know that I am the Eternal One
when I have punished her
and revealed My holy self to her.
23 I will rain down disease upon her—an epidemic of death!
Her streets will become rivers of blood!
The wounded will fall within her walls,
and the battle will rage on every side!
Then they will know that I am the Eternal One.

24 As for the people of Israel, they will no longer have to deal with the spiteful, thorny neighbors who mocked their destruction. Then they will know that I am the Eternal Lord.

25 Here is what the Eternal Lord has to say:

Eternal One: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will reveal My holiness through them with all the nations watching. They will live in their own land—the land I gave to My servant, Jacob. 26 They will live safely there, building houses and planting vineyards. They will live safely there when I punish all of their neighbors who mocked them and treated them shamefully. Then they will know that I am the Eternal their God.

Footnotes:

  1. 27:10 Hebrew, Lud and Put
  2. 27:13 Hebrew, Javan
  3. 27:15 Hebrew manuscripts read, “Dedan.”
  4. 27:16 Some manuscripts read, “Edom.”
  5. 27:16 Meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  6. 27:17 Meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  7. 27:18 Or, white
  8. 27:19 Or, wine from Isal
  9. 28:13 Meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  10. 28:14 Hebrew, cherub
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Hebrews 11:17-31

17 By faith Abraham, when he endured God’s testing, offered his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. The one who had received God’s promise was willing to offer his only son; 18 God had told him, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will bear your name,”[a] 19 and he concluded that God was capable of raising him from the dead, which, figuratively, is indeed what happened.

20 By faith Isaac spoke blessings upon his sons, Jacob and Esau, concerning things yet to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed the sons of his son Joseph, bowing in worship as he leaned upon his staff.[b]

22 By faith Joseph, at his life’s end, predicted that the children of Israel would make an exodus from Egypt; and he gave instructions that his bones be buried in the land they would someday reach.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born because they saw that he was handsome; and they did not fear Pharaoh’s directive that all male Hebrew children were to be slain.

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be identified solely as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose instead to share the sufferings of the people of God, not just living in sin and ease for a time. 26 He considered the abuse that he and the people of God had suffered in anticipation of the Anointed One more valuable than all the riches of Egypt because he looked ahead to the coming reward.

27 By faith Moses left Egypt, unafraid of Pharaoh’s wrath and moving forward as though he could see the invisible God. 28 Through faith, he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of blood on the doorposts among the Hebrews so that the destroyer of the firstborn would pass over their homes without harming them. 29 By faith the people crossed through the Red Sea as if they were walking on dry land, although the pursuing Egyptian soldiers were drowned when they tried to follow.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho toppled after the people had circled them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab welcomed the Hebrew spies into her home so that she did not perish with the unbelievers.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:18 Genesis 21:12
  2. 11:21 Genesis 47:31
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 111

Psalm 111[a]

1 Praise the Eternal.
I will thank Him with all my heart
in the presence of the right-standing and with the assembly.
2 The works of the Eternal are many and wondrous!
They are examined by all who delight in them.
3 His work is marked with beauty and majesty;
His justice has no end.
4 His wonders are reminders that
the Eternal is gracious and compassionate to all.
5 He provides food to those who revere Him.
He will always remember His covenant.
6 He has shown the mighty strength of His works to His people
by giving the land of foreign nations to them.
7 All His accomplishments are truth and justice;
all His instructions are certain.
8 His precepts will continue year in and year out,
performed by His people with honesty and truth.
9 He has redeemed His people,
guaranteeing His covenant forever.
His name is holy and awe-inspiring.
10 Reverence for the Eternal is the first step toward wisdom.
All those who worship Him have a good understanding.
His praise will echo through eternity!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 111 A Hebrew acrostic poem
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 27:15-16

15 A constant dripping on a rainy day
and a wife’s bickering are very much alike:
16 Anyone who tries to control her might as well try to control the wind
or pick up oil in his right hand.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.