The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday July 31, 2020 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah Rules in Judah

29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

Hezekiah Reopens the Temple

In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them. He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple. He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

“That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured. 10 But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”

12 Then these Levites got right to work:

From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah.
From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel.
From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.
13 From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel.
From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.
14 From the family of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei.
From the family of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the Lord, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the Lord’s instructions in their work. 16 The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the Lord to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.

17 They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year,[a] and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the Lord’s Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the Lord itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.

The Temple Rededication

18 Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: “We have cleansed the entire Temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils. 19 We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the Lord, purified and ready for use.”

20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the Lord. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the Lord.

22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs. 23 The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them. 24 The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the Lord had given to King David through Gad, the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan. 26 The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.

27 Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the Lord were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel. 28 The entire assembly worshiped the Lord as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished. 29 Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship. 30 King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.

31 Then Hezekiah declared, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the Lord.” So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too. 32 The people brought to the Lord 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs for burnt offerings. 33 They also brought 600 cattle and 3,000 sheep and goats as sacred offerings.

34 But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been. 35 There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings.

So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.

Footnotes:

  1. 29:17 Hebrew on the first day of the first month. This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or early April, 715 B.c.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Romans 14

The Danger of Criticism

14 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

10 So why do you condemn another believer[a]? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say,

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.[b]’”

12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.[c] 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.[d]

Footnotes:

  1. 14:10 Greek your brother; also in 14:10b, 13, 15, 21.
  2. 14:11 Or declare praise for God. Isa 49:18; 45:23 (Greek version).
  3. 14:21 Some manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened.
  4. 14:23 Some manuscripts place the text of 16:25-27 here.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 24

Psalm 24

A psalm of David.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.[a] Interlude

Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—
he is the King of glory. Interlude

Footnotes:

  1. 24:6 As in two Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions; most Hebrew manuscripts read O Jacob.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 20:12

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


07/30/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27, Romans 13:1-14, Psalms 23:1-6, Proverbs 20:11

Today is the 30th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian and it is great to be here with you today as we continue our journey through this week and round the corner and move into the very, very last moments of the month and just continue forward on this voyage that we began all…all these months ago that has brought us to this point. And this point leads us back into the book of second Chronicles as well as back into the letter to the Romans. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Second Chronicles chapters 26, 27, and 28 today.

Commentary:

Okay. As we continue our journey through the book of, or the letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans he continues to kind of flesh out or boil down, really, what he was saying yesterday. So, yesterday he was telling us that like we are living sacrifices and there’s freedom in that and living into that and he gave us some characteristics to look at. And we did. Today we kind of boil it down to the essence of what is required to even be on that journey and that is love. And it’s very unlikely that we…that we don’t understand the concept, that love is the answer, love is what we need. Here…we hear this all the time almost to the point that is cliché and yet it couldn’t be more true. For Paul though this is so important because…because the darkness is fading away and the day of salvation is dawning. And, so, like, it’s important to get this - a world infused with love. This is where it’s all headed. And we can look around us and go, “it seems like it’s not. Like, it seems like it’s going in the other direction. It seems like divisiveness rules the day and it’s hard to find love conquering all.” And yet this is kind of the motion of the whole Bible. This is where we are headed. God is love - the Bible tells us. And Paul’s not really saying like, “so just try harder.” Like, you know, when you’re…when you’re about to act not in love than just stop yourself and changeover and act in love. What he’s kind of bringing out here is that we truly begin to live in love when we realize that we don’t have to live any other way. We have been made new creations. The spirit of the living God is within us. God is love. When we are a living sacrifice then love is what is being poured out of us as God does His bidding in this world through us. And, so, anything that would stop that, anything that would interrupt that is something that Paul says that we should see as like filthy garments, that we should strip those things off and live in love. And for Paul he like gives a little bit of a list of like what this filthy garments, what those behaviors might even look like and uses wild parties and drunkenness and sexual promiscuity and immoral…immorality. And…and we would say, “yeah. Like, yeah. Got it. Got it. Understand. Struggle, but got it. I understand.” But he also says quarreling and jealousy in the same sentence. Quarreling and jealousy are the same category as immorality. Quarreling and jealousy are immoral. Oooo…now we’re kinda getting to the bedrock here. And what is the point though? Why are these filthy garments? Because none of them can be done in love, right? You can’t commit adultery in love. You can’t murder in love. You can’t covet in love. You can’t be jealous in love. It’s the things that we can’t do in love that are filthy things that need to be discarded. And, so, Paul is teaching us what it looks like to live into this new creation that we have been made, this living sacrifice that we are becoming, understanding that, yeah, we can do all of the filthy…like we can do all of those things. We have…we have a will. We can do all of those things but we can’t do them in love, and if we can’t do them in love then we aren’t being a living sacrifice completely available to God for His use in this world as new creations who have been adopted into the divine family of God and are here representing the most-high God to restore and reclaim this world and its people. And, so, so much of what we’ve even come…come across the last couple of days in the book Romans boils down to that simple question. Can I do this in love? Am I loving? Am I loving as I do this? Are those words that are about to spill out of my mouth, do they carry love, right? Because if God is love than what we do in love is of God. And is that not exactly, like precisely what we’re supposed to be doing. And so Paul continues to challenge us. It’s very encouraging because what he’s talking about is what it looks like to be free, to…to let go, to have an identity as a child of the most high God and to not be in competition with anybody else, to love and love and love. And, so, again we have some things to think about and to observe about ourselves as we move into and through this day.

Prayer:

Jesus, we have an example, You. We’ve seen what it looks like to be whole. You set this example for us that we are to live into, and it boils down to our surrender to Your love and our availability for Your love to flow through us. Holy Spirit lead us into what that looks like for us today. Help us catch ourselves when we are stepping off that path. Help us to strip off the filthy garments that hold us back from that, that we might fully be available for Your use in this world. Come Jesus we pray. In Your mighty name we ask. Amen.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday July 30, 2020 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 26-28

Uzziah Rules in Judah

26 All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father. After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath[a] and restored it to Judah.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God.[b] And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.

Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia. God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur,[c] and his wars with the Meunites. The Meunites[d] paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.

Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall. 10 He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah[e] and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.

11 Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12 These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders. 13 The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.

14 Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones. 15 And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones[f] from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.

Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment

16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar. 17 Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the Lord, all brave men. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!”

19 Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy[g] suddenly broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him. 21 So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the Lord. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.

22 The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became the next king.

Jotham Rules in Judah

27 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.

Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas. Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds[h] of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.[i]

King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.

Ahaz Rules in Judah

28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done. Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of Baal. He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire.[j] In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.

Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army. In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel’s king, killed 120,000 of Judah’s troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Then Zicri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, the king’s son; Azrikam, the king’s palace commander; and Elkanah, the king’s second-in-command. The armies of Israel captured 200,000 women and children from Judah and seized tremendous amounts of plunder, which they took back to Samaria.

But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed. 10 And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God? 11 Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord’s fierce anger has been turned against you!”

12 Then some of the leaders of Israel[k]—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle. 13 “You must not bring the prisoners here!” they declared. “We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”

14 So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people. 15 Then the four men just mentioned by name came forward and distributed clothes from the plunder to the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothing and sandals to wear, gave them enough food and drink, and dressed their wounds with olive oil. They put those who were weak on donkeys and took all the prisoners back to their own people in Jericho, the city of palms. Then they returned to Samaria.

Ahaz Closes the Temple

16 At that time King Ahaz of Judah asked the king of Assyria for help. 17 The armies of Edom had again invaded Judah and taken captives. 18 And the Philistines had raided towns located in the foothills of Judah[l] and in the Negev of Judah. They had already captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. 19 The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,[m] for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.

20 So when King Tiglath-pileser[n] of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him. 21 Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.

22 Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.

24 The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

26 The rest of the events of Ahaz’s reign and everything he did, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 When Ahaz died, he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal cemetery of the kings of Judah. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.

Footnotes:

  1. 26:2 As in Greek version (see also 2 Kgs 14:22; 16:6); Hebrew reads Eloth, a variant spelling of Elath.
  2. 26:5 As in Syriac and Greek versions; Hebrew reads who instructed him in divine visions.
  3. 26:7 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Gur-baal.
  4. 26:8 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Ammonites. Compare 26:7.
  5. 26:10 Hebrew the Shephelah.
  6. 26:15 Or to shoot arrows and hurl large stones.
  7. 26:19 Or a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases.
  8. 27:5a Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms].
  9. 27:5b Hebrew 10,000 cors [2,200 kiloliters] of wheat, and 10,000 cors of barley.
  10. 28:3 Or even making his sons pass through the fire.
  11. 28:12 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.
  12. 28:18 Hebrew the Shephelah.
  13. 28:19 Masoretic Text reads of Israel; also in 28:23, 27. The author of Chronicles sees Judah as representative of the true Israel. (Some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version read of Judah.)
  14. 28:20 Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser, a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Romans 13

Respect for Authority

13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”[a] These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 23

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Footnotes:

  1. 23:4 Or the dark valley of death.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 20:11

11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


07/29/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28, Romans 12:1-21, Psalms 22:19-31, Proverbs 20:8-10

Today is the 29th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian and it is great to be here with you in the waning days of the month of July as we continue our journey and cross through the center of the week together. It is a joy and it is an honor to be just be in your presence and let God’s word be in all of our presence and His Holy Spirit to hover among us. So, let’s dive in. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Today, second Chronicles chapters 24 and 25.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we’ve been working our way through the book of Romans and I would say we are probably two thirds of the way through now and this is the longest of Paul’s letters. And, so, we began, and…and listened as he kind of laid out his arguments and then we were able to kinda move into the implications, which are stunning and give us an understanding of why the good news is good news. But now we’re kind of turning into this…this portion where it’s like, “okay. So, now I understand what you’re saying, and I understand the implications of what you’re saying. But how do I live into this? How do I aim my life? How…how should I shape things?” And Paul is unpacking that by saying, “first and foremost understand that you died, and then you were raised up again, a new creation in Christ. And, so, you’re not your own anymore. Now you live as Christ. And you are to be a living sacrifice available to Christ.” And we’ve kind of heard this “living sacrifice” language may…maybe often and we’re like, “okay. Give my body as a living sacrifice”, and then…then we’re kind of…equate that to things that we should refrain from”, right? Like…lust…lust things, and…and stuff like that when, although that is part of what’s being said here, it’s far more comprehensive than that. We’re to live available to Christ to live through us physically in this world, to be available to His will and His ways and His works in this world by using our bodies to get things done. And according to the apostle Paul, this is how we live into God’s good and pleasing and perfect will for our lives, that living this way is…is…is actually true worship to God. And, so, even like intellectually if we understand what’s being said here, it’s like how do you know, like how will we know that if we’re doing that correctly? And it’s funny because we’re people that…just like we want to know when so much of faith is faith. Like we’re reaching and believing in things that we cannot tangibly put all our minds or our hands on, but we know they are true by faith. But Paul did offer some words, like some characteristics, some things that we should have to be able to examine ourselves in our reading today. And if we look at those then we do have a gauge of whether we are living into this life of a new creature. So, Paul says, “don’t think you are better than you really are. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection. Take delight in honoring each other. Don’t be lazy. Work hard. Serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble. Keep on praying. When God’s people are in need be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them, bless them. Pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy. Weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company people you think are below you, ordinary people. Don’t think you know it all. Never pay back evil with additional evil. Do things in such a way that everybody can see that you’re doing it honorably. Do all that you can to live in peace with everybody and don’t take revenge. Leave that to God. And, if you’re enemies are hungry, then feed them. And if they’re thirsty then give them something to drink.” This is what Paul suggests is what it’s like to live your life as a living sacrifice to God, Holy and acceptable. This is the essence of what a godly life looks like. This is how we are supposed to be in this world. So, I mean just like reading back what we read in the 12th chapter of Romans day as a list, like we just did we could go like, “okay. You know, some of those, like I am living into. Some of those I am not living into. And I see that I’ve got some work to do. But let’s just imagine for a second that that we found a place in our heart…like we fully surrendered completely to the point that this…this was sort of normal. This was the normal. Like this isn’t something that we’re aiming toward. This is this normal. Because that’s what Paul is describing here. This is what your normal life as a new creation as a living sacrifice is supposed to look like. This is supposed to be totally normal. So, let’s just imagine that all of the ways that we react to things and all of the way that we initiate things and all of our thoughts and words and deeds align with this, imagine the freedom of that. And now imagine that the entire body of Christ in the world is all living into that. Imagine the shift in the entire atmosphere of the world. Like, imagine the change that would happen if we lived into this. This is the good news. This is how things are supposed to be. So, when we flip on the news or we just look around us and we see the brokenness of the world and we get frustrated and we become overwhelmed and full of anxiety and hopeless, the one thing that we could do is come back here and go, “am I even living into this? Like, do I have anything to comment on? Am I living as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God living into that freedom myself or am I just broken and looking around at all the other brokenness and obsessing about what is broken instead of reinforcing what is whole?” Yeah, some things to think about today for sure.

Prayer:

Father, as we do contemplate this, we invite Your Holy Spirit to continually bring it to mind today as we just observe ourselves as we watch the way that we are in the world. Are we a living sacrifice totally available to You and living into wholeness or do we keep waiting for You to do some kind of magic wand over the world and just change us? You have invited us to participate in collaboration with You in our own restoration, in our own healing, in our own sanctification. And certainly, we…we will not achieve it. We certainly cannot get there on our own and demand that You see us as righteousness…as righteous, because we…we are. That is a gift. We can’t achieve these things on our own. But we aren’t on our own. And the person that we were, who was on their own is dead. You have…You’ve made us new creatures. And, so, this is possible. This is what godliness looks like. And, so, help us to, first of all simply understand that and second…second of all, with all of our hearts aimed in that direction. And truly aiming in that direction is to truly surrender to You. And, so, come Holy Spirit into this. Well up from within and lead us into all truth we ask. In Jesu’s name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it’s the website, it’s where you find out what’s happening. And, so, there’s something happening.

We have a new product in the Daily Audio Bible Shop today as we watch this…this phenomenon that takes shape is…especially this year…the double DABber. those who are listening to Daily Audio Bible and Daily Audio Bible Chronological with China, my daughter, who is indeed a gift, and is indeed a wise…a wise young lady and…and has informed her life with the Scriptures. I mean, every day…every day of her childhood she read the Bible. And, so, she knows the Bible way better than…like I grew up as a pastor’s kid, but she knows the Bible way better…way better at her age than I could have dreamed of. And I’m proud of her. But anyway, so double DABber this year have really, really…thinking there’s a ton of double DABbers listening to Chronological and Daily Audio Bible. And, so, she and I were talking a couple months ago thinking, “we should make double Dabber shirts. And, so, she kind of spearheaded that, got some designs, and picked some stuff, and we got em’ made and they are available today. So, all you double Dabbers, we have double DABber shirts in the Daily Audio Bible Shop in the Lifestyle section. You’ll find them there. I think I don’t think they’re gonna to last long, but they are there now. And we’re just so excited. So, excited that there is a hunger…a hunger for the Scriptures and a hunger to apply those scriptures to our lives and let them do what they do. Like, they shift things inside, they change the way we look at things, they change our attitudes, they change our convictions, they reorient us to God. And, so, yeah, that’s the mission of our lives. And, so, anything…anything that can move the needle on that is…is what we’re here for. So, it’s exciting…it’s super exciting to have our double DABber shirts in the Daily Audio Bible Shop. So, check them out in the Lifestyle section. You can get to the Daily Audio Bible Shop at dailyaudiobible.com. Just click n Shop or, if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can just click the little drawer icon that’s in the upper left-hand corner and that will open a Drawer and then you can find the Shop from there, but that’s where they are.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible as we journey our way through the summer months, then thank you. Thank you for your partnership profoundly and with all humility. Ah…we wouldn't…none of this would be here if we weren’t in community, if we weren’t in this together, taking this journey together. And, so, thank you for your partnership. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner. The Drawer icons in the left-hand corner and the Give button is in the right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, which is kind of in the middle of the top, the little red button and you can share from there or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 29, 2020 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 24-25

Joash Repairs the Temple

24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had sons and daughters.

At one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the Lord. He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately.

So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and asked him, “Why haven’t you demanded that the Levites go out and collect the Temple taxes from the towns of Judah and from Jerusalem? Moses, the servant of the Lord, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the Tabernacle of the Covenant.[a]

Over the years the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the images of Baal.

So now the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord. Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. 10 This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.

11 Whenever the chest became full, the Levites would carry it to the king’s officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and take it back to the Temple again. This went on day after day, and a large amount of money was collected. 12 The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the construction supervisors, who hired masons and carpenters to restore the Temple of the Lord. They also hired metalworkers, who made articles of iron and bronze for the Lord’s Temple.

13 The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it. 14 When all the repairs were finished, they brought the remaining money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to make various articles for the Temple of the Lord—articles for worship services and for burnt offerings, including ladles and other articles made of gold and silver. And the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually in the Temple of the Lord during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.

15 Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130. 16 He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple.

Jehoiada’s Reforms Reversed

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. 18 They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

21 Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. 22 That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

The End of Joash’s Reign

23 In the spring of the year[b] the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus. 24 Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the Lord helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash.

25 The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials plotted to kill him for murdering the son[c] of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. 26 The assassins were Jozacar,[d] the son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of a Moabite woman named Shomer.[e]

27 The account of the sons of Joash, the prophecies about him, and the record of his restoration of the Temple of God are written in The Commentary on the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah became the next king.

Amaziah Rules in Judah

25 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin[f] from Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.

When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father. However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”[g]

Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains[h] for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield. He also paid about 7,500 pounds[i] of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.

But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim! If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.”

Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”

The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this!” 10 So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.

11 Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir. 12 They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.

13 Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.

14 When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them! 15 This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”

16 But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!”

So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”

17 After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash,[j] the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me in battle!”[k]

18 But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!

19 “You are saying, ‘I have defeated Edom,’ and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”

20 But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom. 21 So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 22 Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. 23 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet[l] of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24 He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.

25 King Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel. 26 The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there. 28 They brought his body back on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.[m]

Footnotes:

  1. 24:6 Hebrew Tent of the Testimony.
  2. 24:23 Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April.
  3. 24:25 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads sons.
  4. 24:26a As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 12:21; Hebrew reads Zabad.
  5. 24:26b As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 12:21; Hebrew reads Shimrith, a variant spelling of Shomer.
  6. 25:1 As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 14:2; Hebrew reads Jehoaddan, a variant spelling of Jehoaddin.
  7. 25:4 Deut 24:16.
  8. 25:5 Hebrew commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
  9. 25:6 Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms].
  10. 25:17a Hebrew Joash, a variant spelling of Jehoash; also in 25:18, 21, 23, 25.
  11. 25:17b Hebrew Come, let us look one another in the face.
  12. 25:23 Hebrew 400 cubits [180 meters].
  13. 25:28 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and other ancient versions (see also 2 Kgs 14:20); most Hebrew manuscripts read the city of Judah.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice to God

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[d] Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[e] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[f] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”[g]
says the Lord.

20 Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”[h]

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Footnotes:

  1. 12:1a Greek brothers.
  2. 12:1b Or This is your spiritual worship; or This is your reasonable service.
  3. 12:3a Or Because of the grace; compare 1:5.
  4. 12:3b Or by the faith God has given you; or by the standard of our God-given faith.
  5. 12:10 Greek with brotherly love.
  6. 12:11 Or but serve the Lord with a zealous spirit; or but let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord.
  7. 12:19 Deut 32:35.
  8. 12:20 Prov 25:21-22.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 22:19-31

19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.[a]
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.

Footnotes:

  1. 22:22 Hebrew my brothers.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 20:8-10

When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?

10 False weights and unequal measures[a]
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

Footnotes:

  1. 20:10 Hebrew A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


07/28/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21, Romans 11:13-36, Psalms 22:1-18, Proverbs 20:7

Today is the 28th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is…it is great to be here with you today to come…to come around the Global Campfire, to just kinda come in from whatever you’re doing and all the obligations and responsibilities and the swarm of stuff that has to get done, to just set it aside for second, leave it at the threshold here as we walk around the Global Campfire. We can pick it…pick it all back up if we want to later but we usually can leave this place of serenity with a lot better perspective for having just let it go for a few minutes and allowing God’s word to wash in and remind us of the things that we forget all the time and just allow God to speak through His word. So, let’s dive in. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week and continuing our journey through the letter to the Romans in the New Testament and the book of second Chronicles in the old. So, we’ll read second Chronicles chapters 21, 22, and 23 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for Psalm 22 today, a Psalm that we can read and go, “well this is pretty…this is kind of a downer, this is kind of depressing. This doesn’t end well. Like this…this doesn’t turn around and put a bow on top of it make it all good.” It’s just articulating the pain of life sometimes, “my God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” And we confess that we have felt that way at times. And yet, what we’re reading is thousands of years old, penned by King David. He felt this way at times. These were the words You uttered from the cross, Jesus. And, so, even though this Psalm doesn’t tie off in a nice bow it does tell us we’re not alone. And one thing that it certainly does do is give us words and language; language of honesty, of vulnerability, of telling the truth. David said, “You brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust You at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into Your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Don’t stay so far from me. Trouble is near. Nobody else can help me.” Thank You for those words of honesty because they articulate how it feels at times. Thank You for giving us permission to be honest because this is the first step in being true. And so often we would just burry these things. We wouldn't…we wouldn’t dare say these things…we bury these things. And, so, we chase all kinds of distractions and that doesn’t fix it. It just like kicks the can down the road a little bit. We have felt overwhelmed and helpless Lord. Most of us have probably had that feeling some…at some point in this year. Some of us are feeling that right this very, very minute. And, so, we’re being honest here and the great lesson is that our honest worship before You, isn’t just to jump up and down and get all whipped up and sing about Your power and how You’re gonna beat up the bad guys. And our worship is in these times too, maybe even more importantly in these times where things aren’t making sense anymore in this world or in our circumstances. You aren’t inviting us to ignore these things or disavow these things or pretend that these things don’t happen. You’re inviting us to be honest and it is such a relief to know that we can be honest with You. And, so, Holy Spirit well up from within us, give us the language that we need, the language of surrender, the language of worship in spite of it all, the language that will remind our hearts that You are within us, You will not abandon us, we can never escape from Your Spirit. No matter where we run You are there and make us aware of Your presence in all that’s going on. And that You are always with us, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

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There are resources in the Daily Audio Bible Shop for the journey that we are on. This journey…well…365 steps is what it takes, 365 steps in a row and we go through the entire Bible in a year and it goes fast but a year of life happens in…in the span of that and it’s just good to be able to write down the story, to be able to journal, to be able to just know we are in…in a community together going through this…this journey. And, so, there are resources for that in the Daily Audio Bible Shop. So, check that out.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello DAB family this is Teresa Whom the Son has Set Free from Canada and it’s been years since I call in. Sorry about that. I have been listening and praying along with you all. I need to ask my family for prayer for my daughter’s. They are struggling with alcohol and drugs. I received a call from the police the other day about my youngest being in the hospital after trying to commit suicide and then the oldest is calling me saying that she needs help. These two girls are mothers of young children. I have been through this before as I called in over eight years ago on this. I was grazing my grandchildren and whom since I’ve returned them back to their mother. My prayer is that Jesus set them free like He did me from addiction. I asked Him into my heart, and I was delivered and set free from alcohol and drugs myself. Now, I know he can do this for them. So, please join me in this spiritual battle that I’m under for my children. My son also but he’s gone into rehab so that is a “praise the Lord.” Any who, I want to also say…wow…Annette from Oklahoma, when I heard your voice, I had a smile on my face. I missed you girl. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard your voice. I want to give a shout out also to James the teacher and Joe the police officer. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard their voices as well. So, thanks dabblers. And yeah, I want to put…I’m gonna call in a lot more. I miss the family. I feel alone. And with you people, you know, the prayers and praise and Biola I love “in Jesus’ name.” I feel the power behind that voice of yours. I just want you’s all to join me in the deliverance of my children because this is…it’s awful when you start getting phone calls saying they’re in the hospital and they’re doing stupid things to themselves. Anyways. Thank you, guys. God bless you.

Hi Daily Audio Bible family this is Avery calling for the first time. I’ve never done this before, and I just want to thank you all so much for the way that you have…take care of each other and pray for one another. This community has really spoken into my heart in ways that I never thought was possible. I was looking for an audio Bible and I found this one and it’s exactly what I needed. I’ve been in a dry spell as most of you know who listen. It’s hard to discipline ourselves and sit and read so that’s why we listen and it’s been such a joy to hear all of your voices and it’s very sobering to know that there are so many believers out there and all of us have our struggles. And mine lately has been just, I feel like I’m kind of stuck in my job. I’ve been rotating shifts for 5 ½ years. I am tired and I just finished Bible college and I feel very much called into ministry. My fiancé and I both believe that we are called to serve in some capacity or another and we’re really excited to pursue that, but it just feels like everything is stopped in time and I’m thankful I’m employed, I really am. I know so many people don’t have jobs and my prayers go out to you. But I do feel like my call is in ministry and I’m just…I’m…my patience is…it’s bad. And I know my ministry is where I’m at. I understand that to some extent, but I do know that God is calling us into full-time ministry and I just ask that you’d please pray with me to continue to have patience and to seek out the Lord and to do what I need to do to prepare my heart for when that day comes that He calls us into ministry. Thank you all so much. My love and prayers goes out to all of you. And be blessed in Jesus name.

Hey DAB family I wanted to thank Brian for unpacking Romans lately, particularly July 21st. Brian that summary was amazing. You said, “because of Jesus whom God raised from the dead who fulfilled the law then our faith as with Abraham, our faith in God through Jesus obliterates the sin issue. It’s not supposed to be the thing, sin, that we focus on anymore.” And then you went on and said, “and yet don’t we go on and live our lives under some cloud of accusation and condemnation, don’t we know our failures every single day and drag them around like chains around our ankles or weights on our shoulders or clouds over our heads?” And the answer for me was, yeah, I spend way too much time under the cloud of condemnation instead of under the freedom that Jesus has already one for me. And, so, I’m taking up that challenge that you offered. I’m gonna do the experiment, change the way that I deal with sin. I will be quick now to repent, ask for forgiveness, receive it and then move on and switch from being remorseful and…and…and sin focused and, “O, I did it again” to praising the Lord and, “God what do you want to do next with me?” So, I just wanted to also say that Nehemiah 8:10 says, “the Lord, the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Don’t let the enemy keep you in sin consciousness and steal your joy because it steals your strength too and it’ll also reduce the light of your countenance. And people won’t want to come to you and ask for, “hey, what’s the Good News” if you’re gloomy looking. So, we can do it family. Let’s do it. Let’s take that challenge Brian offered. Love you all. Peace.

I know the plans that I have for you
plans not to harm but to prosper you
behold I am making all things new
return to me and I’ll return to you
what an awesome promise from our Lord
that I, even I can be restored
sins forgiven past ignored
blessings in and on me poured
God I’m so glad that you’re not like men
because your more patient with me than my most patient, patient friend
because I return to you again and again
and again and again I return to my sin
and not to sin some mistaken airing away
but blatantly disobedient day after day
forgive me father please forgive me now
because I do want to serve you please show me how
because I read your word I fast I pray
and I still fall short every single day
and that’s why I thank you for your mercy and your grace
for your open arms and your smiling face
for letting me know that even though I fail
victories mine and I will prevail
and I thank you for telling me every day Father
the battle is not yours
because I still need help staying out of those revolving doors
because even though I’m out of Egypt he’s still in me
and even though there are no bars walls or chains I know I’m still not free
father give you more of your Holy Spirit
I love your voice and I long to hear it
and one more thing father grant me please
an open broken heart on bended knees

blindtony1016@gmail.com. And once again Brian and the Hardin family thank you for this wonderful podcast for God’s Holy Spirit to flow. Keep it flowing y’all. All right. Bye-bye.

This is Psychiatrist from California. I am wanting to say thank you to all of the DAB family for being here and showing me your faith and journey with God. It’s been a blessing to know that I’m not alone or unique in suffering but rather unique in the way God created me and who I am. I’d like to pray for my family as we go through this grieving process of losing my dad and we are trying to figure out how to bury him and have a memorial in this time of COVID. Also, I’d like to pray for my cousin’s children who are both atheists and living in ways are harmful to themselves and that they find Jesus and find belief in God who can save them. And I’d like to pray for my friend Sherry whose brother died just before COVID set and the grief that she and her family are going through, his two little kids and wife that have survived him and are trying to make sense of life. Thank you DAB family and thank you God. I love you. Amen.

Hello, my DAB family I’ve come to you today because my family needs covered in prayer as my brother Keith is sick with the coronavirus. They’re not sure if they’re going to have to intubate him, but he’s scared, and I’m scared too. He’s the only family I have left. Please cover him in prayer, that he gets better and according to God’s will. Thank you all and have a good day.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday July 28, 2020 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 21-23

Jehoram Rules in Judah

21 When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.

Jehoram’s brothers—the other sons of Jehoshaphat—were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.[a] Their father had given each of them valuable gifts of silver, gold, and costly items, and also some of Judah’s fortified towns. However, he designated Jehoram as the next king because he was the oldest. But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. But the Lord did not want to destroy David’s dynasty, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.

During Jehoram’s reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king. So Jehoram went out with his full army and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them[b] under cover of darkness. 10 Even so, Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time. All this happened because Jehoram had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. 11 He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods and to go astray.

12 Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter:

“This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah. 13 Instead, you have been as evil as the kings of Israel. You have led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship idols, just as King Ahab did in Israel. And you have even killed your own brothers, men who were better than you. 14 So now the Lord is about to strike you, your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a heavy blow. 15 You yourself will suffer with a severe intestinal disease that will get worse each day until your bowels come out.”

16 Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs, who lived near the Ethiopians,[c] to attack Jehoram. 17 They marched against Judah, broke down its defenses, and carried away everything of value in the royal palace, including the king’s sons and his wives. Only his youngest son, Ahaziah,[d] was spared.

18 After all this, the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease. 19 The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.

20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.

Ahaziah Rules in Judah

22 Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabs[e] had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.

Ahaziah was twenty-two[f] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri. Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.

Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined Joram,[g] the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans[h] wounded Joram in the battle, he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramoth.[i] Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziah[j] of Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.

But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah’s downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi,[k] whom the Lord had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.

While Jehu was executing judgment against the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some of Judah’s officials and Ahaziah’s relatives[l] who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them all. Then Jehu’s men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because the people said, “He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the Lord with all his heart.” But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah’s family was capable of ruling the kingdom.

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

10 When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family. 11 But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba,[m] the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. 12 Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

Revolt against Athaliah

23 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. These men traveled secretly throughout Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem. They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king.

Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! The time has come for him to reign! The Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king. This is what you must do. When you priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as gatekeepers. Another third will go over to the royal palace, and the final third will be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else should stay in the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the Lord, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the Lord’s instructions and stay outside. You Levites, form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

So the Levites and all the people of Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not let anyone go home after their shift ended. Then Jehoiada supplied the commanders with the spears and the large and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of God. 10 He stationed all the people around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.

11 Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws.[n] They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening. 13 When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

14 Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple,[o] and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Temple of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her and led her out to the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and they killed her there.

Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

18 Jehoiada now put the priests and Levites in charge of the Temple of the Lord, following all the directions given by David. He also commanded them to present burnt offerings to the Lord, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, and to sing and rejoice as David had instructed. 19 He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s Temple to keep out those who for any reason were ceremonially unclean.

20 Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the upper gate and into the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed.

Footnotes:

  1. 21:2 Masoretic Text reads of Israel; also in 21:4. The author of Chronicles sees Judah as representative of the true Israel. (Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek and Syriac versions, and Latin Vulgate read of Judah.)
  2. 21:9 Or he went out and escaped. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 21:16 Hebrew the Cushites.
  4. 21:17 Hebrew Jehoahaz, a variant spelling of Ahaziah; compare 22:1.
  5. 22:1 Or marauding bands of Arabs.
  6. 22:2 As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 2 Kgs 8:26); Hebrew reads forty-two.
  7. 22:5a Hebrew Jehoram, a variant spelling of Joram; also in 22:6, 7.
  8. 22:5b As in two Hebrew manuscripts and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Kgs 8:28); Masoretic Text reads the archers.
  9. 22:6a Hebrew Ramah, a variant spelling of Ramoth.
  10. 22:6b As in some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek and Syriac versions, and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Kgs 8:29); most Hebrew manuscripts read Azariah.
  11. 22:7 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14.
  12. 22:8 As in Greek version (see also 2 Kgs 10:13); Hebrew reads and sons of the brothers of Ahaziah.
  13. 22:11 As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 11:2; Hebrew lacks Ahaziah’s sister and reads Jehoshabeath [a variant spelling of Jehosheba].
  14. 23:11 Or a copy of the covenant.
  15. 23:14 Or Bring her out from between the ranks; or Take her out of the Temple precincts. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Romans 11:13-36

13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t[a] spare you either.

22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

God’s Mercy Is for Everyone

25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters,[b] so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,[c]
and he will turn Israel[d] away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins.”[e]

28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share[f] in God’s mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?[g]
35 And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?[h]

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:21 Some manuscripts read perhaps he won’t.
  2. 11:25 Greek brothers.
  3. 11:26a Greek from Zion.
  4. 11:26b Greek Jacob.
  5. 11:26-27 Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).
  6. 11:31 Other manuscripts read will now share; still others read will someday share.
  7. 11:34 Isa 40:13 (Greek version).
  8. 11:35 See Job 41:11.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 22:1-18

Psalm 22

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced[a] my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice[b] for my clothing.

Footnotes:

  1. 22:16 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions; most Hebrew manuscripts read They are like a lion at.
  2. 22:18 Hebrew cast lots.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 20:7

The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


07/27/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37, Romans 10:14-11:12, Psalms 21:1-13, Proverbs 20:4-6

Today is the 27th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is a joy and a pleasure to be here with you today as we…as we get going in this new week of ours, this last week of this 7th month of the year. So, let’s live into it fully and take the next step forward for today allowing God’s word to speak into our lives. We’re reading through the book of second Chronicles, which we will continue to do throughout this week. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Second Chronicles chapters 19 and 20 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, as we’re moving through the book of second Chronicles we come to the story of King Jehoshaphat and a part of that story today is a story we probably pretty much can all relate to, maybe even more so like in these…in this particular strange year than ever before. It’s like what was happening was that Jehoshaphat, the king, was a reforming king and…and he had…was like a second-generation leading people back to God but three armies from the other side of the Dead Sea decided to become allies to destroy Israel, And, so, they cross over the Dead Sea and kinda gather at En-gedi, which is an oasis in the desert where freshwater is and prepare to like, you know, attack and destroy Jerusalem. So, word gets to the king and the king realizes, “like this is pretty grave. Like, there’s no way that we can defend ourselves against this or like three nations against us with a vast army”, right? And, so, we feel that way at times, like just the way the circumstances have aligned themselves, a bunch of stuff is flying at us all at the same time. And like if it were just one thing, maybe we could try to handle it while keeping life going. But all these things coming down at the same time, it’s like overwhelming, right? So, that’s kind of how they’re feeling, as a nation and that’s how we can feel at times. So, king Jehoshaphat getting this news these armies are coming against him, he’s horrified by it. But when we’re facing similar circumstances, maybe not on a national level, but, you know, when it’s like everything is imploding in our lives and there’s so many things flying at us that we cannot maintain any of them, we feel the same hopelessness, like this…we’re just terrified by it all, we’re panicking. We’re running in every direction, wasting all of our precious energy just trying to figure out what to do, but not actually really getting anywhere. And that’s kind where the story may be diverges because Jehoshaphat didn’t do that. Like, he didn’t just get frantic and start building makeshift walls and defensive positions and getting all the Army together and figuring out whether he needed to surrender or figure out like what kind of treasures they needed amass and give to this vast horde to get them to go away, some kind of negotiation for peace. Instead, he basically got down on his knees and begged the Lord to tell him what to do. And he called all the people together for a fast before God so that they could seek the direction of the Lord, “what do we do?” This is like the first response not the last response. And, so, often in our lives, like getting down on our knees before God and asking Him for guidance and what to do in this situation, like that’s the last-ditch effort, throw our hands up and say I have exhausted myself, I don’t want to do. But in this case, the king starts there even in a worshipful attitude. He’s like, “we can cry out to You to save us, and You will hear us and rescue us. O our God, won’t You stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that’s about to attack us. We don’t know what to do. We’re looking to You for help.” And, so, kind of in this posture where the king has humbled himself and called the people together to seek God, and everyone is humbling themselves before the Lord, then this….the…the word of the Lord comes through Levite and he’s like, “listen. Listen, this is what the Lord says, ‘don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged by all this…this mighty army. The battle isn’t yours. The battle’s God. So, march out and take your positions and watch the Lord fight His battle. This isn’t your battle. Watch what He will do.’” And we read what happened. They marched out and they started to sing worship to God and the next thing that they knew all the armies that had marched in unity toward the destruction of Jerusalem decided to go to war with each other and they destroyed each other while the armies of Israel watched. So, in our own lives, I mean, there are times where we feel pretty surrounded by it all and pretty overwhelmed by it all and there’s no way out. And all these feelings that are described in this story we can understand on an individual basis. And, you know, we can…we can exhaust ourselves trying to fight our own battle even though we know it’s a losing battle or we’re gonna realize that we’re going to have to surrender, but not the enemy, to God. And part of surrendering to God is letting go of the expectations of what’s supposed to happen. We can exhaust ourselves trying to fight these battles. And we have an outcome in mind that we can’t achieve. And, so, we throw our hands up and surrender to God so that He will achieve what we could not, what we want Him to do. That’s not surrender though. Surrendering is saying, “I am nothing. I have nothing. I am powerless. I surrender to you, which means I surrender what I think is supposed to happen. I surrender to your guidance, your leadership and your will. I’m letting go. Wherever you’re going I’m going.” And it’s pretty remarkable what can happen when we surrender those expectations. In the case of Jehoshaphat and Israel, they just became spectators and watched the enemy destroy itself.

Prayer:

Father, we certainly invite You into that because we can relate. All of us can relate on some level. And some of us are in that position right now. And, so, Your word is speaking like volumes right now. And, so, Father, we invite You into all the things that are going on. Surrender is something that we must master but it is hard to master. And, so, Holy Spirit help us. Help us to see. Help us to turn to You first before we exhaust ourselves and have come into a place of complete panic and we turn to You first before all of that frantic use of energy is wasted. Instead, may we worship You, may we press into You, may we surrender to You with all of our energy, with all of our hearts and watch what You will do. Come Holy Spirit into this we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here in our Global Campfire community on our journey through the Bible this year. So, stay…stay tuned and stay connected there.

Check out the Community section. That’s where there are different links to get connected, including the Daily Audio Bible woman’s group. If you’re a woman and you’re not part of that group, you should probably be. You’d be very encouraged. If you are as we take the journey through the Bible, Jill, my wife leads that. And, so, yeah, get connected there. There’s DAB friends, you can get connected there. That…the links are there. The links are in the Community section at dailyaudiobible.com. So…so, get connected.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There’s a link that just lives on the homepage. And I am humbled and grateful for those who have pressed that link. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button and that’s in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if that’s your preference, is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can reach out by pressing the Hotline button in the app, which is the little red button at the top, or there are numbers that you can dial depending where you are in the world. If it’s the Americas 877-942-4253 is number to dial. If you are in the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078. If you are in Australia or that part of the world you can dial 61-3-8820-5459.

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:

H family this is His Little Cherry in Canada and I had to call. I just had to because Brian read in Romans 8, one of my favorite verses about the spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba Father and Brian explained that that means poppa, daddy, it’s just a very intimate childlike word. And that has come to mean so much to me. At the beginning of this year when my health just tanked and I began to have really serious symptoms of MS I was scared to death and I just felt like I was having my own little personal pandemic because it was confusing, it was chaos, I didn’t know what was going to happen. The worst-case scenarios were going through my mind and fear gripped me. And all of my words were stripped away, and I found myself praying, I found myself praying one word, daddy, daddy. And it came from just a naked vulnerable desperate place. And I think in some ways that was a really good thing. I mean I’m all about words, I love poetry, I’ve always loved language and I’ve loved to connect to God through articulate prayers. I’ve loved reading other people’s profound thoughts and…but when I got sick and still to this day all of that is gone. All of it is gone and what I have left is what really matters. Daddy.

This is Mike from Redding California I’d like you all to pray for my daughter Annie. She’s a heroin addict and today’s her birthday. She’s 30 years old. She’s pregnant, six months I believe. Been praying for her for a long time. She’s already lost three children. She told me that if she loses this kid that she’s gonna kill herself. And I’m just praying for…like you all to join me in praying for her to…for God to change her heart and for her to go into recovery and start a new chapter of her life. It’s heartbreaking. She came to my house a couple days ago crying and wanting help. So, I took her in and unfortunately, I had to go out of town for work and she left. And I’m just so heartbroken. It’s…it’s like having a child that’s passed on that is a ghost somewhere and you don’t get to see or communicate with. It’s horrible. Please pray for her. God bless you all. I thank God for the Daily Audio Bible. I thank this community Lord. I just ask you to bless all the DABbers. God thank you so much for Your Word, and Your presence, your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hello family, Drew from the Bay Area. Hey, I was trying to call in, but I knew the road noise was just gonna be bad. I’m running into work here. I live in the East Bay and I’m calling in today to tell you that I live in a world of confusion over here. The Oakland outlaws, the unrest, the homelessness. And mainly this call’s for Byron. Byron, praying for you brother. I’m praying for you, your mom, your brother and I’m throwing you a rope of faith my brother. I want you to imagine those ropes that we climbed and where we had to do a physical education test. I wanted you to imagine coming all the way for the Bay Area to you in Florida and beyond. It just wraps around the world and everybody can grab a hold of it. Remember that God is a God of love of faith, grace, and he’ll provide everything you need and the endurance. He says that all things work together for good. All! That’s everything. So, I want you to imagine that for our life and this life here, our days here in the Daily Audio Bible. I want you to imagine a piece of tape over here in Oakland and the rest of it, that rope going around and around the world, that’s eternity. So, one little piece of tape like an inch wide that’s our life here. Byron I’m praying for your brother and your mother but I’m also praying for their spiritual needs. Our God is not a God of confusion and fear. He loves us more than you know, more than I know but I know that His grace is all we need. So, hang on to that rope my brother the rope of faith. And everybody else who’s around the world grab the rope in faith and realize…

Hello, my Daily audible Bible family this is Carmen from Germany and I hope you’re doing well. I have a prayer request for myself actually today and it seems really trival…trivial…small compared to so many of the things that so many of you are going through I listen to daily and I feel like I know each and every one of you. So, that’s why I am reaching out to you because I really do feel like a part of this community even though I don’t call that often. Anyway, my husband started having an affair about three years ago with somebody 28 years my junior. So, I’m 59. He filed for divorce on Thursday. I haven’t seen him in over 2 ½ years and I think the whole time I’ve been praying every day hoping that God would somehow restore our marriage and open to his eyes to him, restore his soul. Regardless, this looks like it’s final now and it just really…oh gosh…it was just really hard. It put me back on an emotional roller coaster, trying to accept that this must be the way God has allowed it to happen because I am trusting in Him. A little bit of fear is there thinking that I probably will be getting old alone because Christian men at my age are really hard to find especially here in Germany. I am American. I’m originally from California but I’ve been here since after high school. So, anyway I would just ask that you all support me, especially the ones of you who have been in the situation and help me to get through this with dignity and grow closer to God in the process. Thank you so much. I love you all.

Hi this is Stephen from Alabama and I just wanted to read a little expert from the God of Your Story, the book that Brian published at the end of last year, what he calls his best of the best of the Daily Audio Bible. And I want to just read this to give you a taste of…of…of how good this book is and how great of a companion it is. This is from July 23rd and it’s in reference to Romans 8:17-18. I encourage you to read that before you read this. He says, “essentially Paul was telling us that our struggles are normal and suffering is a part of life as it was for Jesus but the larger story is that God’s Holy Spirit is within us and He will care for us as a loving father in and through it all. We are in the process of inheriting God’s glorious freedom from the power of sin and death. This good news is hard to encapsulate or contain within such few words. It could fill all the pages of this book and it would be only scratching the surface. Turn it over and over in your mind and heart as You enter this day. Understand that the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is also sustaining your life. Allow yourself to be fathered by God today. You’re not alone and you will never be abandoned. You may be facing difficulties, but they are normal and temporary. The longing for restoration that you feel in the depths of your soul is pulling you forward like all of creation toward that very thing. Everything is going to be okay. You’re going to make it and the joy that awaits you is beyond any words in any book.” Amen and amen. Thank you, Brian. That is so fitting for 2020. God bless.

Hi I’m anonymous. I’ve been a listener faithfully since 2015. I called in late November early December to ask for prayer and I’m asking desperately for prayer again. Please pray that the truth would be revealed and that all truths will be found out and I would be exonerated and removed…and remain free. My husband and I are divorced after 57 years but he continues to deny and lie. Please let all the truth be told soon. And I so appreciate the prayers of all the saints. I could name you that I know, and I just ask you to just please pray that the truth would be told. Thank you so much for your prayers and again I’m anonymous. Bye.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday July 27, 2020 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 19-20

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

19 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah arrived safely home in Jerusalem, Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you. Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges[a] for cases involving the Lord’s regulations and for civil disputes. These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart. 10 Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.

11 “Amariah the high priest will have final say in all cases involving the Lord. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader from the tribe of Judah, will have final say in all civil cases. The Levites will assist you in making sure that justice is served. Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.”

War with Surrounding Nations

20 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[b] declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[c] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[d] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,[e] plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, 14 the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.

15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;
his faithful love endures forever!”

22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,[f] and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,[g] which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.

29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. 30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign

31 So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

32 Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. 33 During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.[h] 36 Together they built a fleet of trading ships[i] at the port of Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.[j]

Footnotes:

  1. 19:8 As in Greek version; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  2. 20:1 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 26:7); Hebrew repeats Ammonites.
  3. 20:2a As in one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions read Aram.
  4. 20:2b Hebrew the sea.
  5. 20:9 Or sword of judgment; or sword, judgment.
  6. 20:25 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Latin Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts read corpses.
  7. 20:26 Hebrew valley of Beracah.
  8. 20:35 Or who made him do what was wicked.
  9. 20:36 Hebrew fleet of ships that could go to Tarshish.
  10. 20:37 Hebrew never set sail for Tarshish.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Romans 10:14-11:12

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[a]

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[b] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”[c]

19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,

“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[d]

20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,

“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[e]

21 But regarding Israel, God said,

“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”[f]

God’s Mercy on Israel

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”[g]

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”[h]

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel[i] have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear.”[j]

Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare,
a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
and let them get what they deserve.
10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
and let their backs be bent forever.”[k]

11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

Footnotes:

  1. 10:15 Isa 52:7.
  2. 10:16 Isa 53:1.
  3. 10:18 Ps 19:4.
  4. 10:19 Deut 32:21.
  5. 10:20 Isa 65:1 (Greek version).
  6. 10:21 Isa 65:2 (Greek version).
  7. 11:3 1 Kgs 19:10, 14.
  8. 11:4 1 Kgs 19:18.
  9. 11:5 Greek for a remnant.
  10. 11:8 Isa 29:10; Deut 29:4.
  11. 11:9-10 Ps 69:22-23 (Greek version).
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 21

Psalm 21

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude

You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
He asked you to preserve his life,
and you granted his request.
The days of his life stretch on forever.
Your victory brings him great honor,
and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
You have endowed him with eternal blessings
and given him the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
You will throw them in a flaming furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will consume them in his anger;
fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;
they will never have descendants.
11 Although they plot against you,
their evil schemes will never succeed.
12 For they will turn and run
when they see your arrows aimed at them.
13 Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 20:4-6

Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.

Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.

Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


07/26/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34, Romans 9:25-10:13, Psalms 20:1-9, Proverbs 20:2-3

Today is the 26th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we greet the new week together and just kinda lookout. There’s is Monday coming, there’s Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. These are days that we will live into, but they are in our future. They are out in front of us. We are standing here looking into this new week and if we become aware of it, we can realize we are at a precipice. The choices and decisions that we make are gonna fill those days and write the story of this week. And, so, we are here and in advance we can make some decisions about the path that we’re gonna take as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And, so, welcome to a brand-new week and let’s see what comes our way and invite the Scriptures to give us…to give us the wisdom that we’re gonna need as we go into this week. So, we’ll read from the New Living Translation this week and continue our journey in the Old Testament through the book of second Chronicles. Today, second Chronicles chapters 17 and 18.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for this…this vista where we’re looking out into the new week and our calendars have things on them and we have plans, but we submit those things to You. We want to walk through this week in lockstep with You every moment. We want to live this week to its fullest in Your graces and in Your smile. We want to be in Your presence and be Your delight as You are our delight. And we are so grateful. We are so grateful for what we…what we read in the book of Romans, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. May we just…may we just fall back into that like we’re falling back into a warm pillow and being surrounded by Your love knowing that we can confidently go into this week we have nothing to prove. It’s proven. There’s nothing we can earn. It’s given. You have come for us and have invited us to collaborate with You to be the light of the world, to shine the light of what it looks like to be made a new creation upon this earth. And, so, may we live into that with all of our hearts this week. It’s all available, it’s ours to choose. And, so, Holy Spirit come because we want to choose it, but we forget. We are so enveloped in this culture that we start behaving like it constantly, when You invited us out from that - in it but not of it - so that we can be the voice the pulls everyone else forward. Come Holy Spirit into this week we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website, it’s where you find out what’s going on around the community. So…so, check that out. Check out the different sections there in the website or you can check them out in the app too by pushing that little drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner. Check out the Shop where there are resources available for the journey. Check out the community section for different links to…to connect.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. Thank you. Thank you as we navigate the summertime. Thank you for your partnership. I’ve said it a thousand times, if we were not in this together, we wouldn’t be here. And that is the nature of this beautiful unique community that we share. It wouldn’t work if we weren’t here together. If we were not in this together taking this journey like a voyage across a year and through the Bible, if we weren’t in this together it wouldn’t work. And, so, thank you. Thank you for your partnership. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

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

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning Daily Audio Bible I’m calling in from Maryland. I’m calling for a young man who called in a few weeks ago. I didn’t catch his name, but he asked for prayer for his family but towards the end he was very adamant and very specific and very strong that he needed prayer for himself. He said he was 13 years old and for whatever reason whenever I hear children call in it always strikes my heart. So, I’d like to know…let him know that someone heard him and does pray for him. Even though I don’t know your name, you know who you are, God knows who you are. So, I’d like to that you know I do pray for you every morning and I wish you well. Thank you.

Good morning DAB family my name is Maureen __ I’m calling from Nigeria. I really want to thank you Brian for everything you’re doing for us. God is seriously using you to do wonderful work in the life of his children. I want to thank you also for keeping this platform always very updated. I want to thank God in a special way for the life of my husband. He has been a very wonderful man. God has been working wonders through him to reach our families, to reach our loved ones, to reach our friends. And I pray that God will continue to provide for him, that all the sacrifice he’s making for the sake and good of others will be replenished a 100-fold. I ask God to continue to sustain him in good health and mind and body and to worship in spirit and in truth all the days of our life. I pray also for every other family in the DAB and ask God to bless all these people – guidance, strength and hope who worship him. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much. Bye.

Hello DAB family this is Brother Ox this is July 23rd and I wanted to give my many thanks to Brian. I’ve been saved since I was about 15 years old and have been in church all of my life but recently have been confronted with the fact that there is probably a lot…there’s a lot of the New Testament I haven’t like read through beginning to end cover to cover, don’t meditate on these…on this wisdom. And as many times as I’ve tried beating my head over Romans, it was not clicking. I wasn’t being able to meditate and receive that. So…so this romp through even just the first eight chapters of Romans has been incredibly profound and I can’t thank him enough for it. I found myself in a place where with all of these things going on in the world that I see what I stand against, I have a very weak grasp on…on what I stand for and why…I understand what I stand for but not how to express why and I need to go back to the Scriptures, the New Testament particularly, to understand that. So, I thank everyone…I thank the DAB family to bringing me to this point. Prayers go out to Gigi from the loss of her father. We’re are all in prayer for you sister and I can’t…we extend our compassion out to you in this and pray that God gives you the strength to you, you and your family to step forward. And Treasured Possession, your…your words today about…about our brothers and sisters who are found with autism and whatnot, they are incredibly inspiring. I thank you so much for those. God bless you all. This is Brother Ox signing out.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is __ calling from South Sudan. I am very grateful for all of you, everyone that is part of this community, you have touched my life through your prayers and encouragement and I also thank God for the Hardin family - Brian, Jill, China, Ben and the younger one I believe is Elijah. Thank you for this great ministry that God has committed into your hand. Your faithfulness to continue these many years. I…I would like to share with you that today is my wedding anniversary, 23rd of July. My wife and I met each other at the University of Texas. In a prayer meeting I pulled up a chair and sat behind a girl and after that prayer meeting the girl turned around and looked at me and caused me to stop breathing. So, I told her that because I stopped breathing, she…she would have to become my wife to keep me breathing again. And 32 years later God has been faithful to us. 32 years, five children who have been successful. So, we thank God and we bless him in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hi family this is Sally North Dakota. So, I haven’t called in for quite a while, so I wanted to call in and check in with everybody. Want you to know that I love you. I appreciate Brian and Jill so much and China. I love our family that we have here. Want to give out a shout out to Annette in Oklahoma City. Happy birthday, 10 years, wow that’s totally awesome. I’m on my second year listening and I feel like I’ve been a part of the family forever. So, it’s really great. Annette, I love what you shared about never being alone and…and the things that you’ve learned from the DAB. I too have learned a lot about myself and…and I’m thankful that we all continue to grow together and pray for each other. And I want you to know Annette that I love you. You’re very special to me. And I also wanted to lift up Prodigal and his new queen and Claire’s grandma that’s in a…that’s ion a coma. So, heavenly Father we just lift this family up to You. We thank You for giving her life and the life that she’s had. And Lord, we pray for Your perfect will to be done in this family as You draw them close to You and to each other. We thank You for Your comfort and the love that You give us during this time. And, so, Prodigal, it’s always good to hear from you. And everybody else, I love you so much and I’ll continue to call in from time to time. Okay. Bye for now.